SEQUENCE

Madam Fatimah Hashim

&
Madam Siti Nursyahira
Zainudin
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE
In mathematics, an arithmetic progression (AP) or arithmetic sequence is a sequence of
numbers such that the difference between the consecutive terms is constant. For instance,
the sequence 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, … is an arithmetic progression with common difference of 2.
 
The initial term of an arithmetic progression is denoted by a and the common difference of
successive members is denoted by d.
 FORMULAE
Recall :
• The nth term of the sequence is given by:
a = initial term

d = common difference

• The sum of the members of a finite arithmetic progression: When to use formula T or S?

Term -> Tn

Sum -> Sn
 EXPLANATION
The behavior of the arithmetic progression depends on the common difference, d. If the
common difference is:

❑ Positive, the members (terms) will grow towards positive infinity.

• E.g. Cost charged for cleaning the window for a 16 floors building.
• (1st floor : RM 50, 2nd floor : RM100, 3rd floor : RM150,..) d = 50 a = 50
100 - 50 150 - 100

❑ Negative, the members (terms) will grow towards negative infinity.

• E.g. Installment purchase payment.
• (1st month : RM 200, 2nd month : RM180, 3rd month : RM160,..) d = - 20 a = 200
180 - 200 160 - 180
 Example 1
Given -13, - 8, - 3, 2, ... . What is the 39th term? What is the sum of the first 20 terms?

Answer

Calculate the differences, d.

d1 = (-8) - (-13) = 5, d2 = (-3) - (-8) = 5.

The differences are the same. Therefore, this is an arithmetic sequence.

a = -13 d=5
 Cont. Example 1

Given -13, - 8, - 3, 2, ... . What is the 39th term? What is the sum of the first 20 terms?

a = -13 d=5

39th Term = T39

Tn = a + (n-1)d

T39 = -13 + (39 – 1)(5)

20
= 177
2
 Example 2
Given the series : 12, 17, 22, .. Find
a) the 15th term b) sum of the first 15 terms

a) a=12 d= 17-12 = 22-17 =  

5
15
Tn = a + (n-1)d 2
T15 = a+(15-1)d 15
= 12+14(5) 2
= 82
 Example 3
The 6th term and the 10th term of an arithmetic sequence are -7 and 5 respectively.
Find a) common difference

a) the common difference (d) SOLVE SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

Tn = a+(n-1)(d)
6 term is -7
th
T6 = a+(6-1)(d)
T6 = -7 Equation (2) – (1)
-7 = a+5d ----- (1)

a+5d = -7 ----(1)
10th term is Tn = a+(n-1)(d) a+9d = 5 ----(2)
5 T10 = a+(10-1)(d) 4d = 12
T10 = 5 5 = a+9d ----- (2) d = 12/4
d=3
 Cont. Example 3
The 6th term and the 10th term of an arithmetic sequence are -7 and 5 respectively.
Find b) the first term

From question a) substitute d=3 into any of the two

b) the first term (a) equation.

Let say, substitute d=3 into equation (1)

a+5d = -7
a+5(3) = -7
a+15 = -7
a = -7-15
a = -22
 Example 4
Given the series : 83, 77, 71, …, 5. Find the number of terms

a=83 Tn = a+(n-1)d
d=77-83 = - 6 5 = 83 + (n-1)(-6)
d=71-77 = - 6 5-83 = (n-1)(-6)
Tn=5 -78 = (n-1)(-6)
(-78/-6) = n-1
13 = n-1
13+1 = n
n = 14
 Example 5
 
• A building has 10 floors. A
cleaning company charges
RM200 to clean the the first
floor. An extra of RM250 is
charged for each floor above the
previous floor. Find
• i) the cleaning cost for the 7th
floor.
10
• ii) the cleaning cost for the 2
whole building
 Example 6
In an arithmetic progression, the 6th term is 3 times the 3rd term. The sum
of the first 8 terms is 144. Find the first term and the common difference.

6th term is 3 times the 3rd term Sum of the first 8 terms is 144
T6 = 3 T3 S8 = 144

T6=3T3  

a+(6-1)d = 3[a+(3-1)d] 8
a+5d =3[a+2d] 2
a+5d = 3a+6d
3a+6d-a-5d = 0
2a+d = 0 ----(1)
 Cont Example 6
In an arithmetic progression, the 6th term is 3 times the 3rd term. The sum
of the first 8 terms is 144. Find the first term and the common difference.

SOLVE SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

Substitute d=6 into equation (1)
Equation (2) – (1)
2a+d = 0
2a+d = 0 ----(1) 2a+6 = 0
2a+7d = 36 ----(2) 2a = 0 - 6
6d = 36 2a = - 6
d = 36/6 a = - 6/2
d=6 a=-3
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE
In mathematics, a geometric progression, also known as a geometric sequence, 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.
For example, the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, ... is a geometric progression with common ratio 3

. Similarly 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, ... is a geometric sequence with common ratio

. In general,
 FORMULAE
The nth term of the sequence is given by:

The sum of the members of a geometric progression:

if  r >1

if  r <1
 Example 7
Given the series : 6, 36, 216, ….. Find a) the 8th term b) the sum of the first 8 terms

 
 
 

ed
Not >
r
that
1
 Example 8
In February, a retailer sold 500 packets of bread. The retailer expects that the demand
will increase by 2% every month. How many packets of bread is expected to be sold in
July?

•   Another solutions to find r

Sold in February = 500 r = 510/500 = 1.02

r = 520.2/510 =1.02
Sold in March = 500 + 0.02
(500) Noted that from
= 510 February to July =
Sold in April = 510 + 0.02 6 months
(510)
= 520.2 hence our n = 6
 Example 9
The profit of a company is expected to increase by 12% every month. How much is the
company’s total profit after 5 months if the current month’s profit is RM50,000?

•   Another solutions to find r

Month 1= 50000 r = 56000/50000 = 1.12

Month 2 = 50000 + 0.12 (50000)
= 56000
Month 3 = 56000 + 0.12 (56000)
= 62720
r = 62720/56000 =1.12
Noted that after 5
months means that
month 1 + 5 months =
6

o ted hence our n = 6

N
a t r>
th
1
 Example 10
The 6th term and the 9th of a geometric series are 40 and 320 respectively. Find the first
term.

  SOLVE SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS

6 term is 40
th

T6 = 40  

 
9 term is 320
th

T9 = 320
 Example 10
The 6th term and the 9th of a geometric series are 40 and 320 respectively. Find the first
term.

   

OR
 Example 11
Given the sequence : 6, 12, 24, … , 3072. Find the number of terms in the sequence.

•    
THE END