Arithmetic-sequence-and-series-16102024-073943pm
Arithmetic-sequence-and-series-16102024-073943pm
Sequences
A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of natural numbers and whose range is a set of real
numbers.
A sequence is an ordered list. Like a set it also contains elements which are called terms of the
sequence. Unlike sets order matter in a sequence for example, {2,4,8,16,…} and {2,8,4,16,…}
are two different sequences.
Notation: Sequences are usually named with letters a, b, c etc., instead of x as a variable. If a
natural number n belongs to the domain of a sequence a, the corresponding element in its
range is denoted by 𝑎𝑛 . The symbol {𝑎𝑛 } or a1, a2, a3,....,an ,... is used to represent the
sequence a.
Example,
As an example of a sequence, let 𝑓(𝑛) = 2𝑛 − 1.The range of this function is
𝑓(1), 𝑓(2), 𝑓(3), 𝑓(4), … , 𝑓(𝑛), …
1, 3, 5, 7, … , 2𝑛 − 1, ….
The elements in the range of a sequence are called the terms of the sequence.
The first term of the sequence is 1, the second term is 3, and so on. The nth term, or the general term, is
2𝑛 − 1.
Using this notation, we would write
𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 − 1
𝑎1 = 2(1) − 1 = 1
Second term, put n=2 in 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 − 1
𝑎2 = 2(2) − 1 = 3
Third term, put n=3 in 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 − 1
𝑎2 = 2(6) − 1 = 5.
Arithmetic Sequence:
A sequence of numbers
𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . , 𝑎𝑛 , …
Is called an arithmetic sequence if there is a constant d, called the common difference, such that
𝑎𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑑
That is,
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛−1 + 𝑑
Example, Determine which of the following sequences represent arithmetic sequence
i. 1, 2, 3, 5, ….
ii. 3, 3, 3, 3, …
iii. 10, 8.5, 7, 5.5,…
Solution:
1, 2, 3, 5, ….
This sequence is not an arithmetic sequence as there is no common difference
2−1=1
3−2=1
5−3=2
The sequence 3, 3, 3, 3, … is an arithmetic sequence with common difference 0.
10, 8.5, 7, 5.5,…
8.5 − 10 = −1.5
7 − 8.5 = −1.5
5.5 − 7 = −1.5
The sequence 10, 8.5, 7, 5.5,… is an arithmetic sequence with common difference -1.5.
Arithmetic Series:
Finite Arithmetic Series: If 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . , 𝑎𝑛 is a finite arithmetic sequence then 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 +
⋯ . +𝑎𝑛 is called a finite arithmetic series.
Sum of a finite arithmetic series:
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
2
Or
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [𝑎 + 𝑎𝑛 ]
2 1
Example, Find the sum of the first 30 terms of the arithmetic sequence
3, 8, 13, 18, …
Solution:
𝑛 = 30, 𝑎1 = 3, 𝑑 = 5
30
𝑆30 = [2(3) + (30 − 1)5]
2
𝑆30 = 2265
Example, Find the sum of all the even numbers between 31 and 87.
Solution:
32, 34, … , 86
𝑎1 = 32, 𝑎𝑛 = 86
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [𝑎 + 𝑎𝑛 ]
2 1
We need to find n first,
86 = 32 + (𝑛 − 1)2
𝑛 = 28
28
𝑆28 = [32 + 86]
2
𝑆28 = 1652