Arithmetic Sequences

The general term, the sum of the

first n terms
 Arithmetic Sequences
Definition: An arithmetic sequence is a sequence
of numbers in which each term is obtained from
the preceding term by adding the same amount
each time.

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 Arithmetic Sequences
Example 1: Give the common difference d for
the arithmetic sequence
4, 10, 16, 22, ...
Solution: the common difference 𝑑 = 6
…………………………………………………………………….
Example 2: Give the common difference for
100, 93, 86, 79, ....
Solution: the common difference 𝑑 = −7

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 The general term
Arithmetic Sequence: The general term of an
arithmetic progression with first term 𝑎1 and
common difference d is given by

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑

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Example 4: If 𝑎1 = 3 and 𝑑 = 2 , find 𝑎18
Solution:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
𝑎18 = 3 + 18 − 1 2
𝑎18 = 3 + 17 2 = 37

Example 5: If 𝑎1 = 2 and 𝑑 = 8 , find 𝑎9

Solution:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
𝑎9 = 𝑎1 + 9 − 1 𝑑
𝑎9 = 2 + 8 8
𝑎9 =66
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 The sum of the first n terms
Theorem: The sum of the first n terms of an
arithmetic sequence whose first term is 𝑎1 and
whose nth term is 𝑎𝑛 is given by
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛
2

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‫‪Example 7: Find 𝑎8 then compute 𝑆8‬‬
‫‪4, 8, 12, 16, ...‬‬

‫‪Solution:‬‬
‫𝑑 ‪𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1‬‬
‫‪𝑎8 = 4 + 8 − 1 4‬‬
‫‪𝑎8 = 4 + 7 4 = 32‬‬

‫𝑛‬
‫𝑛𝑎 ‪𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 +‬‬
‫‪2‬‬
‫‪8‬‬
‫‪𝑆8 = 4 + 32‬‬
‫‪2‬‬
‫‪𝑆𝑛 = 4 36 = 144‬‬
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