SAN MIGUEL ACADEMY

Mayana, Jagna, Bohol

Member: Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines
Bohol Association of Catholic Schools
Quarter 1 MS. TADIOS
Diocese of Tagbilaran

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _______________________________________________________________ Score: _________________ ___
Grade/Section: Grade X- St. Michael the Archangel Date: _______________ ______
Subject: Mathematics X
Activity Type: Skills: Exercises/Drill Control No. : 3.b
Activity Title: FINDING THE SUM OF THE FIRST n TERMS OF AN ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE
Learning Competency: Finds the sum of the terms of a given arithmetic sequence
Learning Target/s: 1. Determines the sum of the first n terms of a given arithmetic sequence.
Reference/s: Intermediate Algebra
Author: Soledad Jose-Dilao

Concept Notes
The formula for the sum of the n terms in an arithmetic sequence with a1 as the first term and an as the last
n
term is: S n = 2 ¿ a1 + an )
Since we know that an=a1+ (n-1) d, then by substitution, we have
n n
Sn = 2 [a1 + a1+ (n-1) d] or Sn = 2 [2a1 + (n-1) d]

Example 1: Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the Example 2: Find the sum of the first 20
arithmetic sequence 4, 10, 16 … terms of the arithmetic series if
the first term is -3 and the last is
Solution 1 (find the Solution 2: 39.
common difference): a1=4; n=10; d=6; S10 =? Solution: a1= – 3; n= 20; an= 39
a1=4; a2=10; d=? n n
Sn = 2 [2a1 + (n-1) d] Sn = 2 ( a1 +an )
d= a2 – a1
10 20
d= 10 – 4 S10 = 2 [2(4) + (10-1) 6] S20 = 2 ( – 3 + 39)
d= 6 S10 = 5 [8 + (9) 6] S20 = 10 (36)
S10 = 5 (8+54) S20 = 360
S10 = 5 (62)
S10 = 310  Therefore, the sum of the first 20
terms is 360.
 Therefore, the sum of the first 10 terms is 310.

Exercises
A. Find the sum of the arithmetic sequence with a1 = 2; d = 4; n = 10
B. Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the arithmetic sequence when, a1 = 5; a10 = 38