The Sum of a Finite Series

The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic series is:

Sn

a1 an n 2

Sn is the mean of the first term and the nth terms, multiplied by the number of terms.

Sometime you will have to use sequence formulas

an = a1 + (n 1)d

an = a1 + (n 1)d

Extra Example #5
Consider the arithmetic series 20 + 18 + 16 + 14 + Find the sum of the first 25 terms.

an

20 ( n 1)( 2)

an
a25

22 2n
22 2(25)

S 25
S 25

a1 a25 25 2
20 ( 28) 25 2

a25

28

S25

100

Extra Example #5 Continued

Consider the arithmetic series 20 + 18 + 16 + 14 + Find n such that Sn = -760

20 ( 22 2 n) 760 n 2 2 1520 42 n 2 n 2 2 n 42 n 1520 0 2( n2 21n 760) 0

Sn

a1 an n 2

Sn

760

when n = 40.

2( n 40)( n 19) 0 n 40 or n 19 Choose positive solution.

Summation Notation

Example Problem