Arithmetic Sequences
and Series
MODULE 3
Sequences Series
List with commas “Indicated sum”
3, 8, 13, 18 3 + 8 + 13 + 18
An Arithmetic Sequence is
defined as a sequence in
which there is a common
difference (d) between
consecutive terms.
Which of the following sequences are
arithmetic? Identify the common
difference.
3, 1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, . . . YES d 2
15.5, 14, 12.5, 11, 9.5, 8, . . . YES d 1.5
84, 80, 74, 66, 56, 44, . . . NO
8, 6, 4, 2, 0, . . . NO
50, 44, 38, 32, 26, . . . YES d 6
The common
differen c e i s a l w a y s
c e b e tw e e n
the differen
any term a n d t h e te r m
that pro c e e d s t h a t
term. Com mon
Differ
ence
= 5
26, 21, 16, 11, 6, . . .
The general form of an ARITHMETIC sequence.
First Term: a1
Second Term: a2 a1 d
Third Term: a3 a1 2d
Fourth Term: a4 a1 3d
Fifth Term: a5 a1 4d
nth Term: an a1 n 1 d
Formula for the nth term of an ARITHMETIC
sequence.
an a1 n 1 d
an The nth term
If we
know
three any
a1 The 1st term o
ough f these
t to b we
n The term number to fin e ab
d the le
fourt
d The common difference
h .
Given: 79, 75, 71, 67, 63, . . .
Find: a32
IDENTIFY SOLVE
a1 79 an a1 n 1 d
d 4 a32 79 32 1 4
n 32 a32 45
Given: 79, 75, 71, 67, 63, . . .
Find: What term number is -169?
IDENTIFY SOLVE
a1 79 an a1 n 1 d
d 4 169 79 n 1 4
an 169 n 63
a10 3.25
Given: Find: a1
a12 4.25
What’s the real question? The Difference
IDENTIFY SOLVE
a1 3.25 an a1 n 1 d
a3 4.25 4.25 3.25 3 1 d
n3 d 0.5
a10 3.25
Given: Find: a1
a12 4.25
IDENTIFY SOLVE
a10 3.25 an a1 n 1 d
d 0.5 3.25 a1 10 1 0.5
n 10 a1 1.25
Arithmetic
Series
a1 a1 d a1 2d . . . a1 n 1 d
a n 1 d . . . a
1 1 2d a1 d a1
a a n 1 d a a n 1 d . . . a a n 1 d
1 1 1 1 1 1
S Sum
s
n a1 an n Number of Terms
a1 First Term
2
an Last Term
u la fo r th e su m of
Alternate form
an Ar ith m et ic S e ri es .
Substitute an a1 n 1 d
n a1 an
S
2
n a1 a1 n 1 d n # of Terms
S
2
a1 1st Term
n 2a1 n 1 d d Difference
S
2
An introduction…………
1, 4, 7, 10, 13 35 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 62
9, 1, 7, 15 12 9, 3, 1, 1/ 3 20 / 3
6.2, 6.6, 7, 7.4 27.2 1, 1/ 4, 1/16, 1/ 64 85 / 64
, 3, 6 3 9 , 2.5, 6.25 9.75
Arithmetic Sequences Geometric Sequences
ADD MULTIPLY
To get next term To get next term
Arithmetic Series Geometric Series
Sum of Terms Sum of Terms
Find the next four terms of –9, -2, 5, …
Arithmetic Sequence
2 9 5 2 7
7 is referred to as the common difference (d)
Common Difference (d) – what we ADD to get next term
Next four terms……12, 19, 26, 33
Find the next four terms of 0, 7, 14, …
Arithmetic Sequence, d = 7
21, 28, 35, 42
Find the next four terms of x, 2x, 3x, …
Arithmetic Sequence, d = x
4x, 5x, 6x, 7x
Find the next four terms of 5k, -k, -7k, …
Arithmetic Sequence, d = -6k
-13k, -19k, -25k, -32k
Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)
a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
nth term of arithmetic sequence an a1 n 1 d
n
sum of n terms of arithmetic sequence Sn a1 an
2
Given an arithmetic sequence with a15 38 and d 3, find a1.
x a1 First term
38 an nth term
15 n number of terms
NA Sn sum of n terms
-3 d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
38 x 15 1 3
X = 80
Find S63 of 19, 13, 7,...
-19 a1 First term
353 ?? an nth term
63 n number of terms
x Sn sum of n terms
6 d common difference
n
an a1 n 1 d Sn a1 an
2
?? 19 63 1 6 63
S63 19 353
?? 353 2
S63 10521
Try this one: Find a16 if a1 1.5 and d 0.5
1.5 a1 First term
x an nth term
16 n number of terms
NA Sn sum of n terms
0.5 d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
a16 1.5 16 1 0.5
a16 9
Find n if an 633, a1 9, and d 24
9 a1 First term
633 an nth term
x n number of terms
NA Sn sum of n terms
24 d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
633 9 x 1 24
633 9 24x 24
X = 27
Find d if a1 6 and a 29 20
-6 a1 First term
20 an nth term
29 n number of terms
NA Sn sum of n terms
x d common difference
an a1 n 1 d
20 6 29 1 x
26 28x
13
x
14
REFERENCE;
• https://www.mastmedical.org/ourpages/auto/2014/8/19/42333885/
Arithmetic%20Sequences%20and%20Series.ppt
