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Arithmetic-sequence-and-series-16102024-073943pm

Arithmetic sequence
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Arithmetic-sequence-and-series-16102024-073943pm

Arithmetic sequence
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Arithmetic Sequence and series

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

Find first four terms of the sequence 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 − 1.


Solution:
First term, put n=1 in 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.

Note: nth term of an Arithmetic sequence is


𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅
Example, If the 1st and 10th terms of an arithmetic sequence are 3 and 30 respectively, find the 40th term
of the sequence.
Solution:
Given 𝑎1 = 3 and 𝑎10 = 30.
We use the formula 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 with 𝑎1 = 3 and 𝑎10 = 30 to find d:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
𝑎10 = 𝑎1 + (10 − 1)𝑑
30 = 3 + 9𝑑
27 = 9𝑑
𝑑=3
We have to find 𝑎40 ,

𝑎40 = 𝑎1 + (40 − 1)𝑑


𝑎40 = 𝑎1 + 39𝑑
𝑎40 = 3 + 39(3)
𝑎40 = 120

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

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