Chapter 6 - LMS - Sequence & Series

8/1/2018 German Malaysian Institute LMS - Sequence & Series
Sequence & Series
Table of Contents
Sequence & Series

5.3 Arithmetic Series
5.4 Geometric Series
5.5 Binomial Expansion
Sequence & Series
Hide Advanced Knowledge

Sequence
A
sequence
is a set of
numbers
arranged
in a
particular order.
A few examples of sequences are:
a) 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
b) 3, 9, 27, 81, . . . , 3 , . . .
n
c)
1 1 1 1 1
, , , ,..., n ,...
2 4 8 16 2
– – – –
d) √ 1, √ 2, √ 3, √ 4
e)
1 1
−1, , −1, ,...
2 2
Each number in a sequence is called a term.
In example (a) above, the first number, 2 is called the first term. 4 is the second term
and so on. The last number, 10 is called the last term. General term is known as the n th
term. for this sequence the n th term can be written as 2n
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A sequence with a fixed number of terms is called a finate sequence,
whereas the one with an infinite number of terms is called an infinite sequence.
Generally, a sequence is written in the general form or n th term, an .
The set a1 , a2 , a3 . . . an is for the finite and
a1 , a2 , a3 . . . an . . . for the infinite sequences,
where n is an integer positive.
It can also be presented as {ai }n

i=1
and {ai }∞
i=1
respectively.
Series
The sum of the

terms in a
sequence is called
a series.
For example,
if
a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an
is a sequence,
then
a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n is a series.
Series obtained from a finate sequence is called a finite series and
that obtained from infinite sequence is called infinite series.
Usually series are presented using a summation notation symbol Σ called sigma.
For example
a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n can be written as ∑ ai for finite series and

i=1
a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n +. . . can be written as ∑ ai for infinite series.

i=1
If a series is written in Σ notation, the index must be from what it starts and up to what
it ends.
However, it does not necessarily start from i = 1 and the alphabets can be other than i .
5.3 Arithmetic Series
5.3.1 Arithmetic sequence
An arithmetic sequence or
arithmetic progression (AP) is a
sequence of numbers in which any term
can be obtained from the previous term
by adding a fixed number, known as the
common difference.
Consider the sequence of the form

3, 5, 7, 9, . . . , 2n + 1, . . .
Note that each term (except the first

term) is obtained by adding a number 2
to the previous number.
This is an example of an arithmetic

sequence or arithmetic progression.
For example, the sequence 3, 6, 9, 12, . . . has the common difference of

3(6 − 3 = 9 − 6 = 3) .
5.3.2 The nth term of an arithmetic sequence
If the first term of an arithmetic sequence is a and the common difference is d, then the
arithmetic sequence can be repsesented by
a, [a + d], [a + 2d]. . . [a + (n − 1)d] .
Note that a + (n − 1)d is the n th term.
If a is the first term and d is the common difference of an arithmetic sequence, then
the n th term, is T n = a + (n − 1)d.
Example
The third term of an arithmetic sequence is 10 and the sixth term is 22.
a) Find the common difference and the first term
b) Calculate the 10
th
term
Solution (a)
T 3 = 10 = a + (3 − 1)d
a + 2d = 10 (1)
T 6 = 22 = a + (6 − 1)d
a + 5d = 22 (2)
(2) − (1) 3d = 12
d = 4
Substituting d = 4 in (1)
a + 2(4) = 10
a + 8 = 10
a = 2
Solution (b)
T n = 2 + (n − 1)4
T 10 = 2 + (10 − 1)4 = 38
5.3.3 The sum of an arithmetic series
If a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an is a finite arithmetic sequence, then a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n is a

finite arithmetic series.
The sum of these series can be calculated using two simple formulas.
If a is the first term, l is the last term and d is the common difference of a finite
arithmetic series then the sum of the first n th terms is
{2a + (n − 1)d } or {a + l}.

n n
Sn = Sn =
2 2
Example 1
Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic series
5 + 10 + 15 + 20+. . .
Solution
a = 5, d = 5, n = 20
Sn =
n
[2a + (n − 1)d ]
2
S20 =
20
[2(5) + (20 − 1)5]= 10(10 + 95) = 1050
2
Example 2
Calculate the sum of all the even numbers between and including 22 and 100.
Solution
a = 22, T n = l = 100
To find n, we use
T n = a + (n − 1)d
100 = 22 + (n − 1)2
n = 40
{a + l}= {22 + 100 }= 2440

n 40
Sn =
2 2
5.3.4 The arithmetic mean
Generally, n arithmetic means between a and c are n numbers which lie between a
and c in such away that these (n + 2) numbers are consecutive terms for an arithmetic
sequence.
If a, b, c are consecutive terms of an arithmetic sequence, then the arithmetic mean

a+c
is b =
2
.
Example 1
Find the arithmetic mean of 7 and 49.
Solution
7+49
The arithmetic mean of 7 and 49 is 2
= 28.
Example 2
Find five arithmetic means which lie between 7 and 49.
Solution
a = 7, T 7 = 49, n = 7
T 7 = 7 + (7 − 1)d = 49
⇒ d = 7
∴ the five arithmetic means are 14, 21, 28, 35, 42.
REMARK!
Arithmetic sequence
T n = a + (n − 1)d
T n = 7 + (n − 1)7
T 1 = 7 + (1 − 1)7 = 7
T 2 = 7 + (2 − 1)7 = 14
T 3 = 7 + (3 − 1)7 = 21
T 4 = 7 + (4 − 1)7 = 28
T 5 = 7 + (5 − 1)7 = 35
T 6 = 7 + (6 − 1)7 = 42
T 7 = 7 + (7 − 1)7 = 49
5.4 Geometric Series
5.4.1 Geometric sequence
Consider the sequence of the form

n−1
3, 6, 12, 24, . . . , 3(2) ,...
Note that each term (except the

first term) is obtained by
multiplying a number 2 to the
previous number.
This is an example of a geometric

sequence or geometric
progression.
A geometric sequence or
geometric progression (GP) is
a sequence of numbers in which
any term can be obtained from
the previous term by multiplying a fixed number, known as the common ratio.
For example, the sequence has the common ratio = 2) .

6 12
3, 6, 12, 24, . . . 2 ( =
3 6
5.4.2 The nth term of a geometric sequence
If the first term of a geometric sequence is a and the common ratio is r, then the
geometric sequence can be represented by
2 3 n
a, ar, ar , ar , . . . , ar ,...
Note that the nth term is ar

n−1
.
If a is the first term and r is the common ratio of a geometric sequence, then the n th
term is, T n = arn−1 .
Example 1
Find the 11
th
term of the geometric sequence 9, 3, 1,
1
,...
3
Solution
1
a = 9, r =
3
Using the formula of the n th term, T n = ar

n−1
1 10
T 11 = 9( )
3
1 1
= 8
=
6561
3
Example 2
If the second and the fifth terms of a geometric sequence are 6 and 48 respectively,
find the common ratio and the 12th terms.
Solution
T 2 = 6 = ar (1)
4
T 5 = 48 = ar (2)
(2)
Taking , we have
(1)
3 48
r = = 8
6
r = 2
Substituting r = 2 in (1) ,
T 2 = 6 = a(2)
we obtain a = 3
The 12
th
term,
11
T 12 = 3(2) = 6144
∴ the common ratio is 2 and the 12 h

t
term is 6144 .
5.4.3 The sum of a finite geometric series
If a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an is a finite geometric sequence, then a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n is a

finite geometric series.
As for arithmetic series, the sum of geometric series can also be calculated using
two formulas as indicated in the following theorem.
If a is the first term and r is the common ratio (r ≠ 1) of a finite geometric series,
then the sum of the first n th terms is
a(1−r
n
) or n
a(r −1)
Sn = for r < 1 Sn = for
1−r r−1
r > 1.
Example 1
Find the sum of the first ten terms of the geometric series 2 + 6 + 18 + 54+. . .
Solution
a = 2 and r = 3
Using the formula
n
a(r −1)
Sn = ,
r−1
10
2(3 −1)
S10 = = 59048
3−1
Example 2
Find the sum of the series 2 + 4 + 8+. . . +1024 .
Solution
a = 2 and r = 2
First we have to find the number of terms, that is, n using the formula
n−1
T n = ar
n−1
2(2) = 1024
n
2 = 1024
Taking logarithms base 10 on both sies,
nlog10 2 = log10 1024
log 1024
10
n = = 10
log 2
10
10
2(2 −1)
∴ Sn = = 2046
2−1
5.4.4 The geometric mean
Generally, n geometric means between a and b are n numbers which lie between a and
b in such way that these (n + 2) numbers are consecutive terms for a geometric
sequence.
If a, b, c are consecutive terms of a geometric sequence, then the geometric mean is
− −
b = ±√ ac
Example 1
Find the geometric mean of 4 and 25.
Solution
−−−− − −−
Geometric mean = ±√ 4 ⋅ 25 = ±√ 100 = ±10.
Example 2
Find four geometric means which lie between 9 and 288 .
Solution
a = 9, T 6 = 288, n = 6
5
T 6 = 9(r) = 288
5 288
r = = 32
9
r = 2
∴ the four geometric means are 18, 36, 72, 144.
5.4.5 The sum of an infinite geometric series
Generally, for a geometric series,
if
n
a ar a
|r| < 1, S∞ = lim Sn = lim ( − ) =
1−r 1−r 1−r
n→∞ n→∞
since
ar
lim = 0
1−r
n→∞
if
n
ar a
|r| > 1, S∞ = lim Sn = lim ( − ) = ∞
r−1 r−1
n→∞ n→∞
since
ar
lim = ∞
1−r
n→∞
When |r| < 1 , the sum of infinite geometric series is .

a
S∞ =
1−r
Example 1
Find the sum of the series

1 1
8 + 2 + + +. . .
2 8
Solution
a
S∞ =
1−r
8
=
1
1−( )
4
32
=
3
Example 2
Express the repeating decimal 0.767676... as a fraction.
Solution
0.767676... can be written as 0.76 + 0.0076 + 0.000076+. . .
and it is a convergent infinite geometric series with a = 0.76 and r = 0.01 .
The sum is
a 0.76 76
= =
1−r 1−0.01 99
76
∴ 0.767676... =
99
5.5 Binomial Expansion

5.5.1 Introduction to binomial series
The expansion of (a + b)n , where n is a positive integer, form a series which is known
as binomial expansion or binomial series.
When
n = 1, (a + b)
1
= a + b
n = 2, (a + b)
2
= a
2
+ 2ab + b
2
n = 3, (a + b)
3
= a
3 2
+ 3a b + 3ab
2
+ b
3
n = 4, (a + b)
4
= a
4 3
+ 4a b + 6a b
2 2
+ 4ab
3
+ b
4
n = 5, (a + b)
5
= a
5 4
+ 5a b + 10a b
3 2
+ 10a b
2 3
+ 5ab
4
+ b
5
and so on.
Generally, the expansion of (a + b)

n
has several important characteristics:
1. There are (n + 1) terms in the series.

2. The first term is an and the last term is bn .
3. The power of a decreases by one and the power of b increases by one as we
move from left to right so that the total power adds up to n for each term.
4. The coefficients of the terms in the expansion are symmetrical and followed a
pattern in the Pascal's triangle as follows
For the binomial expansion with small powers, it is easy to use Pascal triangle
because the coefficients other than 1 are obtained by adding the two coefficient above it.
For large powers it is more practical to use binomial theorem.
n
Before introducing the theorem, we need to define factorial and ( ) notation (also
r
known as combinatorial notation) as both are required in obtaining binomial

coefficient in the binomial expansion.
5.5.2 Factorial and combinatoral notation
The symbol n!, reads n factorial, is defined as n! = n(n − 1)(n − 2). . .3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 1
where n is a positive integer.
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n n
The symbol ), can also be written as Cr , is defined as , where
n n!
( ( ) =
r!(n−r)!
r r
n and r are nonnegative integers.
Example 1
Evaluate 5!
Solution
5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120
Example 2
6
Evaluate ( )
4
Solution
6!
6 =
( ) (6−4)!4!
6! 6×5×4!
= =
2!4! 2×1×4!
= 15
5.5.3 Binomial theorem (when n is a positive integer)
If n is any positive integer, then
n n n n n
n n 0 n−1 n−2 2 n−r r
(a + b) = ( )a b + ( )a b + ( )a b +. . . + ( )a b +. . . + (
0 1 2 r n
Example 1
Using the binomial theorem, expand (1 + x)

5
in ascending power of x.
Solution
Taking a = 1, b = x
5
(1 + x) 5 5 5 5 5 5
0 2 3 4 5
= ( )x + ( )x + ( )x + ( )x + ( )x + ( )x
0 1 2 3 4 5
5! 5! 2 5! 3 5! 4 5
= 1 + x + x + x + x + x
4!1! 3!2! 2!3! 1!4!
5(4) 5(4)(3) 5(4)(3)(2)

2 3 4 5
= 1 + 5x + x + x + x + x
2! 3! 4!
2 3 4 5
= 1 + 5x + 10x + 10x + 5x + x
Example 2
Expand (x
2
− 2y)
4
using the binomial theorem in ascending power of x.
Solution
Taking 2
a = x , b = −2y
2 4 2 4
(x − 2y) = [x + (−2y)]
4 4 4
2 4 2 3 2 2 2 2 3
= (x ) + ( ) (x ) (−2y) + ( ) (x ) (−2y) + ( ) (x )(−2y) + (
1 2 3
8 6 4 2 2 3 4
= x − 4x (2y) + 6x (4y ) − 4x (8y ) + 16y
8 6 4 2 2 3 4
= x − 8x y + 24x y − 32x y + 16y
Expansion of (1+x)^n
If we replace a = 1 and b = x in the expansion of (a + b)

n
, then
n(n−1) n(n−1)(n−2) n(n−1)(n−2)...[n−(r−1)]

n 2 3 r n
(1 + x) = 1 + nx + x + x +. . . + x +. . . +x
2! 3! r!
or
n n n n
n 2 3 r n
(1 + x) = 1 + ( )x + ( )x + ( ) x +. . . + ( ) x +. . . +x
1 2 3 r
The above forms of expansion are much easier to remember and apply. Therefore,
(a + b)
n
can also be expanded using the above method, since
n b n n b n
(a + b) = [a(1 + )] = a (1 + )
a a
By taking = x, we can expand using .

b n
(1 + x)
a
Example
Expand (2 + 3x)
4
in ascending power of x.
Solution
4 4 3 4
(2 + 3x) = 2 (1 + x)
2
4(3) 4(3)(2)
4 3 3 2 3 3 3 4
= 2 [1 + 4( x) + ( x) + ( x) + ( x) ]
2 2! 2 3! 2 2
27 2 27 3 81 4
= 16(1 + 6x + x + x + x )
2 2 16
2 3 4
= 16 + 96x + 216x + 216x + 81x
5.5.5 Expansion of (1+x)^n when n is not a positive integer
Consider the expansion
n(n−1) n(n−1)(n−2) n(n−1)(n−2)...[n−(r−1)]

2 3 r n
= 1 + nx + x + x +. . . + x +. . . +x
2! 3! r!
There are a few cases to be considered from the above regarding n and x.
1. If n is a positive integer, then the expansion is a finite series with (n + 1)

terms which terminates at xn term.
2. If n is not a positive integer but a negative integer or rational number, then
the expansion does not terminate and form an infinite series. This series is
only valid if |x| < 1, that is −1 < x < 1. Using this value of x, binomial series
can be used to find approximation to (1 + x)n .
Example 1
Expand (1 + x) 5 up to the fifth term in ascending power of x.
Solution
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
( −1) ( −1)( −2) ( −1)( −2)( −3)
(1 + x) 5 1 5 5 2 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 4
= 1 + x + x + x + x +. . .
5 2! 3! 4!
1 4 1 4 9 1 4 9 14
(− ) (− )(− ) (− )(− )(− )
1 5 5 2 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 4
= 1 + x + x + x + x +. . .
5 2 6 24
1 2 2 6 3 21 4
= 1 + x − x + x − x +. . .
5 25 125 625
Example 2
Expand (1 + x)
−4
up to in ascending power of x and including the term in 3
x .
Solution
−4 (−4)(−5) (−4)(−5)(−6)
(1 + x) 2 3
= 1 + (−4)x + x + x +. . .
2! 3!
2 3
= 1 − 4x + 10x − 20x +. . .

Chapter 6 - LMS - Sequence & Series

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Chapter 6 - LMS - Sequence & Series

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8/1/2018 German Malaysian Institute LMS - Sequence & Series

Sequence & Series

Sequence & Series

Sequence & Series

Hide Advanced Knowledge

A few examples of sequences are:

Each number in a sequence is called a term.

A sequence with a fixed number of terms is called a finate sequence,

Generally, a sequence is written in the general form or n th term, an .

The set a1 , a2 , a3 . . . an is for the finite and

a1 , a2 , a3 . . . an . . . for the infinite sequences,

where n is an integer positive.

It can also be presented as {ai }n

The sum of the

Series obtained from a finate sequence is called a finite series and

that obtained from infinite sequence is called infinite series.

a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n can be written as ∑ ai for finite series and

a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n +. . . can be written as ∑ ai for infinite series.

5.3 Arithmetic Series

5.3.1 Arithmetic sequence

Consider the sequence of the form

Note that each term (except the first

This is an example of an arithmetic

For example, the sequence 3, 6, 9, 12, . . . has the common difference of

5.3.2 The nth term of an arithmetic sequence

a, [a + d], [a + 2d]. . . [a + (n − 1)d] .

Note that a + (n − 1)d is the n th term.

a) Find the common difference and the first term

5.3.3 The sum of an arithmetic series

If a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an is a finite arithmetic sequence, then a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n is a

{2a + (n − 1)d } or {a + l}.

Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic series

{a + l}= {22 + 100 }= 2440

5.3.4 The arithmetic mean

If a, b, c are consecutive terms of an arithmetic sequence, then the arithmetic mean

Find the arithmetic mean of 7 and 49.

Find five arithmetic means which lie between 7 and 49.

5.4 Geometric Series

5.4.1 Geometric sequence

Consider the sequence of the form

Note that each term (except the

This is an example of a geometric

For example, the sequence has the common ratio = 2) .

5.4.2 The nth term of a geometric sequence

Note that the nth term is ar

term is, T n = arn−1 .

Using the formula of the n th term, T n = ar

∴ the common ratio is 2 and the 12 h

5.4.3 The sum of a finite geometric series

If a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . , an is a finite geometric sequence, then a 1 + a 2 + a 3 +. . . +a n is a

Using the formula

Find the sum of the series 2 + 4 + 8+. . . +1024 .

Taking logarithms base 10 on both sies,

nlog10 2 = log10 1024

5.4.4 The geometric mean

If a, b, c are consecutive terms of a geometric sequence, then the geometric mean is

Find the geometric mean of 4 and 25.

Find four geometric means which lie between 9 and 288 .

∴ the four geometric means are 18, 36, 72, 144.

5.4.5 The sum of an infinite geometric series

Generally, for a geometric series,

When |r| < 1 , the sum of infinite geometric series is .

Find the sum of the series