LESSON 3: ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE AND SERIES

ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE
Kindly take a look at these two sequences then identify which among them is arithmetic
or not.
a. -3, 1, 5, 9, 13, . . . b. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, . . .
Solution: To decide whether a sequence is arithmetic, find the differences of consecutive terms
a. -3, 1, 5, 9, 13, . . b. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, . .
a 2−a1=1−(−3 )=4 a 2−a1=5−2=3
a 3−a2=5−1=4 a 3−a2=10−5=5
a 4−a3=9−5=4 a 4−a3=17−10=7
a 5−a 4=13−9=4 a 5−a 4=26−17=4
Each difference in the first sequence is 4, so the sequence is arithmetic. The differences
in the second sequence are not constant, so the sequence is not arithmetic.
In an arithmetic sequence, the difference between consecutive terms is constant. The
constant difference is called the common difference and is denoted by d.
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence with first term a 1 and common difference d is
given by:
a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d

Watch this video to learn more about arithmetic sequence

Introduction to Arithmetic Sequence

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f8bb11595b61c86:sequences/x2f8bb11595b6
1c86:introduction-to-arithmetic-sequences/v/arithmetic-sequences

Writing a rule for the nth term

 In order to write a rule for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, we just have to
substitute the first term (a1) and the common difference (d) to the general rule of the arithmetic
sequence.
Example:
Write a rule for the nth term of the sequence 50, 44, 38, 32, . . . then find the 15th and
th
20 term.
Given: a1 = 50 d = a2 – a1
d = 44 – 50
d = -6
Solution: a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d Write the general rule
a n=50+ ( n−1 ) (−6) Substitute a1 and d
a n=56−6 n Simplify

Using the rule for the given sequence, let us find the 15th and the 20th term.

The 15th term is The 20th term is

a 15=56−6 (15) a 20=56−6 (20)
a 15=56−90 a 20=56−120
a 15=−34 a 20=−64

Finding the nth Term Given a Term and a Common Difference

The first term, common difference and n should all be present in order to find the nth
term of an arithmetic sequence. In cases that one of those requirements is missing, then we
have to use the available information to find the missing requirement first before solving for the
nth term. The process of finding the nth term given a term and a common difference can be
seen in the given example.

Example:
3
One term of an arithmetic sequence is a 13=30. The common difference is d= .
2
a. Write a rule for the nth term b. Find the first 5 terms of the sequence

Given: a13 = 30 n = 13 d = 3/2

Solution:
a. Begin by finding the first term as follows
a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d Write the rule for the nth term
a 13=a1 + ( 13−1 ) d Substitute 13 for n
3
30=a1 + ( 12 ) Substitute the value of a13 and d
2
a 1=12 Solve for a1

To find the rule for the nth term, we just have to substitute the a 1 and d to the general
rule of the arithmetic sequence.
a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d Write the general rule
 3
a n=12+ ( n−1 ) Substitute a1 and d
2
21 3
a n= + n Substitute a1 and d
2 2

b. We may use the rule for the nth term in finding the first 5 terms of the sequence
a 1=12 1st term
21 3
a 2= + (2) 2nd term
2 2
27
a 2=
2
21 3
a 3= + (3) 3rd term
2 2
a 3=15
21 3
a 4= + (4 ) 4th term
2 2
33
a 4=
2
21 3
a 5= + (5) 5th term
2 2
a 5=18

For more examples of arithmetic sequence, watch this video:

Arithmetic Sequence – Number Sense 101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXFE9d-zl4

ARITHMETIC SERIES
The expression formed by adding the terms of an arithmetic sequence is called
arithmetic series. The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic series is denoted by Sn.
The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic series is:
Sn=n ( a +a2 )
1 n

In words, Sn is the mean of the first and nth terms, multiplied by the number of terms.
We need the number of terms (n), first term ( a 1), and nth term (a n) to find the sum of the
first n terms of an arithmetic series. So, if one of those requirements is missing, then, we have
to solve for that missing requirement before solving for the sum of the first n terms of an
arithmetic series.

Example:
Consider the arithmetic series 4 + 7 + 10 + 13 + 16 + 19 + . . .
a. Find the sum of the first 30 terms b. Find n such that Sn=175

Given: a1 = 4 n = 30 an = ?

d = a2 - a1
d=7–4=3
Solution:
a. Solve first for the nth term using the formula for the arithmetic sequence
a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d Write the rule for the nth term
a n=4 + ( n−1 ) 3 Substitute a1 and d
a n=1+3 n Simplify

The 30th term is a 30=1+ 3 ( 30 )=91. So, the sum of the first 30 terms is:
a1 +a n
Sn=n ( 2 ) Write the rule for the sum of arithmetic series

4+ 91
S30=30 (
2 ) Substitute n , a1, and d

S30=1,425 Simplify
The sum of the first 30 terms is 1425

b. Sn=n ( a +a2 ) 1 n
Write the rule for the sum of arithmetic series

4 +a
175=n (
2 )
n
Substitute Sn , a1, and d

4 +(1+3 n)
175=n ( ) Substitute the rule for the nth term of arithmetic
2
sequence to a n
2
5 n+3 n =350 Multiply each side by 2
3 n2 +5 n−350=0 Write in standard form
( 3 n+35 ) ( n−10 )=0 Factor
−35
n= n=10 Choose the positive solution
3
 Therefore Sn=175, when n = 10.

For more examples of Arithmetic Series, watch this video:

Arithmetic Series – Number Sense 101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXFE9d-zl4

Practice
Test your understanding by answering the following problems.
 https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f8bb11595b61c86:sequences/x2f8bb115
95b61c86:introduction-to-arithmetic-sequences/e/arithmetic_sequences_2
 https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Algebra2/Sequences/SSArithmeticSeriesPractice.html

References

Khan, S. (Director). (2005). Introduction to Arithmetic Sequence [Video file]. Retrieved July 9,
2020, from
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f8bb11595b61c86:sequences/x2f8bb1159
5b61c86:introduction-to-arithmetic-sequences/v/arithmetic-sequences

Khan, S. (2005). Khan Academy. Retrieved July 09, 2020, from

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f8bb11595b61c86:sequences/x2f8bb1159
5b61c86:introduction-to-arithmetic-sequences/e/arithmetic_sequences_2

Number Sense 101 (Director). (2019). Arithmetic Sequence - Number Sense 101 [Video file].
Retrieved July 9, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXFE9d-zl4

Number Sense 101 (Director). (2019). Arithmetic Series - Number Sense 101 [Video file].
Retrieved July 9, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSOVC3aI6Nw

Roberts, D. (2019). MathBitsNotebook. Retrieved July 09, 2020, from

https://mathbitsnotebook.com/Algebra2/Sequences/SSArithmeticSeriesPractice.html
Class zone. (n.d.). Retrieved July 09, 2020, from
https://www.classzone.com/eservices/home/pdf/student/LA211BAD.pdf