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Gr.12 Sequence and

Series
Ronald Jacobs
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SEQUENCES AND SERIES/RYE EN REEKSE

T 1 ; T 2 ; T 3 ; T 4 ; . . . . . ;T n ; .. . . . is called a sequence.

T 1 represents the value of the first term and 1= the position/ of that value

T 2 represents the value of the second term and 2= the position of that value

T n represents the value of the n-th term (or general term) and n = the position of that value

(n indicates where a specific term appears in the sequence)

NB!! In
T n , n can only be a positive integer (positive whole number)

1. Arithmetic Sequence or Progression (AS or AP) / Linear Pattern:

Constant first difference (d)

2. Geometric Sequence or Progression (GS/GP) / Exponential Pattern:

Constant ration (r)

3. Second Difference Sequence or Progression / Quadratic Sequence or Pattern:

Second difference is constant
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SIGMA ( ∑) - NOTATION
 Sigma = the sum
 There are three or four things attached to a sigma notation.
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∑ (3 n+ 2)
Calculate n=1

1. (3n+2) = the general term of the sequence. From the general term we can get any term i.e.
T 1 (a) , T 2 , T 3 ,e.t .c. Furthermore, we can calculate the value of the constant difference (d)

2. The value underneath the sigma indicates the first term that must be added.
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∑ (3 n+ 2)
n=1 In this example we need to add So

In this example we need to add So

3. The value on top of the sigma indicates at which term we must stop
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∑ (3 n+ 2)
n=1 In this example we need to stop at term
4. Points 2 and 3 will assist us to get to n ( the number of terms that must be added in the sum
formula)
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∑ (3 n+ 2)
n=1 In this example we need to add 25 terms: 25 – 1 +1 = 25. n = 25 in the sum formula.

In this example we need to add 22 terms: 25 – 4 +1 = 22. n = 22 in the sum formula

Calculate :

1. = the general term of the sequence. From the general term we can get any term i.e.
T 1 (a) , T 2 , T 3 ,e.t .c. Furthermore, we can calculate the value of the constant ratio (r)

2. The value underneath the sigma indicates which term we must start adding

3. The value on top of the sigma indicates at which term we must stop (k) – and seeing that this is
unknown, indicates that we must calculate the number of terms that must be added to yield a sum

of

4. = equals the sum of k terms of the sequence

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EXAMPLE 1:

Determine

Solution:
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EXAMPLE 2:

Determine
Solution:
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EXAMPLE 3: The first three terms of a Geometric Progression are 5 x+1 ; 2 x +2 and x +1 .

Find (a) the numerical value of x , if x > 0 .

(b) the numerical values of the first three terms of the sequence
(c) the value of the 7th term
SOLUTION:
a)

b)

c)
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EXAMPLE 4: On the first day of drilling a borehole, 3m is reached. Thereafter, a depth of 3 of the depth
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of the previous day is reached. How many days will it take to reach a depth of 6561 if they continue to drill
at the same rate.
SOLUTION:
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EXAMPLE 5: All the terms of a convergent geometric sequence are positive. The sum of the first 2 terms is
5. The sum of all the terms of the sequence is 9. Determine the first 3 terms of the sequence.
SOLUTION:
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EXAMPLE 6: A ball is dropped from a height of 6m above the ground. The ball is than allowed to
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bounce. Each time the ball bounces 3 of its previous height. If the ball continues to bounce in
this fashion, calculate he total distance (height) the ball has bounced.

SOLUTION:

From the information given, the ball bounces up, then bounce down at the same height, before it bounces
up again at a height of 2/3 of the previous height.
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EXAMPLE 7

The sum of the first n terms of a sequence is given by .

1 What is the sum of the first five terms of the sequence? (2)

.2 What is the value of the fifth term in the sequence? (3)

SOLUTION
1.

2. The sum of the first 5 terms minus the sum of the first 4 terms =
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EXAMPLE 8

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4

Assume that the patterns above continue to behave consistently.

1 Determine a formula for the number of blocks in the nth pattern. (5)

2 Hence, or otherwise, determine the value of in the sequence below:

2; 2; 4; 5; 7; 8; 11; 11; ........... (6)

Given Sequence Second Difference Sequence Given Sequence First Difference Sequence
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QUESTIONS FROM PAST PAPERS

MAY/JUNE 2021

2.1.4 Each value in the series is 95 less than the series in 2.1.1 Therefore, the max is 95 less than the max in
2.1.3 Therefore 136 – 95 = 41
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NOV 2021
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NOV 2020

2.1
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NOV 2019
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NOV 2018
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EXERCISES
More Question from Past Papers (Quadratic patterns) (Memo on pages 27 -28)

Nat Mock 2009

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Nat March 2009

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Nat Nov 2010

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Nat March 2010

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Nat March 2011

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Nat March 2012

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Quadratic Patterns from Past Papers Memo

National Mock 2009 Question 3 National March 2009 Question 4
3.1 4.1 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
6 6 2 –6 – 18 – 34
0 –4 –8 – 12 – 16
–4 –4 –4 –4
The next term is – 34
3.2 4.2 a=–2
3a + b = 0 ⇒b = 6
a+b+c=6⇒c=2
Tn = – 2n2 + 6n + 2

3.3 Let the two consecutive numbers be 4.3 Let – 2n2 + 6n + 2 = – 6 838

2n2 – 6n – 6 840 = 0

n2 – 3n – 3 420 = 0

National November 2010 Question 3 National March 2010 Question 2

3.1 2.1

3.2 2.2
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2.3

National March 2011 Question 2 National March 2012 Question 3

3.1 Jakob: 3 ; 9 ; 27 ; 81; ……

2.1 GP with r = 3

Vusi: Second Difference Patter with second

difference = 12
2.2

2.3

3.2.1 Jacob:

3.2.2 Vusi:

is the first term greater then 269

National March 2012 Question 4

4.1
r=1 s=–1
4.2

4.3

4.4
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Grade 12 Worksheet on Sequences and Series (Memo on pages 34 – 41)

1.1 Use a formula to determine, without using a calculator, how many terms of the series
must be added to give a sum of 35. (6)

1.2 Insert three Geometric Means between (5)

1.3 Find (5)

1.4 The first, third and eighth terms of an Arithmetic Series form the first three terms of a
Geometric Series. If the first term is 4, find the common difference of the Arithmetic Series. (7)

2.1 In the Arithmetic Series: ,

is the first term, is the common difference and is the last term.

Prove that the sum to terms is given by (3)

2.2The first term of an Arithmetic Series is 113 and its last term is .
If the sum of the series is , calculate:

2.2.1 the number of terms in the series (3)

2.2.2 the common difference (3)

2.2.3 the number of positive terms in the series. (4)

2.3 are the first three terms of an infinite Geometric Series.

2.3.1 Calculate the value(s) of (5)

2.3.2 If this series diverges, determine (3)

2.4 Given
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2.4.1 Determine in terms of (4)

2.4.2 Hence, or otherwise, calculate the value of (2)

3.1 An Arithmetic Series has a common difference of . The sum of the first p terms is 365
and the sum of the first 2p terms is 1 330. Calculate the value of p and the first term. (7)

3.2 Prove: (5)

3.3 The third term of a geometric series is and the eighth term is .
Find the first term and the common ratio. (6)

3.4 If denotes the sum of the first n terms of the geometric series

and if S denotes the sum to infinity,

find the least of n such that (8)

4.1 Consider

4.1.1 Use a formula and calculate the sum of (4)

4.1.2 Hence calculate the sum of

(5)

4.2 All the terms of a convergent geometric sequence are positive. The sum of the first 2 terms is 5.
The sum of all the terms of the sequence is 9. Determine the first 3 terms of the sequence. (8)

5.1 The sum of 11 terms of the series is 242.

Calculate the value of as well as the tenth term. (7)

5.2 Prove, without using a formula, that the sum of the series to 40 terms is

given by (6)
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6.1 The sum of the arithmetic series is

6.1.1 Determine the sixth term of the series (3)
6.1.2 How many terms of the series will have a sum of 425? (6)

6.2 Three positive numbers are in ratio 1:3:7. If 12 is added to the largest number, the three numbers
form a geometric sequence. Find the numbers. (5)

6.3 A rubber ball dropped from a height of 15meters, loses 20percent of its previous height at
each rebound.
6.3.1 Determine the height the ball will rise to after the second rebound (2)
6.3.2 Determine the number of times it will rise to a height of over 3 meters. (6)
6.3.3 Determine the total distance the ball will travel before coming to rest. (3)

7.1 are the first three terms of an arithmetic sequence.

7.1.1 Find the numerical values of the first three terms of the sequence. (4)
7.1.2 Write down the nth term of the sequence. (2)

7.1.3 Find which term of the sequence is equal to . (2)

7.1.4 The sum of the first n terms of the sequence is . Find n. (5)

7.2 The first two terms of an arithmetic progression and a geometric progression are the same.
The first term is 2. The sum of the first three terms of the arithmetic progression is equal to the
third term of the geometric progression. Determine the first three terms of both progressions. (10)

7.3 The sum to infinity of the series: is .

Determine the value of r, leaving your answer in simplified surd form. (6)

7.4 Write the following progression in sigma notation: to n terms. (3)

8.1 If is a geometric sequence, write down the 7th term as an expression in . (2)

8.2 The first term of an arithmetic series is 5 and the tenth term is 32. Determine the sum of
the first 51 terms. (6)

8.3 Consider the series with n terms:

8.3.1 Without using a formula prove that the sum of the series is given by (5)
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8.3.2 Determine (2)

8.3.3 Hence consider and determine (correct to 3 dec pl) (3)

8.3.4 Determine (2)

8.4 Determine (2)

9.1 The eighth term of an arithmetic sequence is double the thirteenth term.
Prove that the second term is double the tenth term. (6)

9.2 Given a geometric series: , with .

Determine for which value(s) of k the series will be convergent. (3)

9.3 A girl saves money by banking an amount every day, starting with one cent and always doubling
the amount on the next day. How many days will she need to collect at least one million rand? (6)
A

9.4 An equilateral triangle has sides of units.

The midpoints of the sides are joined as shown in the sketch

9.4.1 determine the length of each side of the new equilateral triangle. F (2)
D
9.4.2 Show that the area of the new equilateral triangle is

the area of the old one. (3)

9.4.3 Find, in terms of x, the sum of the areas of all B E C

the triangles if this process is continued indefinitely. (8)

10.1 If is the first term of an arithmetic series and d is the common difference, deduce a formula for

the sum of n terms (Sn) of the series. (6)

10.2 Determine the numerical value of (5)

10.3 The SEVENTH, EIGHTH and THIRTEENTH terms of an arithmetic sequence are

respectively.

10.3.1 Determine the common difference in terms of (2)

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10.3.2 Hence, or otherwise, determine the numerical value of . (5)

10.4 The sum to infinity of a convergent series is 32. The sum of the first five terms is 31.
Determine the value of the common ratio. (6)

11. A new sequence is formed by adding together the corresponding terms of a geometric and an

arithmetic sequence. The common ratio of the geometric sequence is 2 and the common difference

of the arithmetic sequence is 2. The first term of the new sequence is 1, and the second term is 7.

11.1 Calculate the third term of the new sequence. (8)

11.2 Write down an expression for the nth term of the new sequence. (5)

12 Consider the geometric series:

12.1 For what values of m is the series convergent? (4)

12.2 Calculate, in terms of m, the sum to infinity of the series, if the series is convergent. (2)

12.3 Hence calculate the sum to infinity of the series: (3)

13.1 is an arithmetic sequence and is a geometric sequence. All terms

in the sequences are integers. Calculate the values of . (9)

13.2 The sum of an arithmetic series is 100 times the value of its first term, while the last
term is 9 times the first term. Calculate the number of terms in the series if the first term
is not equal to zero. (6)

13.3 Given the geometric series:

13.3.1 Show that the series converges (2)

13.3.2 Calculate the sum to infinity of the series (3)

13.3.3 Calculate the sum of the first 8 terms of the series, correct to TWO decimal places. (4)

13.3.4 Use your answers to 13.3.2 & 13.3.3 to determine correct to TWO dec. pl. (2)
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Grade 12 Memo for Worksheet on Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions

1. 1.4
1

2.1

1.
2

2.2.
1

1. 2.2.
3 2

2.2.
3
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2.3.1 3.1

2.3.2

2.4.1

2.4.2

3.3

3.2
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3.4 4.1.
2

4.2

4.1.
1
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5.1 6.2

6.3

12

9,6
15

6.3.1

5.2 6.3.2

6..1.1

6.3.3

6.1.2
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7.1.1 7.3

7.1.2

This can be done by inspection.

7.1.3

7.1.4

7.2

7.4
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8.1 9.1

8.2

8.3. 9.2
1
9.3

8.3. 9.4.
2 1

8.3. 9.4.
3 2

8.3.
4
9.4.
3
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10.1 10.4

10.2

11.1

10.3.
1

11.2

10.3. 12.1
2

12.2

12.3 From 12.1 we know that a , but

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13.1 13.3.1

13.3.2

13.3.3

13.2 13.3.4