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AP GP Notes

Arithmetic and geometric progressions are sequences with a constant difference or ratio between consecutive terms. Formulas are provided to find individual terms, the sum of finite sequences, and the infinite sum of certain geometric progressions.

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495 views6 pages

AP GP Notes

Arithmetic and geometric progressions are sequences with a constant difference or ratio between consecutive terms. Formulas are provided to find individual terms, the sum of finite sequences, and the infinite sum of certain geometric progressions.

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shikha
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Your notes

Arithmetic & Geometric Progressions


Arithmetic Progressions
Your notes
Arithmetic Sequences
What is an arithmetic progression?
In an arithmetic progression (also called arithmetic sequence), the difference between
consecutive terms in the sequence is constant
This constant difference is known as the common difference, d, of the sequence
For example, 1, 4, 7, 10, … is an arithmetic sequence with the rule ‘start at one and add three to each
number’
The first term, a, is 1
The common difference, d, is 3
An arithmetic progression can be increasing (positive common difference) or decreasing
(negative common difference)
Each term of an arithmetic progression is referred to by the letter u with a subscript determining
its place in the sequence

How do I nd a term in an arithmetic progression?


The nth term formula for an arithmetic progression is given as
u = a + (n − 1) d
n
Where a is the first term, and d is the common difference
This is given on the list of formulas page of the exam, you do not need to know how to derive
it Your notes
Sometimes you will be given a term and asked to find the first term or the common difference
Substitute the information into the formula and solve the equation
Sometimes you will be given two terms and asked to find both the first term and the common
difference
Substitute the information into the formula and set up two simultaneous equations
Solve the simultaneous equations
Arithmetic Series
What is an arithmetic series? Your notes
An arithmetic series is the sum of the terms in an arithmetic progression
It is often referred to as the sum of an arithmetic progression
For the arithmetic sequence 1, 4, 7, 10, … the arithmetic series is 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + …

How do I find the sum of an arithmetic progression?


Use the following formulae to find the sum of the first n terms of the arithmetic series:
1 1
Sn = n { a + l } = n {2a + (n − 1) d }
2 2
a is the first term
l is the last term
d is the common difference
n is the number of terms in the series
Both formulae are given on the formula page, you do not need to know how to derive them
You can use whichever formula is more convenient for a given question
If you know the first term and common difference use the second version
If you know the first and last term then the first version is easier to use
A question will often give you the sum of a certain number of terms and ask you to find the value of
the first term or the common difference
Substitute the information into the formula and solve the equation
Geometric Progressions
Your notes
Geometric Sequences
What is a geometric progression?
In a geometric progression (also called geometric sequence) there is a common ratio, r,
between consecutive terms in the sequence
For example, 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, … is a progression with the rule ‘start at two and multiply each
number bythree’
The first term, a, is 2
The common ratio, r, is 3
A geometric progression can be increasing (r > 1) or decreasing (0 < r < 1)
If the common ratio is a negative number the terms will alternate between positive and negative
values
For example, 1, -4, 16, -64, 256, … is a sequence with the rule ‘start at one and multiply each
number bynegative four’
The first term, a, is 1
The common ratio, r, is -4
Each term of a geometric progression is referred to by the letter u with a subscript determining its
place in the sequence

How do I nd a term in a geometric progression?


The n th term formula for a geometric progression is given as
u = arn −1
n

Where a is the first term, and r is the common ratio


This formula allows you to find any term in the geometric progression
It is given in the list of formulas, you do not need to know how to derive it
Enter the information you have into the formula and find the value of the term
Sometimes you will be given a term and asked to find the first term or the common ratio
Substitute the information into the formula and solve the equation
Sometimes you will be given two or more consecutive terms and asked to find both the first term
and the common ratio
Find the common ratio by dividing a term by the one before it
Substitute this and one of the terms into the formula to find the first term
Sometimes you may be given a term and the formula for the nth term and asked to find the value of
n
You can solve these using logarithms
Geometric Series
What is a geometric series? Your notes
A geometric series is the sum of the terms in a geometric progression
It is often referred to as the sum of a geometric progression
For the arithmetic sequence 1, 4, 7, 10, … the arithmetic series is 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + …

How do I nd the sum of a geometric progression?


The following formulae will let you find the sum of the first n terms of a geometric progression:
a (1 − r n ) a (r n − 1)
Sn = or S =
n
1 −r r −1
a is the first term
r is the common ratio ( r ≠ 1 )
The first is given in the list of formulas and is more convenient if r < 1
the second is more convenient if r > 1
A question will often give you the sum of a certain number of terms and ask you to find the value of
the first term, the common ratio, or the number of terms within the sequence
Substitute the information into the formula and solve the equation

What is the sum to infinity of a geometric series?


If |r| < 1, then the sum of a geometric progression converges to a finite value given by the formula
a
S∞ =
1 −r

S∞ is known as the sum to infinity


If |r| ≥ 1 the sum of a geometric progression is divergent and the sum to infinity does not exist

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