Important Concepts and Formulas - Sequence and Series

1. Arithmetic Progression (A.P.) (or Arithmetic Sequence)

Arithmetic progression (AP) is a sequence of numbers in which each term after the first is obtained by adding a constant, d to the preceding term. The constant d is called common difference. An arithmetic progression is given by a, (a + d), (a + 2d), (a + 3d), ... where a = the first term , d = the common difference Examples for Arithmetic Progressions 1, 3, 5, 7, ... is an arithmetic progression (AP) with a = 1 and d = 2 7, 13, 19, 25, ... is an arithmetic progression (AP) with a = 7 and d= 6 a. nth term of an arithmetic progression tn = a + (n 1)d

where tn = nth term, a= the first term , d= common difference Example 1 : Find 10th term in the series 1, 3, 5, 7, ... a=1 d=31=2 10th term, t10 = a + (n-1)d = 1 + (10 1)2 = 1 + 18 = 19 Example 2 : Find 16th term in the series 7, 13, 19, 25, ... a=7 d = 13 7 = 6 16th term, t16 = a + (n-1)d = 7 + (16 1)6 = 7 + 90 = 97

b. Number of terms of an arithmetic progression

n=(la)d+1
where n = number of terms, a= the first term , l = last term, d= common difference Example : Find the number of terms in the series 8, 12, 16, . . .72 a=8 l = 72 d = 12 8 = 4

n=(la)d+1=(728)4+1=644+1=16+1=17

c. Sum of first n terms in an arithmetic progression

Sn=n2[ 2a+(n1)d ] =n2[ a+l ]where difference, l=tn=nth term = a+(n1)d

the

first

term, d=

common

Example 1 : Find 4 + 7 + 10 + 13 + 16 + . . . up to 20 terms a=4 d=74=3 Sum of first 20 terms, S20 =n2[ 2a+(n1)d ]=202[ (24)+(201)3 ]

=10[8+(193)]=10[8+57]=650

Example 2 : Find 6 + 9 + 12 + . . . + 30 a=6 l = 30 d=96=3

n=(la)d+1=(306)3+1=243+1=8+1=9 Sum, S = n2[ a+l ]=92[ 6+30 ]=9236=918=162

d. Arithmetic Mean If a, b, c are in AP, b is the Arithmetic Mean (A.M.) between a and c. In this case, b=12(a+c) The Arithmetic Mean (A.M.) between two numbers a and b = 12(a+b) If a, a1, a2 ... an, b are in AP we can say that a1, a2 ... an are the n Arithmetic Means between a and b. e. If a, b, c are in AP, 2b = a + c f. To solve most of the problems related to A.P., the terms can be conveiently taken as 3 4 terms terms : (a : (a 3d), (a d), d), (a a, + d), (a (a +d) +3d)

5 terms : (a 2d), (a d), a, (a + d), (a +2d) g. Tn = Sn - Sn-1 h. If each term of an A.P. is increased, decreased , multiplied or divided by the same non-zero constant, the resulting sequence also will be in A.P. i. In an A.P., sum of terms equidistant from beginning and end will be constant

2. Harmonic Progression (H.P.) (or Harmonic Sequence)

Non-zero numbers a1, a2, a3, ... an are in H.P. if 1a1, 1a2, 1a3, ... 1an are in A.P.
Examples for Harmonic Progressions

12,16,110, is a harmonic progression (H.P.)

Three non-zero numbers a, b, c will be in HP, if 1a, 1b, 1c are in A.P. If a, (a+d), (a+2d), . . . are in A.P., nthterm of the A.P. = a + (n - 1)d Hence, if 1a,1a+d,1a+2d, are in H.P., nthterm of the H.P. = 1a+(n1)d If a, b, c are in HP, b is the Harmonic Mean(H.M.) between a and c In this case, b=2aca+c The Harmonic Mean (H.M.) between two numbers a and b = 2aba+b If a, a1, a2 ... an, b are in H.P. we can say that a1, a2 ... an are the n Harmonic Means between a and b. If a, b, c are in HP, 2b=1a+1c

3. Geometric Progression (G.P.) (or Geometric Sequence)

A sequence of non-zero numbers is a Geometric Progression (G.P.) if the ratio of any term and its preceding term is always constant. A Geometric Progression (G.P.) is given by a, ar, ar2, ar3, ... where a = the first term , r = the common ratio Examples for Geometric Progressions 1, 3, 9, 27, ... is a geometric progression (G.P.) with a = 1 and r = 3 2, 4, 8, 16, ... is a geometric progression (G.P.) with a = 2 and r = 2 a. nth term of a geometric progression (G.P.)

tn=arn1
where tn = nth term, a= the first term , r = common ratio, n = number of terms Example 1 : Find the 10th term in the series 2, 4, 8, 16, ...

a = 2,

r = 42 = 2,

n = 10

10th term, t10 = arn1=22101=229=2512=1024 Example 2 : Find 5th term in the series 5, 15, 45, ... a = 5, r = 155 = 3, n=5

5th term, t5 = arn1=5351 = 5 34 = 5 81 = 405

b. Sum of first n terms in a geometric progression (G.P.)

Sn=a(rn1)r1 a(1rn)1r (if

>

1)(if

<

1)

where a= the first term , r = common ratio, n = number of terms

Example 1 : Find 4 + 12 + 36 + ... up to 6 terms a = 4, r = 124 = 3, n=6

Here r > 1. Hence, S6=a(rn1)r1=4(361)31=4(7291)2=47282=2728=1456 Example 2 : Find 1+12+14+ ... up to 5 terms a = 1, r = (12)1=12, n=5

Here r < 1. Hence, S6=a(1rn)1r=1[1(12)5](112)=(1132)(12)=(3132)(12)=3116=11516 c. Sum of an infinite geometric progression (G.P.)

S=a1r (if

<

<

1)

where a= the first term , r = common ratio Example : Find 1+12+14+18+ . . .

a = 1,

r = (12)1=12

Here 0 < r < 1. Hence, S=a1r=1(112)=1(12)=2 d. Geometric Mean If three non-zero numbers a, b, c are in G.P., b is the Geometric Mean (G.M.) between a and c. In this case, b=ac The Geometric Mean (G.M.) between two numbers a and b = ab (Note that if a and b are of opposite sign, their G.M. is not defined.) e. If a, b, c are in G.P., b2 = ac f. If a, b, c are in G.P., abbc=ab g. In a G.P., product of terms equidistant from beginning and end will be constant. h. To solve most of the problems related to G.P., the terms of the G.P. can be conveiently taken as 3 terms : ar, a, ar

5 terms : ar2, ar, a, ar, ar2

4. Relationship Between Arithmetic Mean, Harmonic Mean, and Geometric Mean of Two Numbers
If GM, AM and HM are the Geometic Mean, Arithmetic Mean and Harmonic Mean of two positive numbers respectively, then GM2 = AM HM

5. Some Interesting Properties to Note

Three Three numbers non-zero a, b a, and b c and c are are in in AP HP if b=a+c2 if b=2aca+c

numbers

Three non-zero numbers a, b and c are in HP if abbc=ac Let A, G and H be the A.M., G.M. and H.M. between two distinct positive numbers. Then i. A>G>H

ii.

A, G and H are in GP If a series is both an A.P. and G.P., all terms of the series will be equal. In other words, it will be a constant sequence.

6. Power Series : Important formulas

0. 1. 2. 3.

1+1+1+ n terms=1=n 1+2+3++n=n=n(n+1)2 12+22+32++n2=n2=n(n+1)(2n+1)6 13+23+33++n3=n3=n2(n+1)24=[n(n+1)2]2