SEQUENCES

Sequence means an arrangement of numbers in a definite order according to some rule; the
numbers in this ordered list are called the ‘elements’ or the ‘terms’ of the sequence. The number
of elements (possibly infinite) is called the length of the sequence.
The terms of a sequence are denoted by a1, a2, a3, …, an, …, etc., the subscripts denote the position
of the term. The nth term is the number at the nth position of the sequence and is denoted by an.

SERIES
A series is a sequence with a specific relation between all of the terms. It is the description of the
operation of adding infinitely many quantities, one after the other, to a given starting quantity in
that sequence.
Let a1, a2, a3,…,an, be a given sequence. Then, the expression a1+ a2 + a3+,…+ an +... is called
the series associated with the given sequence.

GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
A Geometric progression (G.P.) is a sequence in which each term except the first is obtained by
multiplying the previous term by a non-zero constant called the common ratio.
For example, the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, ... is a geometric progression with common ratio 3.
Similarly 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, ... is a geometric sequence with common ratio 1/2.
The general form of a geometric sequence is a1, a1r, a1r2, a1r3, a1rn-1 , where r ≠ 0 is the common
ratio.

Sum of first n terms of a Geometric Progression

To calculate the sum of first n term of a GP use the following formula:
𝑎1(1−𝑟𝑛 ) 𝑎1(𝑟𝑛 −1)
𝑆𝑛 where r < 1 𝑆𝑛 where r > 1
1−𝑟 𝑟−1

Here n is the number of terms, a1 is the first term and r is the common ratio.
Properties of Geometric Progression
The following are the properties of the G.P:
 If we multiply or divide a constant non-zero quantity term to each term of a G.P then the
resulting term of the sequence is also in G.P with the common difference.
 In G.P reciprocal of all the term in G.P are also form a G.P.
 If all the term in a G.P is raised to the same power then the new series are also in G.P.
 Three non-zero terms x, y and z are in G.P if y² = xz