Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry

In this module, you will work with patterns. Recognizing and extending patterns are important
skills needed for learning concepts related to an arithmetic sequence.

After reading this module you should be able to:

1. define arithmetic sequence
2. find the nth term of arithmetic sequence
3. solve problems involving arithmetic sequence

Lesson 1: Arithmetic Sequence

A sequence or progression is a set of numbers written in succession. Each number of the

sequence is called term.
.
Arithmetic Sequence is a sequence in which each term after the first is obtained by adding a
constant d to the preceding term. The constant number d is called the common difference.

( )
Where: an = nth term
a1 = first term
d = common difference

Illustrative Example:
A. Determine whether the sequence is arithmetic. If it is, give the common difference.

1. -3, 2, 7, 12, …
2. 4, 8, 16, 32, …

Solution:
To determine whether the sequence is arithmetic, subtract each term from the
succeeding it.
1. 2 – (-3) =5
7 – 2 =5
12 – 7 = 5

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2. 8–4=4
16 – 8 = 8
32 – 16 = 16
Since the differences are not equal, the sequence is not arithmetic.

B. Give the next three terms of the sequence 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, …
Solution: a1 = 5 a6 = 25 d=4
Substituting in the formula an = a1 + (n – 1)d
The next three terms will be a7 = 5 + 6(4) = 29
a8 = 5 + 7(4) = 33
a9 = 5 + 8(4) = 37
Thus the next three terms are 29, 33, 37

C. Find the 14th term of the arithmetic sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, …

Solution: a1 = 5; n = 14; d = 2
Substituting in the formula an = a1 + (n – 1)d
a14 = 5 + (13)(2)
a14 = 5 + 26
a14 = 31
The 14th term is 31.

D. In the arithmetic sequence -7, -4, -1, 2, …, what term is 44?

Solution: a1 = -7; an = 44; d = 3
Substituting in the formula, an = a1 + (n – 1)d
44 = -7 + (n – 1) (3)
44 = -7 + 3n - 3
3n = 44 + 10
3n = 54
n= = 18
th
Therefore, 44 is the 18 term of the arithmetic sequence -7, -4, -1, 2 ….

E. The 4th term of an arithmetic sequence is 34 and the 10th term is 22. Find a1 and d,
Solution: a4 = 34; a10 = 22

Substituting in the formula, an = a1 + (n – 1)d

22 = 34 + (10 – 4)d
22 = 34 + 6d
6d = 22 – 34
6d = -12
d= = -2
For a1 an = a1 + (n – 1)d
22 = a1 + (10 – 1)(-2)
22 = a1 + (9)(-2)

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22 = a1 – 18
a1 = 22 + 18
a1 =
Thus, a1 = 40, d = -2.

Web link:
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/arithmetic-series
http://www.algebralab.org/lessons/lesson.aspx?file=Algebra_ArithSeries.xml

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRjhDjSfs6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj1JZIdIwwo

Lesson 2: Arithmetic Series

What is 1 + 2 + 3 + … + 50 + 51 + … + 98 + 99 + 100?

A famous story tells that this was the problem given by an elementary school teacher to
a famous mathematician to keep him busy. Do you know that he was able to get the sum
within second only? Can you beat that? His name was Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777 – 1885). Do
you know how he did it? Let us find out by reading this module.

A series is the indicated sum of the terms of a sequence,

An algebraic expression of the form a1 + (a1 + d) + (a1 + 2d) + … + [a1 + (n – 1)d] is called
arithmetic series.

( ) or ( )
Where: Sn = sum of terms
a1 = first term
d = common difference
an = nth term

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Illustrative Example:

A. Find the sum of the first ten terms of the arithmetic sequence 4, 10, 16, …
Solution: a1 = 4; n = 10; d = 6; S10 = ?
Substituting in the formula, ( )
( ) ( )
= 5[8 + 9(6)]
= 5(62)
S10 = 310

B. Find the sum of the first 30 natural numbers

Solution: a1 = 1; an = 30; n = 30; S30 = ?
Substituting in the formula,

= 15(31)
S30 = 465

C. Find the sum of all multiples of 3 between 1 and 100

Solution: a1 = 3; an = 99; d = 3;
an = a1 + (n – 1)d find first the number of terms
99 = 3 + (n – 1)3
99 = 3 + 3n – 3
99 = 3n
n=
n = 33 number of terms, we need to find S33

Substituting in the formula,

=
=
S30 = 1683

D. How many terms of the arithmetic sequence 20, 18, 16, … must be added so that the sum will be -
100?
Solution: a1 = 20 d = -2 Sn = -100 n=?
Substituting in the formula, ( )
( ) ( )( )

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( )

-100(2) = 42 – 2n
-200 = 42n – 2n2
2n2 – 42n – 200 = 0
n2 – 21n – 100 = 0 Divide the all terms by 2
(n – 25)(n + 4) = 0 Factor out
n – 25 = 0 n+4=0 Solve for n
n = 25 n = -4 Reject -4 since n must be a
natural number.
-

D. A stack of soap boxes has 12 boxes in the bottom row, 11 boxes in the second row, 10 in the next
row, so on. How many boxes are in the stack?

Since each succeeding row has one fewer box, and the bottom row has 12 boxes, there must be
12 rows.
12 + 11 + 10 + … + 1 given
Solution: a1 = 12; an = 1; n = 12; S12 = ?
Substituting in the formula,

= 6(13)
S30 = 78
Thus, there are 78 soap boxes in the stack.

Web link:
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/arithmetic-series
http://www.algebralab.org/lessons/lesson.aspx?file=Algebra_ArithSeries.xml

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRjhDjSfs6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj1JZIdIwwo

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Lesson 3: Geometric Sequence

A geometric sequence is a sequence in which a term is obtained by multiplying the preceding

term by a constant number, called the common ratio, r

Where: a1 = the first term

an = the nth term
r = the common ratio

Illustrative Examples:

A. Find the common ratio in the geometric sequence -1, -2, -4, -8, -16, …
Solution r= =2

r= =2

r= =2

r= =2
The common ratio is 2, r = 2

B. Find the tenth term of the geometric sequence 2, 4, 8, …

`
Solution: a1 = 2; r = 2; n = 10
Substituting to the formula
a10 = 2(2)10-1
a10 = 2(2)9
a10 = 1024 the tenth term

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C. Find r in a geometric sequence if the first term is and the eight term is .

Solution: a1 = ; a8 = ;n=8
Substituting to the formula
= (r)8-1
= r7
=
128(3) = 3r7
384 = 3r7
r7 =
r7 = 128
√ √
r=2 the common ratio

Web link:
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sequences-sums-geometric.html
https://www.mathplanet.com/education/algebra-2/sequences-and-series/geometric-sequences-and-
series

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xbormMmuK4

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Lesson 4: Geometric Series

A geometric series is the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence.

Illustrative Examples:

A. Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the geometric sequence 2, 8, 32, 128,…
Solution: a1 = 2 r = 4 n = 5
Substituting in the formula,
( )

( )

( )

S5 = 682

B. Find a1 if S4 = and r = .
Solution: S4 = r= n=4 a1 = ?

Substituting in the formula,

( )

( )

( ) ● 81 LCD

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 Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry
( )
( ( ) )

( )

26(-189) = 27(a1 81)

-4914 = -27a1 – 2187
-4914 + 2187 = -27a1
-2727 = -27a1
a1 =

a1 = 101

C. A contract specifies that Marlyn Cruz will receive a 5% pay increase each year for next 30 years. She
is paid P120,000 the first year. What is her total lifetime salary over a 30-year period.

On the first year, her salary is 120 000

On the second year, it will be 120 000 + (120 000)(0.5) = 126 000
which is the same with 120 000(1.05) = 126 000
On the third year, it will be 126 000(1.05) = 132 300

The first 3 terms of the geometric series are

120 000 + 126 000 + 132 300 + …

Solution: a1 = 120 000 r = 1.05 n = 30

Substituting in the formula,
( )

( )

S30 = 7 972 800

Thus, Marlyn’s lifetime salary will be P7 972 800

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Web link:
https://www.purplemath.com/modules/series5.htm
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/geometric-series

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYg5gKlJjHc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcnblnEsf98

Lesson 5: Infinite Geometric sequence

An infinite geometric series is the sum of an infinite geometric sequence. This series would have
no last term.

The sum of an infinite geometric series is given by:

Sn = , where | |

Illustrative Examples:
Find the sum of each infinite geometric series

A.

Solution: r= = since: < 1, possible to get the sum

a1 = r=

Sn = Formula

=( )( ) Multiply the numerator and denominator with the

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 Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry

LCD, 2 is the LCD

=( )

=( )

B. 2, , +…

Solution: r= = since: 0 < < 1, possible to get the sum

a1 = 2 r=

Sn = Formula

=( )( ) Multiply the numerator and denominator with the

LCD, 3 is the LCD
=( )

=( )

= =6

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C. Show that the repeating decimals ̅̅̅̅ equals .

Solution: ̅̅̅̅ = 0.6666… =

r= = since: 0< < 1, possible to get the sum

a1 = r=

Sn = Formula

=( )( ) Multiply the numerator and denominator with

the LCD, 10 is the LCD
( )
=( ( )( ) )

=( )

= =

C. Show that the repeating decimals ̅̅̅̅ equals .

Solution: ̅̅̅̅ = 0.7777… =

r= = since: 0< < 1, possible to get the sum

a1 = r=

Sn = Formula

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 Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry

=( )( ) Multiply the numerator and denominator with

the LCD, 10 is the LCD
( )
=( ( )( ) )

=( )

Web link:
https://www.intmath.com/series-binomial-theorem/3-infinite-geometric-series.php
http://www.ltcconline.net/greenl/courses/103b/seqSeries/INFGEO.HTM

Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRRjDCHlDwg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-7kCymoUpg

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References:

https://www.chilimath.com/lessons/intermediate-algebra/arithmetic-sequence-formula/
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sequences-sums-arithmetic.html
https://www.mathplanet.com/education/algebra-2/sequences-and-series/arithmetic-sequences-and-
series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGn1lBnp8wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXFE9d-zl4
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/arithmetic-series
http://www.algebralab.org/lessons/lesson.aspx?file=Algebra_ArithSeries.xml
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRjhDjSfs6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj1JZIdIwwo
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sequences-sums-geometric.html
https://www.mathplanet.com/education/algebra-2/sequences-and-series/geometric-sequences-and-
series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xbormMmuK4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR_kQf-1fks
https://www.purplemath.com/modules/series5.htm
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/geometric-series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYg5gKlJjHc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcnblnEsf98
https://www.intmath.com/series-binomial-theorem/3-infinite-geometric-series.php
http://www.ltcconline.net/greenl/courses/103b/seqSeries/INFGEO.HTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRRjDCHlDwg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-7kCymoUp

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