Arithmetic Progressions

“AP’s”
&
“GP’s”
Geometric Progressions
Arithmetic Progression is a sequence of numbers such
that the difference of any two successive members of the
sequence is a constant.
Example : 1 , 5 , 9 , 13

5 – 1 = 9 -5 = 13 – 9 This will help us fill in blanks in an AP

t n  a  (n  1)d
a  first term
n  # of terms in sequence
d= common difference
t n  nth term
 Example
What is the 32nd term of 5 , 11 , 17 , 23 ….

t n  a  (n  1)d

t 32  5  (32  1)6
 Example
Fill in the blanks on the AP:

__ 5 __ __ __ 3
(5  d) (5  2d) (5  3d) (5  4d)

2 Ways to solve:
- Solve using the “d” value and an equation
- Insert Arithmetic Means

5+4d=3
 Example
Which term of 4 , 16 , 28 , …… is 328?

t n  a  (n  1)d
Geometric Progression is a sequence of
numbers where each term after the first is found by
multiplying the previous one by a fixed non-zero
number called the common ratio.
1, 5, 25, 125,….. Where 1/5=5/25=25/125

n 1
t n  ar

Tn  nth term
a  First term
n  term number
r= common ratio
 Example
What is the 6th term of 3/5 , 3 , 15 , 75 ….

t n  ar n 1
 Example
Fill in the blanks on the GP:

__ 4 __ __ __ 64
(4r) (4r 2 ) (4r 3 ) (4r 4 )

- Create an equation with the common ratio

(4r 4 )  64
 Example
Find the sum of the first 26 terms of the AP.
-5 , -1 , 3 , 7 ,……

We are missing t n t n  a  (n  1)d

n(a  t n )
Sn 
2
 Example
40
3 1
Find the sum of:
 2k2
k 2  

-Substitute 2 for k to solve for “a”

-Subtract 2 from 40 and add 1 to find the number of terms.
-Substitute 40 for k to solve for t n
-Find “d” by finding the second term and subtract from first
term.
 Example
Solve: Find the sum of the following
8

2
k 1
k 1

Sn  ?
a 1
n  10
r 2
 Example
Find all the values of x so that  2x  1  ,  5x  4  ,  4x  4 
Are consecutive terms of an GP.

- Set up 2 equations, any ideas?

- 1st term/2nd term=2nd term/3rd term (GP’s have a ratio)
- 1 ,3 ,9 1/3 = 3/9
 Example
Insert two numbers between 2 and 20 so that the first three
numbers form a GP while the last three numbers form an
AP

2 ___ ___ 20
(2r) (2r 2 )

Use the AP:

20- 2r 2
   2r    2r 
2
 Group Problem
The 3rd term of an AP is 6. The 2nd, 4th and 7th terms of the
AP form the first three terms of a GP. Find the first term of
the AP

Homework Assignment # 6