11

8
PRECALCULUS
QUARTER 1 – MODULE 6

A SERIES OF VALUABLE
LESSONS: Episode 1
PRE-CALCULUS QUARTER 1 MODULE 6
PART I.
Introduction

By the end of this module, you should be able to (a) illustrate a

series, (b) differentiate it from a sequence, (c) illustrate the different
types of series, and (d) solve problems involving series.

Pretest
Directions: Read each item very carefully. Then, choose an answer.
1. Which of the following situations illustrates a series?
a. The population of bacteria after some time, given that it doubles every
second
b. The number of chairs in the 10th row of a theater if the next row has 2
chairs more than the previous
c. The amount of money Alex will have saved by the end of the month if he
increases his savings by 5 pesos per day
d. The height of the 6th bounce of a ball, given that the next bounce is lower
than the previous by 10%
2. Which of the following is an example of an arithmetic series?
a. 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 c. 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 + 8
1 1 1 1 1 1
b. 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + 48 + 96 d. 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8

3. What is the common ratio in the geometric series 16 + 24 + 36 + 54 + 81

2 3
a. 8 b. 3 c. 2 d. cannot be determined
4. What is the 8 term of the sequence whose 𝑛th term is defined as
th

𝑎𝑛 = (−1)𝑛 (3𝑛 − 2)?

a. 22 b. −22 c. 26 d. −26
5. Evaluate: 5 − 7 + 9 − 11 + 13 − 15 + ⋯ − 127.
a. −15 b. −31 c. −60 d. −62
6. Find the sum of the infinite geometric series below.
1 1 1 1
2+1+ + + + +⋯
2 4 8 16
a. 3. 9 b. 4 c. 8 d. cannot be solved
7. What is the general expression for the 𝑛th term of the series
4 9 16 25 36
− + − + − ?
3 5 7 9 11
(−1)𝑛+1(𝑛+1)2 (−1)𝑛 (𝑛+1)2 (−1)𝑛−1 (𝑛+1)2 (𝑛+1)2
a. b. c. d. −
2𝑛+1 2𝑛+1 2𝑛+1 2𝑛+1

8. How many terms are there in an arithmetic sequence with first term 12,
common difference −2, and last term −26?
a. 18 b. 19 c. 20 d. 21
9. What three numbers can be inserted between 81 and 16, so that the five
numbers form a geometric sequence?
a. 54, 36, 24 c. both a and b are correct
b. -54, 36, -24 d. neither a nor b is correct

1
 10. Ninety books are to be divided among 5 pupils so that the numbers of
books they receive form an arithmetic sequence. How many books in all
will the first and the last pupils receive?
a. 27 b. 36 c. 45 d. 54
Presentation/Discussion
MELCs 12 and 13: Illustrate a series and differentiate a series from a
sequence.

A sequence is a list of numbers while a series is a sum of numbers. In a

sequence, the numbers (called terms) are separated by commas, while in a
series, they are separated by plus or minus signs.
Every sequence has an associated series. For example, the sequence
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is associated to the series is 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7. The sequence
with general or 𝑛th term 𝑎𝑛 is usually denoted by {𝑎𝑛 }, and the associated
series is given by 𝑆 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ⋯ 𝑎𝑛 .
Illustrative Example 1
Find the first four terms of the sequence whose 𝑛th term is defined by {3𝑛 −
1}. Then, give its associated series.

Solution:

1. First 4 terms:
𝑎1 = 3(1) − 1 = 2, 𝑎2 = 3(2) − 1 = 5
𝑎3 = 3(3) − 1 = 8, 𝑎4 = 3(4) − 1 = 11
2. Associated series: 𝑆 = 2 + 5 + 8 + 11

Illustrative Example 2
Find the first four terms of the sequence whose 𝑛th term is defined by
{(−1)𝑛 (2𝑛 + 3)}. Then, give its associated series.

Solution:

1. First 4 terms:
𝑎1 = (−1)1 [2(1) + 3] = (−1)(5) = −5
𝑎2 = (−1)2 [2(2) + 3] = (1)(7) = 7
𝑎3 = (−1)3 [2(3) + 3] = (−1)(9) = −9
𝑎4 = (−1)4 [2(4) + 3] = (1)(11) = 11
2. Associated series: 𝑆 = −5 + 7 − 9 + 11

Arithmetic Series
An arithmetic series is the sum of sequence in which each term is
computed from the previous by adding a constant called common difference
(𝑑). The 𝑛th term (𝑎𝑛 ) of an arithmetic sequence is computed using the
formula
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑.
2
 where 𝑎1 is the first term and 𝑛 refers to the position of the term we
want to compute.
Here are some examples of this type of series:
a. 3 + 7 + 11 + 15 + 19
b. −5 − 4 − 3 − 2 − 1
c. 2 − 4 + 6 − 8 + 10 − 12
To evaluate the sum (𝑆𝑛 ) of an arithmetic series with 𝑛 terms, we
may use any of the following:
𝑛(𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛 ) 𝑛[2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 ]
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑛 =
2 2
Illustrative Example 1
Evaluate: 𝑆 = 5 − 7 + 9 − 11 + 13 − 15 + ⋯ − 127.
We may split it into two different series and separately evaluate each sum. To
obtain the final answer, we will add the two sums. We will use the formula
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 to determine the number of terms each series has.
𝑆1 = 5 + 9 + 13 + ⋯ + 125
𝑆2 = −7 − 11 − 15 − ⋯ − 127
First series: 125 = 5 + (𝑛 − 1)4 → 𝑛 = 31
Second series: −127 = −7 + (𝑛 − 1)(−4) → 𝑛 = 31
31(5 + 125) 31(−7 + (−127))
𝑆 = 𝑆1 + 𝑆2 = + = 2015 − 2077 = −62
2 2
● Hence, 𝑆 = 5 − 7 + 9 − 11 + 13 − 15 + ⋯ − 127 = −62.
Illustrative Example 2
What are the first three terms of the arithmetic sequence whose 20 th and 28th
terms are 93 and 133, respectively?
We will plug in the known values to the formula 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 to form a
system of linear equations. Next, we will perform elimination to solve for 𝑎1
and 𝑑. Then, we will find 𝑎2 and 𝑎3 .
𝑎1 + 19𝑑 = 93
𝑎1 + 27𝑑 = 133
Eliminating 𝑎1 by subtraction
−8𝑑 = −40 → 𝑑 = 5
Using this value, we compute 𝑎1 .
𝑎1 + 19(5) = 93 → 𝑎1 = −2
● Hence, 𝑎1 = −2, 𝑎2 = −2 + (1)(5) = 3, and 𝑎3 = −2 + (2)(5) = 8.
Geometric Series
A geometric series is the sum of sequence in which each term is
computed from the previous by multiplying a constant called common
3
ratio (𝑟). The 𝑛th term (𝑎𝑛 ) of a geometric sequence is computed using
the formula
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 .
where 𝑎1 is the first term and 𝑛 refers to the position of the term
we want to compute. Here are some examples of this type of series:
a. 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + 48 + 96
b. 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5
1 1 1 1 1
c. 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32

To evaluate the sum (𝑆𝑛 ) of a geometric series with 𝑛 terms, we

may use the following formulae:
𝑎1 (1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 = , 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑛, 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 1.
(1 − 𝑟 )
Meanwhile, when −1 < 𝑟 < 1, we say that the series
𝑆 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎1 𝑟 + 𝑎1 𝑟 2 + ⋯ + 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 + ⋯
is infinite geometric, and its sum is given by
𝑎1
𝑆= .
1−𝑟
A popular example of an infinite geometric series is
1 1 1 1 1
𝑆= + + + + +⋯
2 4 8 16 32
whose infinite sum is 1. To make sense, take any sheet of paper, cut it
into two equal parts, and take one of the halves. Again, cut this half into
two equal parts, and keep doing the process until you observe a pattern
and understand why the sum of such infinite series is 1.
Illustrative Example 1
Evaluate: 𝑆 = 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + 48 + ⋯ + 3072.
● First, we find the position of 3072 in the series using 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 .
Then, we will use the formula 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 , with 𝑟 = 2.
3072 = 3(2)𝑛−1 210 = 2𝑛−1 → 𝑛 = 11

3(1 − 211 )
𝑆= = 6, 141.
(1 − 2)
Illustrative Example 2
What three numbers should be inserted between 81 and 16, so that
the five numbers form a geometric sequence?

● First, compute the possible common ratio/ratios. It is implied

that 16 is the 5𝑡ℎ term, so 𝑛 = 5 and 𝑛 − 1 = 4.
16 = 81(𝑟)4

4
 16 2
𝑟4 = →𝑟=±
81 3
2 2
● Since 𝑟 is either 3 or − 3, this means we have two sets of numbers.
2 2 2 2 3
Set 1: 𝑎2 = 81 (3) = 54, 𝑎3 = 81 (3) = 36, 𝑎4 = 81 (3) = 24
2 2 2 2 3
Set 2: 𝑎2 = 81 (− 3) = −54, 𝑎3 = 81 (− 3) = 36, 𝑎4 = 81 (− 3) = −24

Illustrative Example 3
The Cantor set is formed as follows: Divide a segment of one unit
into three equal parts. Remove the middle one-third of the segment. From
each of the remaining segments, remove the middle third. This process is
continued indefinitely. Find the total length of the segment removed.

● In the first iteration, we remove 13 unit. So 𝑎1 = 13.

● Next, we remove the middle third from each of the remaining
1 2
parts. That implies removing of the remaining of the segment.
3 3
1 2 2 4
Therefore, 𝑎2 = 3 (3) = 9 . So what is left now is of the segment.
9
● Then, we remove 13 of the remaining 49 . That is, 𝑎3 = 13 (49) = 27
4
.
● At this point, we begin to notice the pattern on how to determine
the total lengths of the identical segments that are removed
1 2 𝑛−1
during a particular iteration, and it is given by 𝑎𝑛 = 3 (3) .
Finding the next total lengths, we have the series
1 2 4 8 16
𝑆= + + + + +⋯
3 9 27 81 243
1

whose infinite sum is 3

2 = 1.
1−
3
● Hence, the total length of the segments to be removed is 1 unit.
Fibonacci Sequence
The sequence {𝑎𝑛 } defined by 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛−1 + 𝑎𝑛−2 for 𝑛 ≥ 3, where 𝑎1 =
𝑎2 = 1, is called a Fibonacci sequence. Its terms are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ….
Harmonic Sequence
If {𝑎𝑛 } is an arithmetic sequence, then the sequence with 𝑛th term
1
𝑏𝑛 = 𝑎 is a harmonic sequence. Some examples of this sequence are:
𝑛

1 1 1 1 1
a. ,4 ,5 ,6 ,7
3
4 4 2
b. 2 , 3 , 1 , 5 , 3

5
PART II. ACTIVITIES
Activity I. 5-STAR GENERAL
Directions: Find the first five terms of the sequence whose general term is
defined in each item. Then, give its associated series.

1. {4 − 2𝑛}
2. {(−1)𝑛 (3𝑛 − 2)}
3. {𝑛2 + 3𝑛 + 2}
(𝑛+1)2
4. { 2𝑛+1 }
5. {1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ + 𝑛}

Activity II. THE N

Directions: Inspect the series and determine the expression for its nth term.

1. 𝑆 = 4 + 11 + 18 + 25 + 32
1 1 1
2. 𝑆 = −2 + 1 − 2 + 4 − 8

3. 𝑆 = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5
4. 𝑆 = 9 + 16 + 25 + 36 + 49
3 4 5 6
5. 𝑆 = 2 + 8 + 27 + 64 + 125

Activity III. YOU ARE VALUED

Directions: Use the formulae presented in this module to evaluate each.
1. −2 + 4 + 10 + 16 + ⋯ + 184
2. 3 − 8 + 13 − 18 + 23 − 28 + ⋯ − 1, 008
3. −2 + 6 − 18 + 54 − ⋯ − 13, 122
1 1 1 1 1
4. 2
+ 4 + 8 + 16 + ⋯ + 1024
2 3 9 27 81
5. + 10 + 40 + 160 + 640 + ⋯
5

𝑨𝑵𝑺𝑾𝑬𝑹 𝑲𝑬𝒀

6
PART III. SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
A. Read each item very carefully. Then, choose an answer.
1. Which of the following situations illustrates a series?
a. The population of bacteria after some time, given that it
doubles every second
b. The number of chairs in the 10th row of a theater if the
next row has 2 chairs more than the previous
c. The amount of money Alex will have saved by the end of
the month if he increases his savings by 5 pesos per day
d. The height of the 6th bounce of a ball, given that the next
bounce is lower than the previous by 10%
2. Which of the following statements about sequences and series
are CORRECT?
i. A sequence is a list while a series is a sum.
ii. The terms of a sequence are separated by + or -
while those of a series, by commas.
iii. Every sequence has its associated series.
a. i, ii, iii c. i, iii
b. i, ii d. ii, iii
3. What type of series is 𝑆 = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5?
a. arithmetic c. harmonic
b. geometric d. all of the choices
4. Ninety books are to be divided among 5 pupils so that the
numbers of books they receive form an arithmetic sequence.
How many books in all will the first and the last pupils receive?
a. 27 c. 45
b. 36 d. 54
5. For what values of 𝑛 will the infinite series (3𝑛 + 4) +
(3𝑛 + 4)2 + (3𝑛 + 4)3 + ⋯ + (3𝑛 + 4)𝑘 + ⋯ have a finite value?
5
a. −1 < 𝑛 < 1 c. − 3 < 𝑛 < 1
5 5 5
b. − 3 < 𝑛 < −1 d. − 3 < 𝑛 < 3

B. Inspect the series and determine the expression for its nth term.
1. 𝑆 = −6 + 10 − 14 + 18 − 22 + 26
1 1 1 1 1
2. 𝑆 = 2 + 6 + 12 + 20 + 30
3. 𝑆 = 27 + 18 + 12 + 8
2 3 9 27 81
4. 𝑆 = 5 + 10 + 40 + 160 + 640 + ⋯

C. Use the formulae presented in this module to evaluate each series.

1. 5 + 12 + 19 + 26 + ⋯ + 159
2. −3 + 6 − 9 + 12 − 15 + ⋯ − 189
3. 625 + 250 + 100 + 40 + 16
2 1 1 1 1
4. + 6 + 24 + 92 + 368 + ⋯
3