12.1 ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS (A.P.

)
1. A SEQUENCE is a set of terms which are written in a definite order, obeying a certain rule.
Example: 2, 4, 6, 8 .
( a sequence of even numbers)
2. A SERIES is the sum of the terms of a sequence.
Example: 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + .
3. ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS (A.P.):
*
*

is a number sequence where the difference between 2 consecutive terms is a constant.

the constant is known as the common difference, d.

d = Tn+1 - Tn

where Tn+1 = the (n +1) term,

Tn = the nth term.

Steps to determine whether a given number sequence is an A.P.;

(i) Take any three consecutive terms in a given number sequence;
Tn, T n+1, T n+2.
(ii) Calculate the values of Tn+2 - T n+1 and Tn+1 - Tn
(iii)If Tn+2 -T n+1 = Tn+1 - Tn, then the number sequence is an A.P.
(iv) If Tn+2 -T n+1 Tn+1 - Tn, then the number sequence is not an arithmetic progression.

The nth term, Tn of an A.P.;

Tn = a + (n 1)d

where a = first term,

d = common difference.

The sum of the first n terms, Sn, of an A.P.;

Sn = n/2[2a + (n 1)d]

where a = first term,

d = common difference.

or
Sn = n/2[a + ]

where a = first term,

= last term.

The nth term, Tn, of an A.P. can also be determined by the following formula;
Tn = Sn

Sn 1

Exercise and Past Year Questions

1. It is given that x, 5, 8, , 41, is an
arithmetic progression.
(a) State the value of x.
41.

3. Three consecutive terms of an arithmetic

progression are 5-x, 8, 2x. Find the common
difference of the progression.
[3 marks]

(b) Write the three consecutive terms after

[3marks]
SPM2011/Paper 1

It2.is Given that 11, y + 4 and 3y x are three

consecutive terms of a arithmetic progression.
(a) Express y in terms of x.
(b) Find the common difference if x = 8
[4mark]
SPM2012/Paper 1

SPM2007/Paper 1
4. Given the arithmetic progression 2, 6, 10, ,
calculate the 12th term.
5. Find the number of terms in the arithmetic

progression 1, 4, 7, , 100.
6. How many numbers between 200 and 950 are

divisible by 7?

7. In the arithmetic progression -24, -21.5, -19,,

calculate the value of the first term to exceed

100.
8. Diagram below shows three square cards.

3 cm

5 cm
9 cm

The perimeters of the cards form an arithmetic

progression. The terms of the progression are in
ascending order.
(a) write down the first three terms of the
progression
(b) Find the common difference of the
progression.
[2marks]
SPM2009/Paper
9. The 9th term of an arithmetic progression is 4 + 5p
and the sum of the first four terms of the progression
is 7p 10, where p is a constant. Given that the
common difference of the progression is 5, find the
value of p.
[3 marks]
SPM2006/Paper 1
10. The first three terms of an arithmetic progression are
46, 43 and 40. the nth term of this progression is
negative. Find the least value of n.
[3marks]
SPM2008/Paper 1
11. The first three terms of an arithmetic progression are
3h, k, h+2.
(a) Express k in terms of h.
(b) Find the 10th term of the progression in terms
of h.
[4marks]
SPM2010/Paper 1
12. The second term of an arithmetic progression is -3
and the sixth term is 13.
Find the first term and the common difference of
the progression.
[3marks]
SPM2011/Paper 1

13. The first three terms of an arithmetic progression are

k 3, k + 3, 2k + 2. Find,
(a) the value of k,
(b) the sum of the first 9 terms of the progression.
[3 marks]
SPM2003/Paper 1
14. The sum of the first n terms of the geometric
progression 8, 24, 72,... is 8 744. Find
(a) the common ratio of the progression,
(b) the value of n.
[4 marks]

SPM2005/Paper 1
15. The first three terms of an arithmetic progression are
5, 9, 13. Find
(a) the common difference of the progression.
(b) the sum of the first 20 terms after the 3rd term.
[4 marks]
SPM2005/Paper 1
16. The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic

progression is given by = [3 + 1].

(a) the sum of the first 5 terms.
(b) the 5th term.
[4marks]
SPM2010/Paper 1
17. The sum of the first nine terms of an arithmetic
progression is 81 and the sum of the first 17 terms is
289. Find the sum of the first n terms of the
progression.
18. The nth term, Tn, of an arithmetic progression is
given by = 2 + 3 . Find the sum of the first five
terms.
19. If the nth term of an arithmetic progression is
4 7 , find the sum of the first 40 terms.
20. The eighth term of an arithmetic progression is 150
and the 48th term is 30. Determine
(a) the first term and the common difference,
(b) the number of terms which sums up to zero.

12.2 GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION (G.P.)

1.

A geometric progression, G.P. is a number sequence where each tem after the first term is obtained by
multiplying the preceding term by a constant.

2.

The constant is known as the common ratio.

3.

The common ratio, r, is defined by

r=

4.

Tn + 1
Tn

where Tn+1 = (n +1)th term,

Tn = nth term.

Steps to determine whether a given number sequence is an G.P.;

(a)

Take any three consecutive terms in a given number sequence; Tn, T n+1, T n+2.
T
T
(b)
Calculate the values of n +1 and n + 2
Tn
Tn+1
T
T
(c) If n +1 = n + 2 , then the number sequence is a G.P..
Tn Tn+1
(d)

5.

Tn +1 Tn + 2
then the number sequence is not a G.P.

Tn Tn+1

If

The nth term, Tn of a G.P.;

Tn = ar n - 1

where a = first term,

r = common ratio.

6.

A G.P. can be written as a, ar, ar2 , ar3 ,

7.

If the three consecutive terms of a G.P. are, a, b and c,

then;

b
a

c
b

b2 = ac

b = ac , b is the geometric mean of a and c

8.

The sum of the first n terms, Sn, of a G.P.;

S =
n

a(r n 1)
, for r > 1
r 1

or
a(1 r n )
S =
, for r < 1
n
1 r

where a = first term, r = common ratio.

9.

Sum to Infinity, S, of a G.P.

For the case of -1 < r < 1, the sum of the first n terms of a G.P.;
Sn =

a( 1 r n )
1 r ,

when n , r n

a
=

1 r

,1<r<1

1. The first three terms of a sequence are 2, x, 8. Find the

positive value of x so that the sequence is
(a) an arithmetic progression.
(b) an geometric progression.
[2 marks]
SPM2005/Paper 1
2. The first three positive terms of a geometric
progression are 2, p and 18. Find the value of p and the
common ratio of the progression.
[3marks]
SPM2012/Paper 1
3. It is given that the first four terms of a geometric
progression are 3, -6, 12 and x. Find the value of x.
SPM2008/Paper 1
4. Write down the sixth term and the nth term of the
geometric progression 9, 3, 1,
5. The second and fifth terms of a geometric progression

are 24 and respectively.

Calculate the first term and the common ratio.
6. Given 2 + , 6 + and 14 + are the first three
terms of a geometric progression ( 0), find
(a) the value b in terms of a.
(b) the common ratio.
7. In a geometric progression, the first term is 72 and the
fourth term is 9. Calculate the common ratio.
8. In a geometric progression, the first term is a and the
common ratio is r. Given that the third term of the
progression exceeds the second term by 12a, find the
values of r.
[3marks]
SPM2012/Paper 1

9. A geometric progression is such that the third term is

4 and the sum of the first two terms is 17 . Calculate

the possible values of common ratio.
10. Find the least number of terms for the geometric

progression 6, 3, , such that its exceeds 11 .

11. The sum of the first n terms of geometric progression 4,

12, 36, is 13 120. Find
(a) the common ratio of the progression,
(b) the value of n.
12. The first three terms of a geometric progression are x,
6, 12.
Find
(a) the value of x.
(b) the sum from the forth term to the ninth term.
[4marks]
SPM2009/Paper 1
13. The first three terms of an geometric progression are
+20 , 4 and 20 respectively. Calculate the
value of x and hence find
(a) the common ratio.
(b) the sum to infinity.
14. The first three terms of a geometric progression are 27,
18,12.

Find the sum to infinity of the geometric progression.

[3 marks]
SPM2007/Paper 1
15. Given the geometric progression -5, , , , find

the sum to infinity of the progression.

[3marks]
SPM2009/Paper 1
16. In a geometric progression, the first term is 4 and the
common ratio is r. Given that the sum to infinity of this
progression is 16, find the value of r.
[2marks]
SPM2008/Paper 1
17. The third term of a geometric progression is 16. The
sum of the third term and the fourth terms is 8. Find
(a) the first term and the common ratio of the
progression,
(b) the sum to infinity of the progression.
[4 marks]
SPM2006/Paper 1
18. It is given that 1, x2 , x4 , x6 , is a geometric
progression and its sum to infinity is 3.
Find
(a) the common ratio in terms of x.
(b) the positive value of x.
[3marks]
SPM2010/Paper 1
19. It is given that x2 , x4 , x6 , x8 ,. Is a geometric
progression such that 0 < x < 1.

The sum to infinity of this progression is .

(a) the common ratio of this progression in terms of x.
(b) the value of x
[3marks]
SPM2011/Paper 1
20. Express each of the following recurring decimals as a
fraction in its lowest term.
(a) 0. 179
(b) 2. 64
21. Given that = 1.1212121212 is a recurring

decimal, find the value of h and of k.