Introduction to

Arithmetic Sequences
18 May 2011
Arithmetic Sequences
 When the difference between any two
numbers is the same constant value
 This difference is called d or the constant
difference
 {4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 19, …} ← Not an Arithmetic Sequence
 {7, 11, 15, 19, 23, ...} ← Arithmetic Sequence
d=4
Your Turn:
 Determine if the following sequences are
arithmetic sequences. If so, find d (the
constant difference).
 {14, 10, 6, 2, –2, …}
 {3, 5, 8, 12, 17, …}
 {33, 27, 21, 16, 11,…}
 {4, 10, 16, 22, 28, …}
Recursive Form
 The recursive form of a sequence tell you the
relationship between any two sequential (in
order) terms.
un = un–1 + d n≥2

common difference
Writing Arithmetic Sequences
in Recursive Form
If given a term and d

1. Substitute d into the recursive formula

Examples: Write the recursive
form and find the next 3 terms
3 1
 u1  , d   u1 = 39, d = 5
5 3
Your Turn: Write the recursive
form and find the next 3 terms
 u1 = 8, d = –2  u1 = –9.2, d = 0.9
Writing Arithmetic Sequences
in Recursive Form, cont.
If given two, non-sequential terms

1. Solve for d

d = difference in the value of the terms

difference in the number of terms

2. Substitute d into the recursive formula

Example #1
Find the recursive formula
 u3 = 13 and u7 = 37
Example #2
Find the recursive formula
 u2 = –5 and u7 = 30
Example #3
Find the recursive formula
 u4 = –43 and u6 = –61
Your Turn
Find the recursive formula:

1. u3 = 53 and u5 = 71 2. u2 = -7 and u5 = 8

3. u3 = 1 and u7 = -43
Explicit Form
 The explicit form of a sequence tell you the
relationship between the 1st term and any
other term.
un = u1 + (n – 1)d n≥1

common difference
Summary: Recursive Form vs.
Explicit Form
Recursive Form Explicit Form

un = un–1 + d n≥2 un = u1 + (n – 1)d n≥1

 Sequential Terms  1st Term and Any

Other Term
 Writing Arithmetic Sequences
in Explicit Form
 You need to know u1 and d!!!
 Substitute the values into the explicit formula

1. u1 = 5 and d = 2 2. u1 = -4 and d = 5
Writing Arithmetic Sequences
in Explicit Form, cont.
 You may need to solve for u1 and/or d.
1. Solve for d if necessary
2. Back solve for u1 using the explicit formula
u4 = 12 and d = 2
Example #2
u7 = -8 and d = 3
Example #3
u6 = 57 and u10 = 93
Example #4
u2 = -37 and u7 = -22
Your Turn:
Find the explicit formulas:

1. u5 = -2 and d = -6 2. u11 = 118 and d = 13

3. u3 = 17 and u8 = 92 4. u2 = 77 and u5 = -34

Using Explicit Form to Find
Terms
 Just substitute values into the formula!
u1 = 5, d = 2, find u5
Using Explicit Form to Find
Terms, cont.
u1 = -4, d = 5, find u10
Your Turn:
1. u1 = 4, d = ¼ 2. u1 = -6, d = ⅔
Find u8 Find u4

3. u1 = 10, d = -½ 4. u1 = π, d = 2
Find u12 Find u27
Summations
 Summation – the sum of the terms in a
sequence
{2, 4, 6, 8} → 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 = 20
 Represented by a capital Sigma

Summation Notation
Upper Bound
(Ending Term #)
k
Sigma
(Summation
Symbol)  un Sequence

n 1 Lower Bound
(Starting Term #)
Example #1
4
 2n
n 1
Example #2
3
 (n  3)
n 1
Example #3
3
 (3n  2)
n 1
Your Turn: Find the sum:
5 4
 (3n  7)  (5  4n )
n 1 n 1
 Your Turn: Find the sum:
5 4
 (7  3n )  [3  (n  1)4]
n 1 n 1
 Your Turn: Find the sum:
5 4
2
 (30  n )  n (n  2)
n 1 n 1
 Partial Sums of Arithmetic
Sequences – Formula #1
 Good to use when you know the 1st term AND the last
term # of terms

k k
 u n  ( u1  u k )
n 1 2
1st term last term
Formula #1 – Example #1
Find the partial sum:
k = 9, u1 = 6, u9 = –24
Formula #1 – Example #2
Find the partial sum:
k = 6, u1 = – 4, u6 = 14
Formula #1 – Example #3
Find the partial sum:
k = 10, u1 = 0, u10 = 30
Your Turn:
Find the partial sum:
1. k = 8, u1 = 7, u8 = 42

2. k = 5, u1 = –21, u5 = 11

3. k = 6, u1 = 16, u6 = –19
 Partial Sums of Arithmetic
Sequences – Formula #2
 Good to use when you know the 1st term, the # of
terms AND the common difference
# of terms

k k (k  1)
 u n  ku1  d
n 1 2
1st term common difference
Formula #2 – Example #1
Find the partial sum:
k = 12, u1 = –8, d = 5
Formula #2 – Example #2
Find the partial sum:
k = 6, u1 = 2, d = 5
Formula #2 – Example #3
Find the partial sum:
k = 7, u1 = ¾, d = –½
Your Turn:
Find the partial sum:
1. k = 4, u1 = 39, d = 10

2. k = 5, u1 = 22, d = 6

3. k = 7, u1 = 6, d = 5
 Choosing the Right Partial
Sum Formula
Do you have the last term or the constant difference?

k k k k (k  1)
 u n  (u1  u k )  u n  ku1  d
n 1 2 n 1 2
Examples
 Identify the correct partial sum formula:

1. k = 6, u1 = 10, d = –3

2. k = 12, u1 = 4, u12 = 100

Your Turn:
 Identify the correct partial sum formula
and solve for the partial sum
1. k = 11, u1 = 10, d = 2
2. k = 10, u1 = 4, u10 = 22
3. k = 16, u1 = 20, d = 7
4. k = 15, u1 = 20, d = 10
5. k = 13, u1 = –18, u13 = –102