Every 2 weeks, each Mayhem Motorsport employee is expected to sell 8 vehicles.

If a Mayhem Motorsport employee works for

12 weeks, how many vehicles will they be expected to sell?

In language class , the ratio of girl to boy is 5 to 8

If there are a total of 65 students , how many girls are there?

Progression
1.2 Arithmetic progression
(A) Characteristics of Arithmetic Progression
An arithmetic progression is a progression in which the difference between any
term and the immediate term before is a constant. The constant is called the
common difference, d.

d = Tn Tn-1 or d = Tn+1
Tn
Example 1:
Determine whether the following number sequences is an arithmetic progression (AP)
or not.
(a) 5, 3, 1, 1,
(b) 10, 7, 4, 1, -2,
(c) 2, 8, 15, 23,
(d) 3, 6, 12, 24,
Smart TIPS: For an arithmetic progression, you always plus or minus a fixed
number
Solution:

(B) The steps to prove whether a given number sequence is an

arithmetic progression
Step 1: List down any three consecutive terms. [Example: T1 , T2 , T3 .]

Step 2: Calculate the values of T3 T2 and T2 T1 .

Step 3: If T3 T2 = T2 T1 = d, then the number sequence is an arithmetic
progression.
[Try Question 8 and 9 in SPM Practice 1 (Arithmetic Progression)]
Example 2:
Prove whether the following number sequence is an arithmetic progression
(a) 7, 10, 13,
(b) 20, 15, 9,
Solution:
(a)
7, 10, 13 (Step 1: List down T1 , T2 , T3 )
T3 T2 = 13 10 = 3 (Step 2: Find T3 T2 and T2 T1)
T2 T1 = 10 7 = 3 (Step 2: Find T3 T2 and T2 T1)
T3 T2 = T2 T1
Therefore, this is an arithmetic progression.
(b)
20, 15, 9
T3 T2 = 9 (15) = 6
T2 T1 = 15 (20) = 5
T3 T2 T2 T1
Therefore, this is not an arithmetic progression.

The nth Term of Arithmetic Progression (Examples)

Example 1:
If the 20th term of an arithmetic progression is 14 and the 40th term is 6,
Find
(a) the first term and the common difference,
(b) the 10th term.

Solution:
(a)
T20 = 14
a + 19d = 14 ----- (1) (Tn = a + (n 1) d
T40 = 6
a + 39d = 6 ----- (2)
(2) (1),
20d = 20
d=1
Substitute d = 1 into (1),
a + 19 ( 1) = 14
a = 33
(b)
T10 = a + 9d
T10 = 33 + 9 ( 1)
T10 = 24

Example 2:
The 3rd term and the 7th term of an arithmetic progression are 20 and 12 respectively.
(a) Calculate the 20th term.
(b) Find the term whose value is 34.

Solution:
(a)
T3 = 20

a + 2d = 20 ----- (1) (Tn = a + (n 1) d

T7 = 12
a + 6d = 12 ----- (2)
(2) (1),
4d = 8
d=2
Substitute d = 2 into (1),
a + 2 ( 2) = 20
a = 24
T20 = a + 19d
T20 = 24 + 19 ( 2)
T20 = 4
(b)
Tn = 34
a + (n 1) d = 34
24 + (n 1) (2) = 34
(n 1) (2) = 58
n 1 = 29
n = 30

Example 3:
The volume of water in a tank is 75 litres on the first day. Subsequently, 15 litres of water is added
to the tank everyday.
Calculate the volume, in litres, of water in the tank at the end of the 12th day.
Solution:
Volume of water on the first day = 75l
Volume of water on the second day = 75 + 15 = 90l
Volume of water on the third day = 90 + 15 = 105l

75, 90, 105, ..

AP, a = 75, d = 90 75 = 15
Volume of water on the 12th day,
T12 = a + 11d
T12 = 75 + 11 (15)
T12 = 240l

Example 4:
The first three terms of an arithmetic progression are 72, 65 and 58.
The nth term of this progression is negative.
Find the least value of n.
Solution:
72, 65, 58
AP, a = 72, d = 65 72 = 7

The nth term is negative,

Tn < 0
a + (n 1) d < 0
72 + (n 1) (7) < 0
(n 1) (7) < 72
n 1 > 72/ 7
n 1 > 10.28
n > 11.28
n must be integer, n = 12, 13, 14, .
Therefore, the least value of n = 12.
If a, b, c are three consecutive terms of an arithmetic progression, then
cb=b-a
Example:
If x + 1, 2x + 3 and 6 are three consecutive terms of an arithmetic progression, find the value of x and
its common difference.

The Number Of Terms In An Arithmetic Progression

Hint : You can find the number of term in an arithmetic
progression if you know the last term
Find the number of terms for each of the following arithmetic progressions.
(a) 5, 9, 13, 17... , 121
(b) 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75,..., 8

1.4 Sum of the First n Terms of an Arithmetic Progression

(F) Sum of the First n terms of an Arithmetic Progressions

Sn=n2[2a+(n1)d] Sn=n2(a+l)

Sn=n2[2a+(n1)d]

Sn=n2(a+l)

a = first term
d = common difference
n = the number of term
Sn = the sum of first n terms
Example:
Calculate the sum of each of the following arithmetic progressions.
(a) -11, -8, -5, ... up to the first 15 terms.
(b) 8,10,13,...

up to the first 13 terms.

(c) 5, 7, 9,....., 75 [Smart TIPS: The last term is given, you can find the
number of term, n]

Solution:
(a)

11,8,5,.....Find S15a=11,d=8
(11)=3S15=152[2a+14d]S15=152[2(11)+14(3)]=15011,8,5,.....Find S15a=
11,d=8(11)=3S15=152[2a+14d]S15=152[2(11)+14(3)]=150

(b)

8,1012,13,.....Find S13a=8d=10128=52S13=132[2a+12d]S13=132[2(8)+12(52)]=2
998,1012,13,.....Find S13a=8d=10128=52S13=132[2a+12d]S13=132[2(8)+12(52)]
=299
(c)

5,7,9,.....,75(The last term l=75)a=5d=75=2Sn=n2(a+l)S36=362(5+75)=144

0The last term l=75Tn=75a+(n1)d=755+(n1)(2)=75(n1)
(2)=70n1=35n=365,7,9,.....,75(The last term l=75)a=5d=75=2Sn=n2(a+l)S36
=362(5+75)=1440The last term l=75Tn=75a+(n1)d=755+(n1)(2)=75(n1)
(2)=70n1=35n=36

1.6 The nth Term of Geometric Progressions

(C) The nth Term of Geometric Progressions

=ar

n1

Tn=arn1

a = first term
r = common ratio
n = the number of term
Tn = the nth term
Example 1:
Find the given term for each of the following geometric progressions.
(a) 8 ,4 ,2 ,...... T8
(b) 1627 , 89 , 43

,.....

1627, 89, 43,..... , T6

Solution:

T n =ar n1 T 1 =ar 11 =ar 0 =a (First term)T 2 =ar 21 =ar 1 =ar

(Second term)T 3 =ar 31 =ar 2 (Third term)T 4 =ar 41 =ar 3
(Fourth term) Tn=arn1T1=ar11=ar0=a (First term)T2=ar21=ar1=ar (Sec
ond term)T3=ar31=ar2 (Third term)T4=ar41=ar3 (Fourth term)

(a)

8, 4, 2, .....a=8, r=48 =12 T

=ar

=8(12 )

=116

8, 4, 2, .....a=8, r

=48=12T8=ar7T8=8(12)7=116
(b)
1627

89

43

, .....a=1627 r=T

=1627

89

=23 T

=ar

=1627 (23 )

5126561

(D) The Number of Term of a Geometric Progression

Smart TIPS: You can find the number of term in an arithmetic progression if
you know the last term
Example 2:
Find the number of terms for each of the following geometric progressions.
(a) 2, 4, 8, .., 8192
(b) 14, 16, 19,
(c)

....., 1672914, 16, 19, ....., 16729

12, 1, 2,....., 6412, 1, 2,....., 64

Solution:
(a)

2, 4, 8,....., 8192(Last term is given)

(b)

(c)

12, 1, 2,....., 64a=12, r=21=2Tn=64arn1=64(12)

(2)n1=64(2)n1=642(2)n1=128(2)n1=(2)7n1=7n=812, 1,
2,....., 64a=12, r=21=2Tn=64arn1=64(12)
(2)n1=64(2)n1=642(2)n1=128(2)n1=(2)7n1=7n=8

(E) Three consecutive terms of a geometric progression

If e, f and g are 3 consecutive terms of GP, then

gf=fe

gf=fe

Example 3:

If p + 20,p 4, p 20 are three consecutive terms of a geometric progression, find the value
of p.
Solution:
p20p4=p4p+20(p+20)(p20)=(p4)(p4)p2400=p28p+168p=416p=52

Example 1:
The sixth term of a geometric progression is 32 and the third term is 4. Find the first term and the
common ratio.

Smart TIPS: Solving the simultaneous equation of a and r. Using the formula T n = a r n1
Solution:

T6=32ar5=32 ----- (1)T3=4ar2=4 ----- (2)(1)(2)=ar5ar2=324r3=8r=2Substitute r=2 into (2)

,a(2)2=4a=1
Example 2:
In a geometric progression, the sum of the second term and the third term is 12 and the sum of the
third term and the fourth term is 4, find the first term and the common ratio.
[Smart TIPS: Solving simultaneous equation to find a and r]
Solution:

T2 + T3 = 12
ar + ar2 = 12
ar (1 + r) = 12 ----- (1) (Factorisation)
T3 + T4 = 4
ar2 + ar3 = 4
ar2 (1 + r) = 4 ----- (2)
(2)(1)=ar2(1+r)ar(1+r)=412r=13Substitute

r=13 into (1),a(13)(1+13)=12a=27

Example 3
Find which term in the progression 3, 12, 48, , ... is the first to exceed 1 000 000.
[Smart TIPS: Using Tn formula for solving n]
Solution:

3, 12, 48, .....GP, a=3, r=T2T1=123=4Tn>1000000(3)(4)n1>1000000(4)n1>10000003 [(3)

(4)n112n1]log4n1>log10000003 (Put log for both sides)(n1)lg4>lg10000003 (lo
gamn=nlogam)(n1)(0.6021)>5.523n1>9.17n>10.17n=11 (n is an integer
)Check:T11=(3)(4)10T11=3145728>1000000
Three consecutive terms of a geometric progression
If e, f and g are 3 consecutive terms of GP, then

gf=fegf=fe

Example

If

p+20,p4, p20p+20,p4, p20

the value of p.

are three consecutive terms of a geometric progression, find

Solution
p20p4=p4p+20p20p4=p4p+20

(P+20)(p20)=(p4)(p4)(P+20)(p20)=(p4)(p4)
p2400=p28p+16p2400=p28p+16
8p=4168p=416
p=52

1.8 Sum To Infinity Of Geometric Progressions

1.8 Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

(G) Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

S=a1r, 1<r<1

S=a1r, 1<r<1

a = first term
r = common ratio
S = sum to infinity
Example:
Find the sum to infinity of each of the following geometric progressions.
(a) 8, 4, 2, ...
(b) 23, 29, 227,

.....23, 29, 227, .....

(c) 3, 1,

, .

Solution:
(a)
8, 4, 2, .
a = 2, r = 4/8 =
S = 8 + 4 + 2 + 0.5 + 0.25 + 0.125 + 0.0625 + 0.03125 + ..

S=a1r=2112=4S=a1r=2112=4
(b)
23, 29, 227,

.....a=23, r=2/92/3=13S=a1rS=23113=123, 29, 227, .....a=23, r=2/92/3=13S=a

1rS=23113=1

(c)

3, 1, 13, .....a=3, r=13S=a1rS=3113=32/3=923, 1, 13, .....a=3, r=13S=a1rS=3113=32/

3=92

(H) Recurring Decimal

Example of recurring decimal:
29=0.2222222222222.....833=0.242424242424.....41333=0.123123123123.....29=0.222

2222222222.....833=0.242424242424.....41333=0.123123123123.....

Recurring decimal can be changed to fraction using the sum to infinity formula:

S=a1r

S=a1r

Example (Change recurring decimal to fraction)

Express each of the following recurring decimals as a fraction in its lowest terms.
(a) 0.8888 ...
(b) 0.171717...
(c) 0.513513513 .
Solution:
(a)
0.8888 = 0.8 + 0.08 + 0.008 +0.0008 + .. (recurring decimal)

GP, a=0.8, r=0.080.8=0.1S=a1rS=0.810.1S=0.80.9S=89check using calcul

ator

89=0.888888....GP, a=0.8, r=0.080.8=0.1S=a1rS=0.810.1S=0.80.9S

=89check using calculator 89=0.888888....

(b)

0.17171717 ..
= 0.17 + 0.0017 + 0.000017 + 0.00000017 + ..

GP, a=0.17, r=0.00170.17=0.01S=a1rS=0.1710.01=0.170.99=1799remember to c

heck theanswer using calculatorGP, a=0.17, r=0.00170.17=0.01S=a1rS=0.171
0.01=0.170.99=1799remember to check theanswer using calculator
(c)

0.513513513..
= 0.513 + 0.000513 + 0.000000513 + ..

GP, a=0.513, r=0.005130.513=0.001S=a1rS=0.51310.001=0.5130.999=513999=1937GP,

a=0.513, r=0.005130.513=0.001S=a1rS=0.51310.001=0.5130.999=513999=
1937