Arithmetic and Geometric

Sequences

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 TOPICS
01 Sequences

02 Arithmetic Sequences

03 Geometric Sequences
SEQUENCES

Sequences are successions of numbers that follow a rule or

a formula. For our purposes, there are two sequences -
geometric and arithmetic sequences.
Example:
{2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
PARTS OF A SEQUENCE

Extremes Extremes
{2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
Means

The numbers at the end/s of the sequence are the

extremes. The numbers in between are called the means.
All the elements of the sequence are called terms.
TYPES OF SEQUENCES

Depending on the sequence, it can be either

infinite or finite. Finite sequences always have an
extreme on both ends, while infinite sequences
often contain ellipses and also have only one or
no extreme at all.
SAMPLE SEQUENCES

1. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ....} Infinite

2. {1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ...., 101} Finite

3. {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ....} Infinite

GENERAL TERM

All the terms in a sequence are bounded by a rule

or formula. The formula is known as the general
term.

The general term/formula can be used to find any

term in a sequence.
GENERAL TERM
Sample sequence:

The sequence {2, 3, 4, 5, ...} has a general formula

of an = n + 1
an - "a sub n" means the nth term (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)
The sequence follows that the nth term can be found by adding
one to the order of the term. (1 + 1, 2 + 1, 3 + 1)
GENERAL TERM

Note. Not all sequences have the same formula!

Each sequence has a unique formula so there is no

one-size-fits-all solution!
 HOW TO FIND THE GENERAL TERM
Find the difference
Condition 1
d=an-a(n-1)
Ex: {7, 9, 11, 13, 15} an is the last term in the sequence and
a(n-1) is the previous term
7 9 11 13 15, ....
d= 13 - 11
2 2 2 2 d=2
Initial Formula: an = 2n Adjust the formula
a1 = 2(1) = 2 2(1) + b = 7 2+b=7
-2 -2
a2 = 2(2) = 4 2(2) + b = 9 4
-4
+ b = 9
-4 b= 5
a3 = 2(3) = 6 6 + b = 11
2(3) + b = 11 -6 -6

a4 = 2(4) = 8 8 + b = 13 an = 2n + 5
2(4) + b = 13 -8 -8
10+ b = 15
a5 = 2(5) = 10 2(5)+ b = 15 -10 -10
 HOW TO FIND THE GENERAL TERM
If the first difference of an is not constant, take
the second difference.
Condition 2
Ex: {3, 7, 15, 27, 43,...} Since the second difference is a constant,
3 7 15 27 43, .... therefore the general term of the given sequence is
quadratic.
4 8 12 16
Initial formula: an^2 + b(n) + c
4 4 4
 HOW TO FIND THE GENERAL TERM
Condition 2
3 7 15 27 43, .... Initial formula: an^2 + b(n) + c

4 8 12 16 a = 1/2 second difference

a = 4/2 = 2
4 4 4

n=1 2(1)^2+ b(1) + c = 2 + b + c = 3 b+c=1

-2 -2
n=2 2(2)^2 + b(2) + c = 8 + 2b + c = 7 2b + c = -1
-8 -8

[ b+c=1
2b + c = -1 ] b+c=1
-c -c
= b=1-c b = 1 - (3)
b = -2
a = 2, b = -2, c = 3

2(1-c) + c = -1 2 - c = -1 -c = -3 = c = 3
-2 -2
General term = 2n^2 -2n +3
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES

Sequences with a constant common difference.

The difference between any two consecutive
terms remains constant.

It can be descending or ascending, depending on

the sign of the common difference.
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES

The following formula can be used to solve for

SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASS / LAMFORD SCHOOL

the nth term in a sequence:
TODAY'S TOPIC / BRIEF INTRODUCTION

an= a1+ (n - 1)d

 EXAMPLE

For an arithmetic sequence

SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASS / LAMFORD SCHOOL

TODAY'S TOPIC / BRIEF INTRODUCTION

{ -1, -3, -5, -7, ...}

find the 30th term.

 EXAMPLE

an= a1+ (n - 1)d

a30= -1 + (30 - 1)(-2)
a30= -1 + -58
a30= -59
The 30th term is -59. Always label your answers!
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES

Try it on your own!

find a15 in the following sequences:

{10, 7, 4, 3, ....}

{17, 19, 21, 23, ...}

 ARITHMETIC MEAN AND SERIES

Arithmetic means are the numbers in between

the ends in arithmetic sequences.

The arithmetic series, on the other hand, is the

sum of the first n terms in an arithmetic
sequence.
 GETTING THE ARITHMETIC MEAN

We usually get the mean by knowing the common

difference.

For example, in the sequence {2, _, 6, 8, ...} know

that it is 4. We always find the common
difference. In this case, it is two.
 ARITHMETIC SERIES

The arithmetic series' formula is defined below:

Sn= n/2 ( an+ a1)

It's also known as the average of the first and last term,
multiplied by the number of terms.
 ARITHMETIC SERIES

Example, let's get the sum of all the terms in the

finite sequence {1, 3, 5, 7, ..., 101}

(Jamboard)
 ARITHMETIC SERIES

Your turn! Try getting the arithmetic series of the

following finite sequence:

{5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ..., 105}

 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES
- Is a sequence where each term after the first is obtained by
multiplying the preceding term called the common ratio.

Ex: {2,4,8,16,32,64,128,...}
This sequence has a factor of 2 between each number
Each term (except the first term) is found by multiplying the previous term by 2.

-Common Ratio (r) can be determined by dividing any term.

R= a
____
2 =
a3
____ = a4
____
a1 a2 a3
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES
The following formula can be used for geometric sequences.

common ratio

n-1
TAKE NOTE
an = a 1(r) term position
The common ratio cannot be 0.
n is the position of the term in the
sequence. For example, the second first term
term is n = 2, the fourth term is n = 4
the seventh term is n=7, and so on.
TEST #1
Identify the means and extremes, whether the sequence
is arithmetic or geometric, and if the sequence is infinite
or finite.
1. ..., 5, 25, 125, 625,...
2. -3, -6, -9, -12, -15
3. -8, -5, -2, 1, 4, 7, 10,...,91
4. x + 3y, 4x + 4y, 7x + 5y...
5. 2, 2/3, 2/9, 2/27, 2/81
TEST #1
Identify the means and extremes, whether the sequence
is arithmetic or geometric, and if the sequence is infinite
or finite.
1. ..., 5, 25, 125, 625,... means: 5, 25, 125, 625 extremes: none geometric; infinite
2. -3, -6, -9, -12, -15 means: -6, -9, -12 extremes: -3, -15 arithmetic; finite
3. -8, -5, -2, 1, 4, 7, 10,...,91 means: -5, -2, 1, 4, 7, 10 extremes: -8, -91 arithmetic; finite
4. x + 3y, 4x + 4y, 7x + 5y... means: 4x + 4y extremes: x+3y, 7x+5y arithmetic; infinite
5. 2, 2/3, 2/9, 2/27, 2/81 means: 2/3,2/9,2/27 extremes: 2, 2/81 geometric; finite
TEST #2
Find the value of an and the common ratio.

1. 5, 25, 125, 625, ..., a12

2. 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, ..., a6

3. x, x, x, ..., a42
2 6 10
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