Year 12 Math Advanced

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Financial Mathematics

M1.2: Arithmetic Sequences and Series

 Defining Sequences and Series

 Recursive Formula

 Sum of Arithmetic Sequences

 Using Arithmetic Sequences and Series in Different Contexts

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Defining Sequences and Series

A sequence is a set of numbers that is defined by a specific rule.

A sequence can take one of two forms. It must either:

o Describe the relationship between the nth and ( n+1 )th term (an open form
sequence); or

o Provide a formula for the nth term (a recursive formula)

A series is the term used when we add up the terms of a sequence.

For example,

2,4,6,8,10,12 , … (SEQUENCE)

2+ 4+6+ 8+10+… (SERIES)

Question 1

a) Write the sequence of Fibonacci numbers up to the 10 th term.

b) In English words, describe the ‘rule’ that defines the Fibonacci sequence.

c) Add the first 5 terms in the Fibonacci sequence.

d) Add the first 6 terms in the Fibonacci sequence and subtract the answer of c) from this.
What do you notice?

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Recursive Formula
The general steps below provide an intuitive means to sus out a sequence. Say for example we
wished to describe the sequence of all even numbers:

Write out the first few terms

0,2,4,6…

Develop an expression for the sequence

In the case of an open form sequence our goal is to find a formula for the nth term. In the case of this
simple sequence:

T n=2 n

(Notice that when we substitute n=1 ,T n=2; n=3 ,T n=6 and so on…)

In the case we wish to express the sequence as a recursive formula, we simply notice that each
successive term is the previous term, with 2 added. Hence:

T n=T n−1+ 2

(Notice that with this formula we need T 4to work outT 5 and T 7 for T 8and so on)

Question 2

Write a recursive formula that expresses the Fibonacci sequence.

Question 3

Write down the next four terms in the sequence

9 , 13 ,17,21 …

16 ,−8 , 4 ,−2 …

1 ,1 , 2 ,3 , 5 , 8 …

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Question 4

Write down the first 4 terms (that is, writeT n n=1 ¿ 4 ) of the sequence whose nth term (n ≥ 1) is
defined by

T n=(−1 )n x n

T n=2 n(n+ 1)
n
T n=(−3 )

Sigma Notation
Sigma notation is a convenient simplification for a sum following a fixed pattern.
n
We read ∑ f ( i )as the sum of for all i , i=0 to n
i=0

n
Expressed mathematically: ∑ f ( i )=f ( 0 )+ f ( 1 )+ f ( 2 ) +… f ( n )
i=0

Question 5

Expand and hence calculate the following:

7

∑i
i=1

∑ 3 ( i−1 )
i=2

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∑ i2
i=3

∑ √i (to 2 decimal places)

i=2

Arithmetic Progression (AP)

A sequence or series is called an arithmetic progression (AP) if each successive term differs by a
constant amount.

We term this constant amount the common difference and denote it by the letter d

It is not difficult to see that T n−T n−1=d (for n ≥ 2)

Calculating the nth term

From the above formula we can see that:

T 2=T 1+ d

T 3=T 2+ d=T 1+2 d

T 4=T 3 +d=T 1 +3 d

Continuing with this pattern:

T n=T 1+(n−1)d

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Question 6

Given that the common difference of an arithmetic series is 5 and that the first term is 10, write
down T n , n=1 ¿5

Question 7

Given that T nis an arithmetic series and thatT 1=3,T 3=−9 , find T 6

Question 8

1 1 1
Consider the following sequence: , .
4 6 12

a) Show that the sequence is arithmetic

b) State the common difference
c) Find the next three terms of the sequence

Question 9

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The first term of an arithmetic progression is 2 and the fourth term is equivalent to three times the
third term. Find the common difference and the 7th , 8th and 9th terms

The Sum of Arithmetic Sequences

The formula for the sum of an arithmetic progression is given by:

n
S ( n )= ( a+l )
2

From the above formulae we may deduce that l=¿ _______________

This, upon rearrangement gives:

n
S ( n )= (2 a+ ( n−1 ) d)
2

You should know BOTH forms.

Question 10

Evaluate the following sums by expressing them as an arithmetic sequence:

9

∑ 3k
k=0

12

∑ T n; where T n=T n−1+3 and T 1=2

i=0

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Question 11

A pyramid is made of a series of bricks stacked one on top of the other. The height of the pyramid
depends on the number of rows of bricks. Assume that the i throw of the pyramid has i bricks.

a) If I were to build a pyramid of 19 rows; how many bricks would I need?

b) Suppose I have 300 bricks; how many rows could the highest possible pyramid I could build
have?

Question 12

Evaluate the following sums by expressing them as an arithmetic sequence:

9

∑ 7k
k=4

12

∑ T n; where T n=T n−1+ 9 and T 4=25

i=7

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Using Arithmetic Sequences and Series in Different Contexts

Question 13
n
The nth partial sum of a series is Sn=3 −1

a) Write out the first five partial sums

b) Take differences to find the first give terms of the original sequence
c) Find Sn−1 and use the result T n=Sn −S n−1 to find a formula for T n (use that
n n−1 n−1
3 −3 =2∗3 )

Question 14

Insert 5 arithmetic means between 40 and 5

Question 15

An arithmetic series has a 7th term of 8 and the difference between the 12 th and 11th terms is -5

i) Find the common difference d

ii) What is the first term a

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iii) Calculate the sum of the first 17 terms

Question 16

x , x 2 and 5 x are three consecutive terms of an arithmetic series

i) Show that 2 x2 −6 x=0

ii) What is the common difference of the series?

Question 17

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Question 18

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Question 19

A particular spider's web consists of a series of regular hexagons with a common centre O ,
held together by rays through O , as in the figure, where only some of the hexagons are
shown.
The vertices of the smallest hexagon are 4 cm from O , the vertices of the next are 2 cm
further away and they continue at 2 cm intervals along the rays until the vertices of the last
hexagon ABCDEF are 60 cm from O .

a) How many hexagons are there?

b) What is the length, in cm, of the perimeter of the smallest hexagon?
c) What is the total length of thread used by the spider in making this web (including
the six rays fromO )?

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Question 20

Guringai council is sheltering 100 couples taking refuge in the town hall due to a hurricane disaster.
They are providing 1 avocado per day per person. Every day after the first day, one couple is able to
return home. How many avocados will remain from an initial store of 12000 when everyone has left?
Will there be enough avocados?

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Question 21

Georgia earns $25 000 in her first year, then her salary increases every year by a fixed amount $D as
her boss is hitting on her. If the total amount earned at the end of the 12 years is $600 000. Find
correct to the nearest dollar,

a) the value of D b) the final salary of T 12

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