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Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence is defined by a constant difference added to each term to obtain the next term. The document provides examples of identifying terms and differences in sequences, calculating specific terms, and finding sums of sequences. It also includes problem sets for classification and calculations related to arithmetic sequences and series.

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8 views4 pages

Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence is defined by a constant difference added to each term to obtain the next term. The document provides examples of identifying terms and differences in sequences, calculating specific terms, and finding sums of sequences. It also includes problem sets for classification and calculations related to arithmetic sequences and series.

Uploaded by

billieroshaun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Arithmetic Sequence

A sequence in which a constant, d, is added to the previous term to get the next term is called an
arithmetic sequence. The constant is called the common difference.

Example 1: For each arithmetic sequence, identify the first term a1, the common difference d1, and the
next term in the sequence.

Sequence First term d Next term


1. 2, 5, 8, 11,… 2 3 14
1 2 1 1/3 2
2. 1, 1 , 1 ,2 ,2 2
3 3 3
1
,..
3
3. 17, 12, 7, 2, -3 17 -5 -8

Example 2: Write the first six terms of the arithmetic sequence with the first term 6 and common
difference -2.

Solution: To find the second term, we add -2 to the first term 6 snd obtain 4. For the next term, we add -
2 to 4, and so on.

1st term: 6

2nd term: 6+(-2)=4

3rd term: 4+(-2)=2

4th term: 2+(-2)=0

5th term: 0+(-2)=-2

6th term: -2+(-2)=-4

The first six terms are 6, 4, 2, 0, -2, -4.

General Term of an Arithmetic Sequence

The nth term of an arithmetic sequence with first term a1 and common difference d is

an=a1+(n-1)d.
Example 3: Find a30, the 30th term, in the arithmetic sequence: -4, -1, 2, 5,…

a 1=−4 , d=3 , n=30

a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d

a 30=−4 + ( 30−1 ) 3=−4 +29 ∙3=−4 +87=83

The 30th term is 83.


Example 4: In the sequence in Example 3, what is n if an is 593?

a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d

593=−4 + ( n−1 ) 3
593=−4 +3 n−3
593=−7+3 n
600=3 n
200=n

Arithmetic Series

Consider the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence. This sum, denoted by Sn, is
called an arithmetic series.

The nth Partial Sum of an Arithmetic Sequence

n
The sum Sn of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence is given by Sn= ( a1+ an ) or
2
n
Sn= [2 a1 + ( n−1 ) d], where a1 is the first term and an is the nth term.
2
Example 1. Find the sum of the first 15 terms of an arithmetic sequence 3,6,9,12,…

Solution: We must find the 15th term first.

d=a2−a1=6−3=3

a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d

a 15=3+ ( 15−1 ) 3

¿ 3+ ( 14 ) 3
a 15=45

Now, we are ready to find the sum of the first 15 terms.

n
Sn= ( a1 + an )
2
15
S15= (3+45)
2
15
¿ ( 48)
2

¿ 360
14
Example 2. Find ∑ 2 i+3
i=1

14
Sol’n: ∑ 2 i+3= (2 ∙ 1+ 3 ) +( 2 ∙2+3 )+ (2 ∙ 3+3 ) +…+ ( 2∙ 1 4+3 )=5+7+ 9+…+31
i=1
n
S n = ( a1 + a n )
2
14
S14= ( 5+31 )
2
¿ 7 ( 36 )
¿ 252

Problem Set #1 (40 points)


a. Classify each sequence as arithmetic or not. If the sequence is arithmetic,
find the common difference d. (10 points)
1. 1 , 2, 3 , 4 ,…
2. 2 , 5 ,8 , 11, …
3. −6 ,−10 ,−14 ,−18 , …
3 5 7
4. 1 , 2 ,2 , 2 , 3 , 2 , …
1 1 1 1 1
5. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ,…

b. Find the indicated term of each of the following arithmetic sequences.


(10 points)
1. a 1=4 , d=3 ; a25
2. a 10 =−2 , a1 5=−8 ; a 3
3. −4.123 ,−3.053 ,−1.983 , … ; a 2 0
4. a 12=−45 , a1 0=−37 ; a1
5. a 21=195 , a1 0=8 5 ; a1

c. Find the number of terms in each arithmetic sequence. (6 points)


1. 3 , 5 ,7 ,… , 33
2. 4 , 1,−2 , … ,−32
3. −5 ,−1 , 3 , … , 75

d. Solve each problem. (15 points)


1. In the sequence 5, 8, 11, 14,… what is n if an is 32?
2. Find the sum of the first 15 terms of the arithmetic sequence -12, -3, 6,
15,…
3. Find the sum of the first 25 terms of the arithmetic sequence 7, 19, 31,
43, …
4. Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic sequence 4, 10, 16,
22, …
100
5. Find ∑ −2i .
i=1

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