MATHEMATICS 10

TOPIC: ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES, MEANS, AND SERIES

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

 illustrate an arithmetic sequence

 determine arithmetic means and nth term of an arithmetic sequence
 find the sum of terms of a given arithmetic sequence
 solve problems involving arithmetic sequence, means and series

ACTIVITY 1: Study the number of distinct non-collinear points and the number of triangles formed in each
figure

1 1 3
1 2
2

The figures above show the number of non-overlapping triangles that can be formed from 3,4,5 distinct
non-collinear points on a plane. You can see that there is 1 triangle formed from 3 distinct non-collinear points,
2 non-overlapping triangles from 4 distinct non-collinear points, and 3 non-overlapping triangles from 5 non-
collinear points.

ACTIVITY 2: Process question

1. What is the number of non-overlapping triangles that can be formed when there are 10 distinct non-collinear
points on a plane? Show your solution.

ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

An arithmetic sequence, also known as an arithmetic progression, is a sequence in which any term,
except the first term, can be obtained by adding a constant number to the preceding term. The constant number
in the arithmetic sequence is called the common difference (d) between any two consecutive terms, in symbols,

d=a2−a1

Thus, the nth term of a sequence is

a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d

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where;

a 1−the first term

n−the number of terms

d−thecommon difference

EXAMPLE 1: Determine whether or not each sequence is an arithmetic sequence.

a. 21,38,55,72,89,… b. 2,4,8,16,32,…

Solution: To determine whether the sequence is an arithmetic sequence, determine if there is a common
difference.

A . d=a2−a1 , a 3−a2 , … .
38−21=17
55−38=17
72−55=17
89−72=17
There is a common difference d=17. Hence, the sequence is an arithmetic sequence

B. . d=a2−a1 , a 3−a2 , … .
4−2=2
8−4=4
16−8=8
32−16=16
There is no common difference. Therefore, the sequence is not an arithmetic sequence

EXAMPLE 2:
a. Find the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence if the first term is 5 and the second term is 8.
b. in an arithmetic sequence, the common difference is -2 and the 8th term is 12. What is the first term?
c. Find the 4th term of an arithmetic sequence given that a 12=−21∧a 25=18

Solution:
a. Let a 10 be the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence 5,8,…a 10
Then, a 1=5 ( first term ) , n=10 ( number of terms ) ,∧d=a 2−a1 =8−5=3( common difference),
Using the general rule a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d ,

a 10=5+ ( 10−1 ) ( 3 )

a 10 =5+( 9)( 3)

a 10 =5+27

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 a 10 =32

Therefore, the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence is 32.

b. Given that d=−2 ,a 8=12∧n=8 , you can use the general rule to find the a 1( first term).

a 1=an −( n−1 ) d

a 1=12−( 8−1 ) (−2 )

a 1=12 (−7 )(−2 )

a 1=12+ 14

a 1=26

Therefore, the first term of the arithmetic sequence is 26.

c. There is no given information about the common difference and the 1st term. To find the common
difference and the 1st term, use the general rule a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d

Equation 1.1 a 12=−21 −21=a1 + ( 12−1 ) d

−21 ¿ a1 +11 d

Equation 1.2 a 25 =18 18=a1 + ( 25−1 ) d

18=a1 +24 d

Subtract equation 1.1 from equation 1.2 to find the common difference.

18=a1 +24 d
−(−21=a 1+11 d )
39=13 d
d=3
Then, solve for a 1using either equation 1.1 or equation 1.2.
18=a1 +24 d
18=a1 +24 (3)
18=a1 +72
−72+18=a1
−54=a 1
You can now solve for a 4.
a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d
a 4=54 + ( 4−1 ) ( 3 )
a 4=−54 +(3)(3)

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 a 4=−54 +9
a 4=−45
Therefore, the 4th term of the sequence is -45.
ACTIVITY 3:
Directions: Answer the following. Write your answer on the space provided.
1. Given the arithmetic sequence 2,5,8,11,…,
a. find the common difference of the terms in the sequence

b. find the 10th term and 15th terms.

2. Relate an experience where common or individual differences exist. How did you manage? What lesson (s)
have you learned from this situation?
Criteria:
Content-3
Organization of ideas-2
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ARITHMETIC MEAN
In a finite arithmetic sequence a 1, a2 ,… ,a 6 ,a 7, the terms a 1∧a7 are called extremes, whereas a 2 , … , a6
are called arithmetic means. Arithmetic means are terms found between two extremes of an arithmetic
sequence and are denoted by m1 ,m2 , m3 , m4 , … .
EXAMPLE 3
a. Insert an arithmetic mean between 5 and 8
b. Insert two arithmetic means between 5 and 20.

Solution:
a. The arithmetic sequence can be written as 5,m1 ,8 . This indicates that there are only three terms in the
sequence where a 1=5 and a 3=8, and the middle term is the arithmetic mean (m1).

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 To find the arithmetic mean, simply get the average of the two given terms since only one arithmetic
mean is to be inserted. Hence, the arithmetic mean is

5+8 13
= =6.5
2 2
b. The arithmetic sequence can be written as 5 , m1 , m2 , 20. Based on the sequence, there are only four terms,
where m1∧m2are the arithmetic means. Assume that a 1=5∧a4 =20. Using the general rule a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d ,
find d by substituting the known values of a 1∧a4 .
a 4=a1+ ( 4−1 ) d
20=5+3 d
20−5=3 d
15=3 d
5=d
Hence, to find m1 , simply add the common difference (d) to first term (a 1)
m1=a 1+ d
m1=5+5
m 1=¿ 10
Then to find m2, add the common difference (d) to m1 .
m2=m1 +d
m2=10+5
m2=15

ACTIVITY 4
Directions: Answer the following. Write your answer on the space provided.
1. Do what is asked in each item.
a. Insert three arithmetic means between 2 and 10. Show your solution.

b. Find five arithmetic means between 5 and 20. Show your solution.

2. Cite an experience on a particular situation where you need to choose between two important events in your
life. How did you handle it? What good did your decision give you?
Criteria:
Content-3
Organization of ideas-2

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ARITHMETIC SERIES
An expression denoting the sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence is called arithmetic series. The
corresponding arithmetic series for the arithmetic sequence 2,4,6,8,10,… is
2+ 4+6+ 8+10+…
The sum sn of the first n terms of an arithmetic series is
n
sn= ( a1 +a n ) Equation 1.3
2
or
n
sn=
2
[ 2 a1+ ( n−1 ) d ] Equation 1.4
Where
a 1−first term
a n−nthterms
n−number of terms
d−common difference

An arithmetic series is finite if its corresponding sequence is finite. Otherwise, it is infinite.

EXAMPLE 4
a. Find the sum of the positive even integers less than 100.
b. Find the sum of the first 21 terms of the arithmetic sequence 60,54,48,…
c. Find the sum of all multiples of 4 between 6 and 50.
Solution:
a. There are 49 positive even integers less than 100, which form an arithmetic sequence as follows:
2,4,6,..,96,98. So, a 1=2, d=2, n=49 and a 49=98

Using the formula, the sum can be calculated as follows:

n
sn= ( a1 +a n )
2
49
s49= ( 2+98 )
2
49
s49= ( 100 )
2
s49 =2450
Therefore, the sum of the positive even integers less than 100 is 2450.
b. Based on the given arithmetic sequence, a 1=60 , n=21∧d=54−60=−6.

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 Equation 1.4 would be more appropriate to use than equation 1.3 since the last term is not given. Solving for
the sum of the first 21 terms,
n
sn=
2
[ 2 a1+ ( n−1 ) d ]
21
s21=
2
[ 2 ( 60 ) + ( 21−1 )−6 ]
21
s21 =
2
[ 120+ ( 20 ) −6 ]
21
s21=
2
[ 120+ (−120 ) ]
21
s21 = (0)
2
s21 =0
Therefore, the sum of the first 21 terms of the arithmetic sequence 60,54,48,… is 0.
c. The least multiple of 4 greater than 6 is 8, whereas the greatest multiple of 4 less than 50 is 48. Thus,
a 1=8 , d=4∧an=48. To determine the number of terms n, use the general rule for the nth term.
a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d
48=8 ( n−1 )( 4 )
48=8+ 4 n−4
48−8+ 4=4 n
44=4 n
11=n
Since n=11, there are 11 terms in the sequence. Now, find s11.
n
sn= ( a1 +a 2 )
2
11
s11 = ( 8+ 48 )
2
11
s11= ( 56 )
2
s11 =308
Therefore, the sum of all multiples of 4 between 6 and 50 is 308.

ACTIVITY 5
Directions: Answer the following. Write your answer on the space provided.

1. Suppose there is a consistent increase of 1.50 pesos per liter in the price of gasoline in the market every two
weeks. Prior to the increase, the price was 50.35 pesos per liter. How much would 10 liters of gasoline cost after
10 weeks? Show your solution.

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2. When is a sequence arithmetic? How is an arithmetic series obtained?
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3. How can you find the means of an arithmetic sequence given the two extreme terms?
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ACTIVITY 6
Directions: Solve the following. Write your answer in a 1 whole sheet of paper.
A. Determine whether each sequence is arithmetic or not. If it is, find the common difference and give the next
two terms.
1. 7,10,13,16 , …
2. 9,11,13,15 , …
3. 4,12,36,108 , …
4. −6 ,−4−2,0 , …
1 1
5. 2,1 , , , …
2 4
B. Find the indicated term of the arithmetic sequence given the conditions. Show your solution.
1. a 1=5 , d=3 , a4 =?
2. a 1=3 , d=−5 , a6 =?
3. a 2=3 , a5=8 ,a 7=?
4. a 4=−3 ,a 10=10 , a2=¿ ?
5. a 5=5 , a10=15 , a15=?
C. Find three arithmetic means for each arithmetic sequence. Show your solution.
1. 4, ____,____,____.16
2. 7,____,____,____,15
3. 14,____,____,____,-2
D. Find the sum of the given terms in each arithmetic sequence. Show your solution.
1. First 10 positive multiples of 5.
2. 10,20,30,…,200
3. a 1=5 , d=−4 , n=10

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