Sequences and Series

Sequences and Series

Sequences and Series

A sequence of n numbers a1 , a2 , · · · , an−1 , an such
that ak , 1 ≤ k ≤ n, is called the k-th term.
The sum of the first n terms of the sequence
denoted by sn is given by
n
X
= a1 + a2 + · · · + an−1 + an
k=1
 Sequences and Series

Arithmetical Progression (A.P)

A sequence of the form

a, a + d, a + 2d, · · ·

is called an Arithmetical Progression (A.P), where

a1 = a is the first term and d is the common
difference, i.e. ak+1 − ak = d for all k such that
1 ≤ k < n.
The n-th term an is given as a + (n − 1)d.
 Sequences and Series

Arithmetic Series and Mean

The sum sn of the first n terms of an A.P is called
an Arithmetic Series, and is given by
n
sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2

Arithmetic Mean
If a, b.c are 3 consecutive terms of an A.P., the
Arithmetic Mean of a and c is 12 (a + c).
 Sequences and Series

Examples
1. The 3rd and 7th terms of an A.P are respectively
−1 and 11. Find the n-th and the number of
terms which must be taken to get a sum of 430.
Solution
The 3rd and 7th terms: a + 2d = −1 and
a + 6d = 11
a + 2d = −1
a + 6d = 11
Solve simultaneously, a = −7, d = 3.
 Sequences and Series

Thus, an = a + (n − 1)d

an = a + (n − 1)d
= −7 + (n − 1)3
= −7 + 3n − 3
= 3n − 10

sn = n2 [2a + (n − 1)d]
n
430 = (−17 + 3n)
2
860 = n(−17 + 3n)
0 = −17n + 3n2 − 860
 Sequences and Series

Solving this quadratic equation, n = 20 or

n = −14.3, since n can not be negative, so n = 20.
Thus, the number of terms which must be taken to
get a sum of 430 is n = 20.
1
2. The sum of the first 10 terms of an A.P. is 142 2
and the 15-th term is 38. Find the common
difference and the sum of the first 21 terms.
Solution

1 10
142 = [2a + (10 − 1)d]
2 2
= 10a + 45d
285 = 20a + 90d
 Sequences and Series

Also,
a + 14d = 38. So, there are two linear equations

20a + 90d = 285

a + 14d = 38
5
Solving these equations simultaneously, d = 2 and
a = 3.
To find the sum of the first 21 terms,
 
21 5
S21 = 2 × 3 + (21 − 1)
2 2
21
= [6 + 50]
2
= 588
 Sequences and Series

Geometrical Progression (G.P.)

A sequence of the form

a, ar , ar 2 , · · · ,

is called a Geometrical Progression (G.P.), where a1

=a is the first term and r is the common ratio, i.e.
ak+1
ak = r , for all k such that 1 ≤ k < n.
The n-th term of a G.P. is given as an = ar n−1 .
 Sequences and Series

Geometrical Series and Mean

The sum Sn of the first n terms of an G.P is called
an Geometric Series, and is given as for r ¬1,
 n
a(1−r )
 1−r , if r < 1

Sn =
 a(r n −1) , if r > 1

r −1

Geometric Mean
If a, b.c are 3 consecutive terms of an G.P., the
√
Geometric Mean of a and c is given as b = ± ac.
 Sequences and Series

Examples
3. Find the n-th term of a G.P. if its 2nd term is 6
and 4-th term is 54.
Solution

ar = 6
ar 3 = 54
Solving these two equations, a = 2 and r = 3.
The n-th term is

ar n−1 = 2 × 3n−1
 Sequences and Series

4. The 3rd term of a G.P. is 36 and the 6th term is

243
2 . Find the first term, common difference and
the sum of the first 8 terms.
Solution

ar 2 = 6
5 243
ar =
2
Solve for a and r , a = 16 and r = 23 .
The sum of the first 8 terms is
 3 8 
16 ( 2 ) − 1 1
S8 = 3 = 788
2 −1
8
 Sequences and Series

Harmonic Progression (H.P)

A sequence of the form
1 1 1
, , ,···
a a + d a + 2d
is called a Harmonic Progression (H.P). The terms
of H.P are the reciprocal of A.P.
1
The n-th term of H.P is given as an = a+(n−1)d

Harmonic Mean
If a, b.c are 3 consecutive terms of an H.P., the
2ab
Harmonic Mean of a and c is given as b = .
a+b
 Sequences and Series

Sequences and Series Defined by Recurrence

Relations

Sequences and Series Defined by Recurrence Relations

A sequence may be defined by a recurrence relation
or a recursion formula of the form

an+1 = f (an ) + g (n), a1 = a

where f is a function of an and g is a function of n.

In A.P., an+1 = an + d, a1 = a and in G.P.,
an+1 = ran , a1 = a.
 Sequences and Series

Examples
Find the n-th term of the sequence as a function of n only.
1. an+1 = an + 2n, a1 = 1

Solution

a1 = 1 = 1(1 − 1) + 1
a2 = a1 + 2 = 3 = 2(2 − 1) + 1
a3 = a2 + 4 = 7 = 3(3 − 1) + 1
a4 = a3 + 6 = 13 = 4(4 − 1) + 1
a5 = a4 + 8 = 21 = 5(5 − 1) + 1
 Sequences and Series

Thus, from the pattern,

an = n(n − 1) + 1 = n2 − n + 1.
For n = 1, a1 = 1, n = 2, a2 = 4 − 2 + 1 = 3.
So, an+1 = an + 2n = n2 − n + 1 = n2 + n + 1
an
2. an+1 = an +1 , a1 = 1
Solution
For n = 1, a2 = a1a+1
1
= 21
For n = 2, a3 = a2a+1
2
= 31 .
From the pattern,
an = n1
an+1 = ana+1
n 1
= 1+n
 Sequences and Series

Telescoping Series
A telescoping series is of the form
n
X f (k)
, r = 1, 2, · · ·
k(k + 1) · · · (k + r )
k=1

Example
n
P 1
Find the sum
k=1 k(k + 1)
Solution:
1 A B
Resolve into partial fractions i.e k(k+1) = k + k+1 .
So, A = 1, B = −1 such that
n 1 n 
1 1
P P 
= k − k+1
k=1 k(k + 1) k=1
 Sequences and Series

Substitute in the values of k, we have

n n  
X 1 X 1 1
= −
k(k + 1) k k +1
k=1 k=1
1 1 1 1 1
= (1 − ) + ( − ) + ( − )
2 2 3 3 4
1 1
+··· + ( − )
n−2 n−1
1 1 1 1
+( − )+( − )
n−1 n n n+1
1
= 1−
n+1
n
=
n+1
 Sequences and Series

n
k r , r = 0, 1, 2, · · ·
P
Series of the Type
k=1
For all positive integers n, we have
n
k = 1 + 2 + · · · + n = 21 n(n + 1), i.e, Sn of
P
a
k=1
A.P. for a = 1, d = 1
n
k 2 = 12 + 22 + · · · + n2 = 16 n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
P
b
k=1
n
k 3 = 13 + 23 + · · · + n3 = 41 n2 (n + 1)2
P
c
k=1
 Sequences and Series

d
n
X
k 4 = 1 4 + 24 + · · · + n 4
k=1
1
= n(n + 1)(2n + 1)(3n2 + 3n − 1)
30

e
n
X
k 5 = 1 5 + 25 + · · · + n 5
k=1
1 2
= n (n + 1)2 (2n2 + 2n − 1)
12
 Sequences and Series

Examples
Assuming
n n
k = 1 + 2 + · · · + n = 12 n(n + 1), k2 =
P P
k=1 k=1
n
1
k 3 = 14 n2 (n + 1)2 .
P
6 n(n + 1)(2n + 1),
k=1
Find the sum
Pn
1 (k − 3)(2k + 4)
k=1
 Sequences and Series

Solution

n
X
(k − 3)(2k + 4) = (2k 2 − 2k − 12)
k=1
n
X
= 2 k2
k=1
Xn n
X
−2 k − 12 1
k=1 k=1
 
1
= 2 n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
6
 
1
−2 n(n + 1) − 12n
2
 Sequences and Series

Solution contd.

1  2 
= n (2n + 3n + 1) − 3(n + 1) − 36
3
1
= n(2n2 − 38)
3

n
k(k + 1)2
P
2
k=1

Solution
n n
2
(k 3 + 2k 2 + k)
P P
k(k + 1) =
k=1 k=1
 Sequences and Series

Solution contd.

n
X n
X n
X
= k3 + k2 + k
k=1 k=1 k=1
1 2 2 1 1
= n (n + 1) + 2( n(n + 1)(2n + 1)) + n(n + 1)
4 6 2
1 2 2 1 1
= n (n + 1) + n(n + 1)(2n + 1) + n(n + 1)
4 3 2
1  2

= n 3n(n + 1) + 4(n + 1)(2n + 1) + 6(n + 1)
12
1 
= n 3n(n2 + 2n + 1) + 4(2n2 + 3n + 1) + 6(n + 1)
12
 Sequences and Series

Solution contd.

1  3 2 2

= n 3n + 6n + 3n + 8n + 12n + 4 + 6n + 6
12
1  3 2

= n 3n + 14n + 21n + 10
12
1
= n [(n + 1)(n + 2)(3n + 5)]
12
 Sequences and Series

1st and 2nd Differences of a Sequence

Let {x} = {x1 , x2 , · · · , xn } be a sequence. Then, a
new sequence {∆xn }, called the sequence of first
differences of sequence {xn } can be constructed
where
∆xn = xn+1 − xn , n = 1, 2, · · ·
Another sequence {∆2 xn } called the sequence of
second differences of sequence {xn } can be
constructed
 Sequences and Series

where

∆2 xn = ∆(∆xn )
= ∆xn+1 − ∆xn
= xn+2 − xn+1 − (xn+1 − xn )
= xn+2 − 2xn+1 + xn

Example
n−1
For sequence xn = n+1
 Sequences and Series

Construct the sequence {∆xn } and {∆2 xn } and

write down the first 5 terms of the sequence.
Solution

∆xn = xn+1 − xn
n n−1
= −
n+2 n+1
2
=
(n + 1)(n + 2)
2
Hence, {∆xn } = { (n+1)(n+2) }
 Sequences and Series

Solution contd.

∆2 xn = ∆xn+1 − ∆xn
2
= xn+2 − xn+1 −
(n + 1)(n + 2)
n+1 n 2
= − −
n + 3 n + 2 (n + 1)(n + 2)
2 2
= −
(n + 2)(n + 3) (n + 1)(n + 2)
−4
=
(n + 1)(n + 2)(n + 3)
 Sequences and Series

Solution contd.
−4
Hence, {∆2 xn } = { (n+1)(n+2)(n+3) }
{xn } = {0, 31 , 12 , 53 , 23 }