CHAPTER: 6

Sequence and Series

Sequence
A succession of numbers a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , … , a n formed according to some definite rule is called a sequence
A sequence is the function whose domain is set of natural number and range a subset of real numbers or
complex numbers
Notation
The terms of the sequence usually denoted by a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , … , a n or t 1 , t 2 , t 3 , … , t n . the term at nth place
of sequence is called general term “ t n “ of the sequence
A sequence is said to be infinite or finite sequence according as it has infinite or finite number of terms
Progression
If the terms of the sequence follow certain pattern , then the sequence is called a progression
Series
By adding or subtracting the terms of sequence we obtain a series
Arithmetic Sequence or Progression ( A . P )
A sequence whose terms increase or decrease by fixed number is called an Arithmetic progression . The
fixed number is called common difference
In an A.P first term is denoted by “ a “ the common difference by “ d “
d = t n −t n−1
thus the A.P can be written as a , a+ d , a+ 2d , a+3 d , …+ ( n−1 ) d
The nth term of an Arithmetic Progression
t n=a+ ( n−1 ) d
 if an A.P has n terms then the nth term is called last term denoted by l
l=a+ ( n−1 ) d
 three numbers a , b , c are in A.P iff b−a=c−b iff a+ c=2 b
 Any three numbers in an A.P can be taken as a−d , a , a+d Any four numbers
a−3 d , a−d , a+ d , a+3 d similarly any five numbers can be taken as
a−2 d . a−d , a , a+d , a+2 d
Sum of n terms of an A.P ( Guass’ Law )
n
Sn=¿ [ 2 a+ ( n−1 ) d ]
2
 if an A.P has n terms then the nth term is called last term then
n
Sn=¿ ( a+ l )
2
t
 n n n−1
=S −S
Arithmetic Mean ( A.M )
Single arithmetic mean , A number A is said to be the single A.M between two numbers a and b provided
a,A,b
A−a = b – A ⟹ 2 A=a+ b
a+b
A ¿
2
n-Arithmetic Mean
 The numbers A1 , A2 , A 3 ,… A n are said to be n arithmetic means between two numbers a& b
provided a , A1 , A2 , A 3 ,… A n , b
Inserting n – arithmetic means between two numbers a∧b
Let A1 , A2 , A 3 ,… A n are said to be n −¿ arithmetic means between two numbers a& b
provided a , A1 , A2 , A 3 ,… A n , b
now b = ( n + 2 ) th terms of an A.P
b=a+ ( n+2−1 ) d
b=a+ ( n+1 ) d
b−a
d=¿
n+1
b−a
A1=a+d=a+
n+1
b−a
A2=a+2 d=a+ 2 ( ) n+1
b−a
A3 =a+3 d=a+3 ( ) n+1
. . .
. . .
. . .
b−a
An =a+nd =a+n ( ) n+1
a+ b
( )
 A1 + A 2 , + A3 +, , ,+ An ¿ n
2
Geometric Progression / Sequence ( G.P )
A sequence ( finite or infinite ) of a non – zero number in which every term except the first one bears a
constant ratio with its preceding term is called geometric progression. The constant ratio is also called
Common ratio is denoted by r
For example in G.P 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , …
2 4 8
= = =2
1 2 4
 if a the first term and r is the common ratio of the G.P then G.P is written as
a , ar , a r 2 , a r 3 , a r 4 , … a r n−1
 nth term of G.P is t n=a r n −1

l
 The nth term from the end of a G.P with the last term l and common ratio r is n−1
r

Sum of n terms of G.P

Sn ¿ a+ ar +a r 2 +a r 3 + a r 4 +¿ … +a r n−1
n
Sn=¿ a(r −1)
r−1
 If r =1 then Sn ¿ a+ a+a +a+ a +¿ … +n=n a
 (lr−a)
 if l is last term of the G.P then Sn=¿
r−1
Sum of an Infinite Geometric Progression
The geometric progression is said to be infinite geometric series if |r|< 1
a
S∞ = , | r| < 1 or – 1 < r< 1
1−r
 If | r| < 1 then series is said to be convergent
 If | r| > 1 then series is said to be divergent
Vulgar / Non – terminating / Recurring / Repeating decimal fraction
3−0 3 1
0.3 = 0.333333… = = =
10−1 9 3
41−0 41
o.41 = 0.4141414141….= 100−1 = 99
56−6 50 5
0.56 = 0.566666666… 100−10 = 90 = 9
Geometric Mean ( G.M )
Single Geometric mean , A number G is said to be the single G.M between two numbers a & b
provided a , G , b
G b
¿ ⟹ G 2=ab
a G
G=± √ ab
n-Geometric Mean
The numbers G1 , G 2 , G 3 ,… Gn are said to be n geometric means between two numbers a& b
provided a , G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ,… G n , b
Inserting n – Geometric means between two numbers a∧b
Let G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ,… G n are said to be n −¿ geometric means between two numbers a& b
provided a , G1 , G2 , G3 ,… Gn , b
now b = ( n + 2 ) th terms of an G.P
b = a r n +2−1
b = a r n +1
1
b n+1
() r=
a
1
G1 = a r =a b n+1
() a
2
G 2 = a r 2=a b n+1
() a
3
G 3 = a r 3 =a b n+1
() a
. . .
. . .
. . .
n
G n = a r n =a b
()a
n+1
  G1 G 2 G3 … Gn = √n ab
Let A is A.M and G is G.M between two numbers a∧b

 A>G
 x 2 – 2 Ax+G2 =0
 If a = b then A = G
 Two positive numbers a & b are given by A ± √ A 2−G2
a a a
 Any three numbers in an G.P can be taken as ,a , ar Any four numbers 3 , , ar , a r 3 similarly any
r r r
a a
five numbers can be taken as , , a , ar , a r 2
r r
2

Harmonic Progression ( H.P )

A sequence of non – zero numbers is said to be harmonic progression if the sequence
1 1 1 1 1
, ,
a1 a2 a3 a4 , , … an are in A.P
1 1 1 1 1
A general form of H.P is , , , ,…
a a+d a+2 d a+3 d a+ ( n−1 ) d
1 ab
t n= =
a+ ( n−1 ) d b+ ( n−1 ) (a−b)
1 1 1 1 1 1 2ac
 Three numbers are in H.P iff , , are in A.P i.e. + = ⟹ =b
a b c a c b a+c
 No term of an H.P can be zero
 There is no general formula for finding the sum of an H.P
Harmonic Mean ( H.M )
A number H is said to be single Harmonic mean between two numbers a & b
If a , H , b are in H.P then
1 1 1
, , are in A.P
b H a
1 1
+ a+b
1 a b =
= 2ab
H 2
2 ab
H=
a+ b
n-Harmonic Mean
The numbers H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ,… H n are said to be n harmonic means between two numbers a& b
provided a , H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ,… H n , b
Inserting n – Harmonic means between two numbers a∧b
Let H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ,… H n are said to be n – harmonic means between two numbers a& b
provided a , H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ,… H n , b
1
now = ( n + 2 ) th terms of an A.P
b
 1 1
= + ( n+2−1 ) d
b a
1 1
= + ( n+1 ) d
b a
a−b
d=¿
ab ( n+1 )
1 1 a−b
= +d =a+
H1 a ab ( n+1 )
1 1 a−b
¿ + 2d =a+2
H2 a ab ( n+1 )

. . .
. . .
. . .
ab ( n+1 )
H n=
na+b
Relation between G.M , H.M , A.M
a+b 2 ab
 A= , G=± √ ab , H=
2 a+ b
2
 G = AH
 A ≥ G≥ H
Arithmetico – geometric sequence ( A.G.S )
A series obtained by multiplying the corresponding terms of A.P and G.P is called an
Arithmetico – geometric sequence
a + ( a + d ) r + ( a + 2d ) r 2 + ( a + 3 d ) r 3 + …
T n={ a+ ( n−1 ) d } r n−1
 Sum of A.G.S is
[ a+ ( n−1 ) d ] r n
Sn =
r−1
a dr
 Sum of infinite A.G.S is S∞ ¿ +
1−r (1−r )2

MCQs
1] For what value of “n” the sum of first n even numbers exceeds 10099?
a) 99 b) 100 c) 88 d) 97..

2] If a, b, c are three numbers in H.P then the characteristic relation for an Harmonic
Progression is
a a−b a a− c a a−b a a−b
= = = =
a) c b− c b) c b− c c) c c−a d) b b− c .
3] If A, G, H represent Arithmetic , Geometric and Harmonic Means respectively between any
two numbers a and b then
a) A > G > H b) AH = G c) AH = G2 d) None.
 1 1 1
, ,
4] If a, b, c are in G.P then a+b 2 b b+c are in
a) A.P b) G.P c) H.P d) A – G .P

5] Sum to infinity of a G.P exists if common ratio

a) r =1 b) r > 1 c) r < 1 d) | r | < 1

1 1 1

6] What is the sum of 1, – 3 , 9 , 27 , … 
1 4 3 2
a) 3 b) 3 c) 2 d) 1 3 .

7] What is 175 % of 16 ?
1
9
a) 24 b) 22 c) 28 d) 7 .
8]. The nth term of the sequence 2 2 , 8 ,16 2 ,…
n 1
a)
n
2 b) ( n 2 ) c) ( n 2 )n d) n 2
9] The rule of formation of 2, 5, 10…………….. is
a) 2n + 1 b) 2n – 1 c) n2 + 1 d) n2 – 1 .

1 1 1 1
, , ,
10] The 15th term of the sequence 5 7 9 11 ……….is
1 1 1
a) 33 b) 21 c) 36
1
d) 30
11] if the 7th term of an A.P is 14 and 12th term is 24 find the first term and the common difference.
a) 2, 2 b) 3, 2 c) 4, 3 d) 6, 5.

12] How many terms of the series 10+ 8 + 6 + 4 +………….. will make the sum 24.
a) 4 b) 10 c) 25 d) 8.

13] if a, b, c, d, e, f are in A.P then e – c = ?

a) 2( c – a ) b) 2 ( d – c ) c) 2 ( f – d ) d) d – c .

1 1
5 6
14] Find 15th term of the A.P 2 , 6, 2 , 7………………..is
1
12
a) 12 b) 13 c) 2 d) None.
th th th
15] a, b, c are p , q and r terms of an A.P, respectively, then p( b – c ) + q( c – a ) + r( a – b) = ?
a) 0 b) 2 c) 1 e) None.
16] Three consecutive terms of an A.P are x + 2, 2x + 3, 5x – 6. the x = ?
a) 1 b) – 1 c) 0 d) 5.

17] The sum of the first n terms of two A.Ps are in the ratio 3n + 31 : 5n – 3, which terms of the
sequence are equal ?
a) 7th b) 6th c) 9th d) None.

18] how many terms of the series 21 + 18 + 15 …………….. must be taken to amount to 75.
a) 10 b) 7 c) 5 d) both a & c.

19] How many terms of the G.S 1 + 4 + 16…. Must be taken to have their sum equal to 341.
a) 4 b) 6 c) 5 d) 7.

45
20] If 3 + 3α + 3α + …….. = 8 , then α = ?
2

6 2 7
a) 11 b) 13 c) 15 d) None.

21] Find 20th term of the series log 2 + log 4 + log 8 + log 16 + ……..
a) 21log 2 b) 20log 2 c) log 2 d) 10log 2.

22] Find common fraction of 0. 45 .

5 5 4 3
a) 11 b) 13 c) 11 d) 11 .

23] Geometric mean between 2 √3 and 6 √3 is

a) – 6 b) ± 6 c) ± 5 d) None.

24] What is the next number in the series 212, 179, 146, 113,… is ?
a) 102 b) 96 c) 80 d) 84.

25] If 2, x, 32 are in G. P then x = ?

a) ± 16 b) ± 8 c) ± 4 d) None.

26] If the A.M between the roots of the quadratic equation is 8 and G.M is 5 then the equation is,
a) x2 – 16x – 25 = 0 b) x2 + 16x – 25 = 0
2
c) x + 16x + 25 = 0 d) x2 – 16x + 25 = 0.

27] If 2x = 32 and 3y = 27 then xy = ?

a) 6 b) 15 c) 10 d) 25.

28] The perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 36 cm, the altitude to the unequal side is 12 cm determine
length of the sides
a) 12, 12 b) 14, 8 c) 30, 10 d) 13, 10.