Topic

Arithmetic progression and its sum

Formula

If a is the first term and d the common difference of an arithmetic progression, then
the sum S of its first n terms is given by
S
2a + (n -

1)d).
Objective
To verify the formula for the sum of n terms of an arithmetic progression (where a
and d are both positive) through activity.
Pre-requisite knowledge
(i) Concept of an arithmetic progression Materials required
(i) Formula for the nth term of an A.P. (i) Drawing sheet
(iii) Area of a rectangle. (i) Coloured glazed papers
To the (iii) Geometry box
perform activity
(iv) Pair of scissors
Procedure
1. Cut off strips (rectangles) of length () Fevistick/gum.
a units and breadth 1 unit from a
pink coloured glazed paper.
2. Cut off strips of length d units and breadth 1 unit from a green coloured glazed
paper.
3. Arrange and paste both types of strips on a drawing sheet so as to get rectangles
of lengths a, a + d, a + 2d, (n
..., a + -

1) d and of breadth 1 unit each as

shown in fig. 5.
4. Extend the length BE by units and the
a
complete rectangle ABCD as shown in
the figure.
Result
We observe that:
0) The length of the 1last (nth) rectangle = BE + EC = [a + (n - 1) d] + a
=
2a +(n -

1) d units
(1) Breadth of the rectangle ABCD =AB = n units (because breadth of each strip is
1 unit)
 1)d] sq. units
[2a + (n -

Aea
of the rectangle ABCD = nx

iv) Total area of the coloured region

area of 1st coloured rectangle + area of 2nd coloured rectangle

of 3rd coloured
+area
rectangle+
+area of last coloured
ax1 + (a + d ) x 1 + (a + 2d) x 1 + . . . + la + (n - 1Jd] x 1
rectangle
= [a +(a + d) + (a + 2d) + .. + (a + (n - 1)d)] sq. units.

(7) Also total of the coloured region is one half of the area of the rectaneis
area
ABCD. To see this, make a replica of the coloured region and paste it on
the
uncoloured region of the rectangle ABCD. We notice that the uncoloured region
is exactly covered by the
replica.
From (iii), (iv) and (v), we get
a +(a + d ) + (a 2d) +
+ ...
+[a + (n -

1) d]
= 2a + (n - 1) d].
 D
a
t

t2 a+d

a+ 2d

a+3d

ts

a+ (n-1d

B
a+ (n-1)d
20 +(n-1)d