Session MPTCP04

Sequences and Series

Session Objectives

1. Finite and infinite sequences

2. Arithmetic Progression (A.P.) -
definition, nth term
3. Sum of n terms of an A.P.
4. Arithmetic Mean (A.M.) and
insertion of n A.M.s between two
given numbers.
5. Geometric Progression (G.P.) -
definition, nth term
6. Sum of n terms of a G.P.
Sequence – a Definition

A sequence is a function whose

domain is the set N of natural _I001
numbers.

a1, a2, a3, . . ., an, . . .

Finite and Infinite Sequences

Finite sequence : _I001

a  a1, a2, a3, . . ., an
Infinite sequence :
a  a1, a2, a3, . . ., an, . . . 
Series – a Definition

If
a1, a2, a3, . . ., an, . . .
_I001
is a sequence,
the expression
a1+a2+a3+ . . . +an+ . . .
is called a series.
Arithmetic Progression

A sequence is called an arithmetic

progression (A.P.) if the difference
_I002
between any term and the previous
term is constant.

The constant difference, generally denoted by d is called the

common difference.

a1 = a
First term
a2 = a+d General Term
a3 = a+d+d = a+2d
a4 = a+d+d+d = a+3d
an = a+d+d+d+... = a+(n-1)d
Is a Given Sequence an A.P.?

Algorithm to determine whether a

given sequence is an A.P. :
_I002
Step I Obtain general term an
Step II Determine an+1 by
replacing n by n+1 in the general term
Step III Find an+1-an. If this is independent of n, the
given sequence is an A.P.
Problem Solving Tip

_I002
Choose Well!!!!
# Terms Common diff.
3 a-d, a, a+d d
4 a-3d, a-d, a+d, a+3d 2d
5 a-2d, a-d, a, a+d, a+2d d
6 a-5d, a-3d, a-d, a+d, a+3d, a+5d 2d
Illustrative problem

Q. If sum of three numbers in A.P.

is 45, and the second number is
_I002
thrice the first number, find the
three numbers.
A. Let the numbers be a-d, a, a+d
Given that (a-d)+a+(a+d) = 45
 3a = 45  a = 15
Also, a = 3(a-d)  3d = 30
 d = 10
 the three numbers are 5, 15, 25
Important Properties of A.P.s
If A  a, a+d, . . ., a+(n-1)d
adding constant k to each term,
_I002
we get,
A’  a+k, a+d+k, . . ., a+(n-1)d+k
A’ is also an A.P. with the same common difference.
Important Properties of A.P.s

If A  a, a+d, . . ., a+(n-1)d
multiplying each term by non-zero
_I002
constant k,
A’  ak, ak+dk, . . ., ak+(n-1)dk
A’ is also an A.P. with common
difference dk
Important Properties of A.P.s

ak+an-(k-1) = a1+an _I002

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider A  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
Important Properties of A.P.s

ak+an-(k-1) = a1+an _I002

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider A  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
a3+a8 = 22
Important Properties of A.P.S

ak+an-(k-1) = a1+an _I002

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider A  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
a3+a8 = 22 = a5+a6 = 22
Important Properties of A.P.s

ak+an-(k-1) = a1+an _I002

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider A  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
a3+a8 = 22 = a5+a6 = 22 = a1+a10 = 22
Important Properties of A.P.s

a, b, c are in A.P.  2b = a+c _I002

Important Properties of A.P.s

A sequence is an A.P.
 an = An+B, A, B are constants.
_I002
A is the common difference.

Proof :
an = a+(n-1)d
or, an = dn+(a-d)
or, an = An+B, where A is the common difference
Important Properties of A.P.s

If A  a, a+d, . . ., a+(n-1)d
take every third term,
_I002
A’  a, a+3d, a+6d, . . . . . . . . . .
A’ is also an A.P.
Sum of n Terms of an A.P.

_I003
Sn = a 1 +(a1+d)+ . . .+{a1+(n-2)d}+{a1+(n-1)d}
Also,
Sn = {a1+(n-1)d}+{a1+(n-2)d}+{a1+d}+. . .+a1
Adding,
2Sn = n{2a1+(n-1)d}

n
 Sn 
2
 2a1   n  1 d
Sum of n Terms of an A.P.

n
Sn   2a1   n  1 d
_I003
2
This can also be written as :
Sn 
n
2

a1  a1   n  1 d
n
Sn   a1  an
2
n
Sn   First Term  Last Term
2
Property of Sum of n Terms of an
A.P.

A sequence is an A.P. _I003

 Sn = An2+Bn,
where A, B are constants.
2A is the common difference.
n
We know that, Sn 
2
 2a   n  1 d

d d
Rearranging, Sn  n2   a   n
2  2
Or, Sn = An2+Bn.
Arithmetic Mean

A is the A.M. of two numbers a and

b
_I004
 a, A, and b are in A.P.
 A-a = b-A
 2A = a+b
ab
A 
2
Arithmetic Mean – a Definition

If n terms A1, A2, A3, . . . An are _I004

inserted between two numbers a and
b such that a, A1, A2, A3, . . . , An, b
form an A.P.,

then A1, A2, A3, . . . , An are called arithmetic means

(A.M.s) of a and b.

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
a A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 b
Arithmetic Mean – Common
Difference

Let n A.M.s be inserted between two

numbers a and b
_I004
The A.P. thus formed will have
(n+2) terms.
Let the common difference be d
Now b = a+(n+2-1)d = a+(n+1)d
ba ba
d  ; Am  a  m
n1 n1
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
a A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 b
Property of A.M.s
Let n A.M.s A1, A2, A3, . . ., An be
inserted between a and b.
_I004
Then,
ab
A1  A2  A3  ...  An  nA  n
2
Illustrative Problem

Q. Insert 3 A.M.s between -4 and 3 _I004

A. Let the required A.M.s be A1,
A2 and A3.
34 7

Common difference d = 4 4
7 9
 A1  4  
4 4
14 1
 A2  4  
4 2
21 5
 A3  4  
4 4
Geometric Progression

Consider a family where every

female of each generation has
_I005
exactly 2 daughters.
It is then possible to determine the
number of females in each generation
if the generation number is known.
1st Generation 1 female
2nd Generation 2 females
3rd Generation 4 females
Such a progression is a Geometric Progression (G.P.)
Geometric Progression

A sequence is called a geometric

progression (G.P.) if the ratio
_I005
between any term and the previous
term is constant.

The constant ratio, generally denoted by r is called the

common ratio.

a1 = a
First term
a2 = ar
a3 = ar2
General Term
a4 = ar3
an = ar(n-1)
Problem Solving Tip

_I005
Choose Well!!!!
# Terms Common ratio
3 a/r, a, ar r
4 a/r3, a/r, ar, ar3 r2
5 a/r2, a/r, a, ar, ar2 r
6 a/r5, a/r3, a/r, ar, ar3, ar5 r2
Important Properties of G.P.s
If G  a, ar, ar2, . . ., arn-1
multiplying each term by non-
_I005
zero constant k,
G’  ka, kar, kar2, . . ., karn-1
G’ is also a G.P. with the same
common ratio.
Important Properties of G.P.s
If G  a, ar, ar2, . . ., arn-1
taking reciprocal of each term,
_I005
1 1 1 1
G'  , , , . . .,
a ar ar2 arn 1
G’ is also a G.P. with a reciprocal
common ratio.
Important Properties of G.P.s
If G  a, ar, ar2, . . ., arn-1
raising each term to power k,
_I005
G’  ak, akrk, akr2k, . . ., akr(n-1)k
G’ is also a G.P. with common
ratio rk.
Important Properties of G.P.s

akan-(k-1) = a1an _I005

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider G  1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512
Important Properties of G.P.s

akan-(k-1) = a1an _I005

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider G  1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512
a3a8 = 512
Important Properties of G.P.s

akan-(k-1) = a1an _I005

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider G  1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512
a3a8 = 512 = a5a6 = 512
Important Properties of G.P.s

akan-(k-1) = a1an _I005

 k = 2, 3, 4, . . . (n-1)

Example :
Consider G  1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512
a3a8 = 512 = a5a6 = 512 = a1a10 = 512
Important Properties of G.P.s

a, b, c are in G.P.  b2 = ac _I005

Important Properties of G.P.s
If G  a, ar, ar2, . . ., arn-1
take every third term,
_I005
G’  a, ar3, ar6, . . .
G’ is also a G.P.
Important Properties of G.P.s

a1, a2, a3, . . . , an is a G.P. of

positive terms
_I005
 loga1, loga2, loga3, . . . logan is an
A.P.
Sum of n Terms of a G.P.

_I006

Sn = a+ar+ar2+ar3+ . . .+ar(n-1) ………(i)

Multiplying by r, we get,
rSn = ar+ar2+ar3+ . . .+ar(n-1)+arn ……...(ii)
Subtracting (i) from (ii), (r-1)Sn = a(rn-1)
 Sn a
 r n
1
 r  1
Class Exercise Q1.

Q. If log 2, log (2x-1) and log (2x+3)

are in A.P., find x.
_I002
Class Exercise Q1.
Q. If log 2, log (2x-1) and log (2x+3) are in
A.P., find x.

A. Given that
_I002
log(2x-1)-log2 = log(2x+3)-log(2x-1)
 2x  1  2x  3 
 log   log  x
 2   2  1 
   
 22x  2x 1  1  2x 1  6
 22x  4.2x  5  0
  
 2x  5 2x  1  0

 2x  5  2 cannot be negative 
x

log5
x   log2 5
log2
Class Exercise Q2.

Q. Show that there is no infinite A.P.

which consists only of distinct
_I002
primes.
Class Exercise Q2.
Q. Show that there is no infinite A.P. which
consists only of distinct primes.

A. Let, if possible, there be an A.P.

_I002
consisting only of distinct primes :
a1, a2, a3, . . ., an, . . .
an = a1+(n-1)d
aa11  a1   a1  1  1 d
 aa11  a1(1  d)
Thus, (a1+1)th term is a multiple of a1.
Thus, no such A.P. is possible.
Q.E.D.
Class Exercise Q3.

Q. Sn  nP 
n
2
 n  1 Q , where Sn denotes _I003
the sum of the first n terms of an
A.P., then common difference is :
(a) P+Q (b) 2P+3Q
(c) 2Q (d) Q
(J.E.E. West Bengal 1994)
Class Exercise Q3.
n
Q. Sn  nP   n  1 Q , where Sn denotes
2
the sum of the first n terms of an A.P.,
then common difference is :
_I003
(a) P+Q (b) 2P+3Q
(c) 2Q (d) Q
(J.E.E. West Bengal 1994)
A. an = Sn - Sn-1
n
 an  nP   n  1 Q   n  1 P 
 n  1
 n  2 Q
2 2
 an  P   n  1 Q
d  an  an1
 d  P   n  1 Q  P   n  2  Q
d  Q  Ans : (d).
Class Exercise Q4.

Q. If 12th term of an A.P. is -13 and the

sum of the first four terms is 24,
_I003
what is the sum of first 10 terms?
Class Exercise Q4.
Q. If 12th term of an A.P. is -13 and the sum
of the first four terms is 24, what is the
sum of first 10 terms? _I003
A. Given that,
a12 = a1+11d = -13 . . . (i)
S4 = 2(2a1+3d) = 24 . . . (ii)
Solving (i) and (ii) simultaneously, we get,
a1 = 9, d = -2
 S10 = 5(2a1+9d) = 5(18-18) = 0
Class Exercise Q5.

Q. Find the value of n so that

an1  bn1
_I004
an  bn
be an A.M. between a and b (a, b
are positive).
Class Exercise Q5.
Q. Find the value of n so that
an1  bn1
an  bn
be an A.M. between a and b (a, b are
_I004
positive).
A. Given that,
an1  bn1 ab

an  bn 2
 an1  bn1  anb  abn
Dividing throughout by bn+1, we get,
n 1 n
a a a
   1    
b
  b b
n
a a  a
     1   1
b b  b
Class Exercise Q5.
Q. Find the value of n so that
an1  bn1
an  bn
_I004
be an A.M. between a and b (a, b are
positive).
n
a a  a
     1   1
b b  b
n
a  a a 
   1 a  b   1   1  0 
b  b b 
n=0
Class Exercise Q6.

Q. 53 A.M.s are inserted between 2 and

98. Find the 27th A.M.
_I004
Class Exercise Q6.
Q. 53 A.M.s are inserted between 2 and 98.
Find the 27th A.M.

A. Common difference
_I004
b  a 98  2 48
  
n  1 53  1 27
48
 A 27  a  27d  2  27   50
27
Class Exercise Q7.

Q. If the 3rd term of a G.P. is 4, what is

the product of the first five terms?
_I005
Class Exercise Q7.
Q. If the 3rd term of a G.P. is 4, what is the
product of the first five terms?
A. Let the first 5 terms of the G.P. be :
_I005
a a 2
, , a, ar, ar
r2 r
Required product = a5
= (a3)5
=45
Class Exercise Q8.

Q. If the 4th, 7th, 10th term of a G.P. are

p, q, r respectively, then
_I005
(a) p2 = q2+r2 (b) q2 = pr
(c) p2 = qr (d) pqr+pq+q = 0
(M.N.R. 1995)
Class Exercise Q8.
Q. If the 4th, 7th, 10th term of a G.P. are p, q,
r respectively, then
(a) p2 = q2+r2 (b) q2 = pr
_I005
(c) p2 = qr(d) pqr+pq+q = 0
(M.N.R. 1995)
A. Let the first term of the G.P. be 
and common ratio be .
 p = 3, q = 6, r = 9
Now, pr = 212
= (6)2
= q2
 Ans : (b)
Class Exercise Q9.

Q. Find the sum to n terms of the

sequence 6, 66, 666, . . .
_I006
Class Exercise Q9.
Q. Find the sum to n terms of the sequence
6, 66, 666, . . .
_I006
A. Sn = (6+66+666+ . . .[n terms])
6
 Sn   9  99  999  . . .  n terms 
9
6
 Sn    10  1   100  1   1000  1  . . .  n terms 
9

 Sn 
6
9

10  102  103 . . .  n terms  n 
6

 Sn  10
10 
n
1  

 n
9   10  1 


 Sn 
6 10

9 9
10n
1  n




Class Exercise Q10.

Q. How many terms of the G.P.

2 1 1 3
_I006
,  , ,  ,...
9 3 2 4 55
are needed to give the sum ?
72
Class Exercise Q10.
Q. How many terms of the G.P.
2
9
1 1
3 2
3
,  , ,  ,...
4
are needed to give the sum
55
?
_I006
72
A. Common ratio
1

3
 3 
2 2
9
Let the required number of terms be n.

  3 n 
     1  2  3 n 
55 2   2  2
  
 Sn  
 3      1
72 9   1 9  5  2   
    
 2 
Class Exercise Q10.
Q. How many terms of the G.P.
2
9
1 1
3 2
3
,  , ,  ,...
4
are needed to give the sum
55
?
_I006
72
55 2  2  3  
n
        1
72 9  5  2  
 
n
 3 55 9 5 243
     1    
 2 72 2 2 32

n 5
 3  3
      
 2  2
n=5
Thank you