TOPIC 1

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION AND

ITS RELATED TERMS
Learning Objectives
 Students will be learning the concept of A.P. and its related terms
such as sequence, terms and progression.
 Students will be learning the terms associated with A.P. i.e., Ist term
and common difference.
Learning Outcomes
 Students will be able to find the Ist term and common difference of
an A.P.
 Students will be able to check whether the progression is an A.P. or
not by using general form of an A.P.

Real Life Application

You must have observed in your family that each member has a
separate bank account. You might be wondering nevertheless why we
need to keep our hard-earned cash in banks when we could keep it at
home. One, this might protect us from burglars and two, the bank itself
adds some money to our savings account, and who doesn't like some
more cash?

So, this works on the concept of arithmetic progression. You receive interest
on whatever money you deposit in the bank. So, let's say if you deposit
a thousand rupees in your bank account, the bank will add 4 percent

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(it may vary) of that amount to your account after a specific amount of
time, making the total ₹ 1,040 and again, after a certain period of time,
the bank will add 4 percent of ₹ 1,040, and this is how it goes on.
This represents an example of arithmetic progression in real life. Let us
discuss more about Arithmetic Progression and its related terms in brief.
Sequence
It is a list of things (usually numbers) that are in a order.
When the sequence goes on forever, it is an infinite sequence, otherwise
it is finite.
E.g.: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6........ is a sequence in which each number is 1 more than
the preceding number.
Terms
Various numbers occuring in a sequence are called its terms.
Progression
Sequences in which terms always follow a certain patterns are called
progressions.
E.g. : 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 ........ is a progression in which each succeeding term is 2
more than the preceding term.
Arithmetic Progression (A.P.)
Arithmetic Progression is a list of numbers in which each term is obtained
by adding a fixed number to the preceding term, except the first term.
Common Difference
The fixed number that is added to obtain A.P., is called its common
difference.
It can be positive, negative or zero.
Thus, a list of numbers a1, a2, a3, a4, ..... is an A.P. only if a2 – a1 = a3 –
a2 = a4 – a3 ... = d
where d is the common difference of the A.P.
General Form of an A.P.
The general form of an A.P. is a, a + d , a + 2d, a + 3d, .....
where, a is the first term and d is the common difference.

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Finite or Infinite A.P.
If there are only finite number of terms in an A.P., then the A.P. is called a
finite A.P. Such A.P.'s also has a last term.
The A.P. which are not finite, are infinite A.P. Such A.P. 's do not have a
last term.
Example 1. Write four terms of an A.P. whose first term (a) is –1 and
1
common difference (d) is . (Understand)
2
[NCERT]
Total Breakdown
Marks (As per CBSE Marking Scheme)
Write the first term and common difference. (½ m)
2 Put these values in general form of an A.P. (½ m)
Find the second term, third term and fourth term. (½ m)
Ans. Here, a = –1
1
and d =
2
Then, first term, a = – 1
1 −1
Second term, a + d = –1 + =
2 2
1
Third term, a + 2d = –1 + 2 ×
2
=0

1 1
Fourth term, a + 3d = –1 + 3 × =
2 2
−1 1
Hence, the first four terms of the A.P. are –1, , 0 and .
2 2
Example 2. For the A.P. –5, –1, 3, 7...... write the first term and the
common difference. (Understand)
[NCERT]
Total Breakdown
Marks (As per CBSE Marking Scheme)

1 Find the first term and common difference. (1 m)

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Ans. H ere, the given A.P. is –5, –1, 3, 7 .....
Then, first term, a = –5
Common difference, d = (–1) – (–5) = 3 – (–1) = 4
Hence, the first term is –5 and common difference is 4.

Caution
 Students should remember that the common difference could be negative,
positive or zero.
l
l
l

Arithmetic Progressions 5
 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
[ 1 mark each ]
1. The common difference of an A.P., whose nth term is
an = (3n + 7), is:
(a) 2 (b) 7
(c) 10 (d) 6 [CBSE 2020]
Ans. (b) 3
Explanation: Here,
an = 3n + 7
⇒ a1 = 3 × 1 + 7 = 10
and a2 = 3 × 2 + 7 = 13
So, d = a2 – a1 = 13 – 10 = 3

Fill in the Blanks

[ 1 mark each ]
2. If Sn = 5n2 + 3n, then nth term is ............... .
Ans. 10n – 2
Explanation: We know,
an = Sn − Sn−1
= 5n2 + 3n − [5(n − 1)2 + 3(n − 1)]
= 5n2 + 3n − [5n2 + 5 −10n + 3n − 3]
= 5n2 + 3n – [5n2 – 7n + 2]
= 10n − 2

Assertion-Reason
[A-R] [ 1 mark each ]
In the following questions a statement of Assertion (A) is followed
by a statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option as:
(a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is
the correct explanation of assertion (A).

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 (b) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not
the correct explanation of assertion (A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false but reason (R) is true.
3. Assertion (A): Let the positive numbers a, b, c be in A.P., then
1 1 1
, ,
bc ac ab are also in A.P.
Reason (R): If each term of the given A.P. is multiplied by
abc, then the resulting sequence is also in A.P.
Ans. (a) Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is
the correct explanation of assertion (A).
1 , 1 , 1 .
Explanation: Given sequence is,
bc ab ac
Multiplying each term by abc, we get
1
× abc = a
bc
1
× abc = b
ac
1
× abc = c
ab
Resulting sequence is a, b, c.
Hence, both assertion and reason are true and reason is the
correct explanation of the assertion

CASE BASED Questions (CBQs)

[ 5 marks each ]
Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:

4. Your friend Veer wants to participate in a 200 m race. He can currently

run that distance in 51 seconds and with each day of practice, it
takes him 2 seconds less. He wants to do in 31 seconds.

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 (A) Which of the following terms are in A.P. for the given
situation?
(a) 251, 53, 55...... (b) 51, 49, 47 .......
(c) –51, –53, –55.... (d) 51, 55, 59....
(B) What is the minimum number of days?
(a) 10 (b) 12
(c) 11 (d) 9
(C) Which of the following term is not in the A.P. of the above
given situation?
(a) 41 (b) 30
(c) 37 (d) 39
(D) If nth term of an A.P. is given by an = 2n + 3, then common
difference of an A.P. is:
(a) 2 (b) 3
(c) 5 (d) 1
(E) The value of x, for which 2x, x + 10, 3x + 2 are three consecutive
terms of an A.P., is:
(a) 6 (b) –6
(c) 18 (d) –18
 [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. (A) (b) 51, 49, 47,.....
Explanation: Here, time taken by Veer to cover 200m distance
on each passing day is an A.P. with first term (a) = 51 and

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 common difference (d) = –2 (negative because, time is
decreasing).
∴ A.P. = 51 – 2, 51 – 2(2), .....
= 51, 49, 47, .....

(B) (c) 11
Explanation: H Let his goal time be represented by an
So, an = 31
⇒ a + (n – 1) d = 31
⇒ 51 + (n – 1) (–2) = 31 [Using part (A)]
⇒ 51 – 2n + 2 = 31
⇒ 2n = 53 – 31 = 22
⇒ n = 11
Hence, it took him minimum 11 days to achieve his goal.
(C) (b) 30
Explanation: To find the incorrect term, we have to put the
values of all the four option in the formula an = a + (n – 1)d to
find the value of n.
(a) an = 41
⇒ a + (n – 1)d = 41
⇒ 51 + (n – 1)(–2) = 41
⇒ 51 – 2n + 2 = 41
⇒ 53 – 2n = 41
⇒ 2n = 53 – 41 = 12
⇒ n=6
Since, n is an integer value, so 41 is a term of the A.P. formed
in part (A).
(b) an = 30
⇒ 53 – 2n = 30
⇒ 2n = 23
⇒ n = 10.5
Here, the value of n is not an integer value.
So, 30 cannot be a term of the A.P. formed in part (A).

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(D) (a) 2
Explanation: We know,
Common difference,
d = an – an – 1
= 2n + 3 – [2(n – 1) + 3]
= 2n + 3 – (2n – 2 + 3)
= 2n + 3 – 2n – 1
=2

(E) (a) 6
Explanation: F Since 2x, (x + 10), (3x + 2) are consecutive terms
of an A.P.,
\ (x + 10) – 2x = (3x + 2) – (x + 10)
⇒ 10 – x = 2x – 8
⇒ 18 = 3x
⇒ x=6

VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)

[ 1 mark each ]
5. If the mean of the first n natural numbers is 15, then find n.
[CBSE 2020]
Ans. The first n natural numbers are, 1, 2, 3 ..... n.
Sn
Their, mean =
n ,
n
where Sn = [2a + (n − 1) d ]
2
Substituting the values, we get
1
15 = [2 × 1 + ( n − 1)1]
2
Þ 30 = 2 + n – 1
Þ n = 29
Hence, the value of n is 29.

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 Concept Applied
 The sum of first n natural numbers or, the sum of the series 1,2, 3, .....n is given
by the formula:
n ( n + 1)
S= 2

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[ 2 marks each ]
6. Find the number of natural numbers between 102 and 998
which are divisible by 2 and 5 both. [CBSE 2019]
Ans. Natural numbers between 102 and 998, which are divisible by 2
and 5 both, i.e. 10, are
110, 120, 130, ...... 990
Clearly, above series is an A.P. with a = 110, d = 120 – 110 = 10
and l = 990.
Let l be the nth term of this A.P.
So, l = a + (n – 1)d
⇒ 990 = 110 + (n – 1) × 10
⇒ 880 = (n – 1) 10
⇒ n – 1 = 88
⇒ n = 89
Hence, there are 89 natural numbers between 102 and 998 which
are divisible by both 2 and 5.

SHORT ANSWER Type-II Questions (SA-II)

[ 3 marks each ]
7. If the sum of first m terms of an A.P. is same as the sum of its
first n terms, show that the sum of its first (m + n) terms is
zero. [CBSE SQP 2019]
Ans. S m = Sn
m n
Þ 2
[2a + (n − 1)d] = 2 [2a + (n − 1)d]

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 Þ 2a(m − n) + d(m2 − m − n2 + n) = 0
Þ (m − n)[2a + (m + n − 1)d] = 0
or Sm + n = 0
[CBSE Marking Scheme SQP 2019]
Explanation: Let a be the first term and d be the common
difference of the A.P.
Now, according to the question,
Sm = Sn
m n
Þ 2a + ( m − 1)d  = 2a + ( n − 1)d 
2  2 
Þ 2am + m(m – 1) d = 2an + n (n – 1)d
Þ 2am – 2an = (n2 – n)d – (m2 – m)d
Þ 2a(m – n) = [(n2 – m2) – (n – m)]d
Þ 2a(m – n) = (n – m) [(n + m) – 1]d
Þ –2a = (m + n – 1)d....(i)
Now, sum of (m + n) terms is given by,
m+n
Sm + n = 2 2a + ( m + n − 1)d 
m+n
= 2 2a + ( −2a )
 [Using (i)]
m+n
= 2 ×0
=0
Sm + n = 0
Þ
Hence, proved.

LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)

[ 4 & 5 marks each ]
8. A sum of ` 4,250 is to be used to give 10 cash prizes to students
of a school for their overall academic performance. If each
prize is ` 50 less than its preceding prize, find the value of each
of the prizes.  [CBSE 2017]

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Ans. Let the value of first most expensive prize be ` a.
Then, according to the given condition, prizes are a, a – 50, a – 100,
a – 150 .......
The given series forms an A.P., with a common difference of (– 50).
Here, first term = a
Common difference d = – 50
Number of terms, n = 10
and, sum of 10 terms, S10 = ` 4,250
n
By formula, Sn = 2 [2a + (n – 1)d]

10
⇒ S10 = 2 [2 × a + (10 – 1) × (– 50)]

⇒ 4250 = 5(2a – 450)

⇒ 850 = 2a – 450
1300
⇒ a = 2
= ` 650

Hence, the value of the prizes are: ` 650, ` 600, ` 550, ` 500,
` 450, ` 400, ` 350, ` 300, ` 250, ` 200.

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 TOPPER’S CORNER
LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)
[ 2 marks each ]
1. The sum of four consecutive numbers in an A.P. is 32 and the
ratio of the product of the first and the last term to the product
of two middle terms is 7 : 15. Find the numbers.
Ans.

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[CBSE Topper 2018]

Arithmetic Progressions 15