UNIT III

PROGRESSIONS

By Mr. FRANCK IRADUKUNDA

INTRODUCTION
• A progression is a series that advances in a logical and
predictable pattern. In mathematics, for example, the series 2,
4, 6, 8 is an arithmetic progression. If asked to give the next
number, most people would reply 10. A movement forward,
especially one that advances toward some achievement, is
called a progression.
• Progression may refer to: In mathematics:
Arithmetic progression, sequence of numbers such that the
difference of any two successive members of the sequence is
a constant. Geometric progression, sequence of numbers
such that the quotient of any two successive members of the
sequence is a constant.
Arithmetic Progression

In mathematics, an arithmetic progression (AP)

or arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the
difference between the consecutive terms is constant.
Difference here means the second minus the first. For instance,
the sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, . . . is an arithmetic
progression with common difference of 2.
• Definition
Let a and d be real numbers. Then the numbers of the
form a, a + d , a + 2d , a + 3d , a + 4d , ... is said to
form Arithmetic Progression denoted by A.P. The number ‘a’
is called the first term and ‘d’is called the common difference.

Simply, an Arithmetic Progression is a sequence whose

successive terms differ by a constant number. Thus, for
example, the set of even positive integers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,…
is an A.P. whose first term is a = 2 and common difference is
also d = 2 since 4 − 2 = 2, 6 − 4 = 2, 8 − 6 = 2, …

Most of common real−life situations often produce numbers in A.P.

Note:
1.The difference between any two consecutive terms of an A.P.
is always constant. That constant value is called the common
difference.
2.If there are finite numbers of terms in an A.P. then it is called
Finite Arithmetic Progression. If there are infinitely many terms
in an A.P. then it is called Infinite Arithmetic Progression
Terms and Common Difference of an A.P.
1. The terms of an A.P. can be written as
t1 = a = a + (1 −1)d , t2 = a + d = a + (2 −1)d , t3 = a + 2d = a +
(3 −1)d , t4 = a + 3d = a + (4 −1)d , . . .
In general, the nth term denoted by tn can be written
as tn = a + (n −1)d.
2. In general to find the common difference of an A.P. we
should subtract first term from the second term, second from
the third and so on.
Let us try to find the common differences of the following
A.P.’s
(i) 1, 4, 7, 10,….
d= 4 − 1 = 7 − 4 = 10 − 7 = ... = 3
(ii) 6, 2, − 2, −6,…
d = 2 − 6 = − 2 − 2 = −6 − (−2) = ... = −4
Thinking Corner: If tn is the nth term of an A.P. then the value
of tn +1 − tn −1 is?
Example 1
Check whether the following sequences are in A.P. or not?
(i) x + 2, 2x + 3, 3x + 4,….
(ii) 2, 4, 8, 16,...
(iii) 3√2, 5√2, 7√2, 9√2,...
Solution
To check that the given sequence is in A.P., it is enough to
check if the differences between the consecutive terms are
equal or not.
(i) t2 -t1 = (2x + 3) − (x + 2) = x + 1
t3 -t2 = (3x + 4) − (2x + 3) = x + 1
t2 - t1 = t3 − t2
Thus, the differences between consecutive terms are equal.
Hence the sequence x + 2, 2x + 3, 3x + 4,... is in A.P.
(ii) t2 -t1 = 4 − 2 = 2
t3 -t2 = 8 − 4 = 4
t2 -t1 = t3 −t2
Thus, the differences between consecutive terms are not equal.
Hence the terms of the sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . are not in A.P.
(iii) t2 -t1 = 5√2 − 3√ 2 = 2√ 2
t3 -t2 = 7√2 − 5√ 2 = 2√ 2
t4 -t3 = 9√ 2 − 7√2 = 2√ 2
Thus, the differences between consecutive terms are equal.
Hence the terms of the sequence 3√2, 5√2, 7√2, 9√2,... are in A.P
Example 2
Write an A.P. whose first term is 20 and common difference is 8.
Solution
First term = a = 20 ; common difference = d= 8 Arithmetic
Progression is a, a + d, a + 2d , a + 3d,...
In this case, we get 20, 20 + 8, 20 + 2(8), 20 + 3(8),...
So, the required A.P. is 20, 28, 36, 44,…..
Note
An Arithmetic progression having a common difference of zero is
called a constant arithmetic progression.
Example 3
Find the 15th, 24th and nth term (general term) of an A.P. given
by 3, 15, 27, 39,…….
Solution
We have, first term = a = 3 and common
difference = d = 15 − 3 = 12 .
We know that nth term (general term) of an A.P. with first
term a and common difference d is given by
tn = a + (n −1)d
t15 = a + (15 −1)d = a + 14d = 3 + 14 (12) = 171
(Here a = 3 and d = 12)
t24= a + (24 −1)d = a + 23d = 3 +23(12) = 279
The nth (general term) term is given by
tn = a + (n − 1)d
Thus, tn = 3 + (n −1)12
tn = 12n − 9
Note
In a finite A.P. whose first term is a and last term l, then the
number of terms in the A.P. is given by l = a + (n −1)d gives n
= ( [l-a] / d) +1.
Example 4
Find the number of terms in the A.P. 3, 6, 9, 12,…, 111.
Solution
First term a = 3 ; common difference d = 6 − 3 = 3 ; last term l
= 111

Thus the A.P. contain 37 terms

Example 5
Determine the general term of an A.P. whose 7th term is −1 and 16th term is
17.
Solution
Let the A.P. be t1 , t 2 ,t 3 , t 4,...
It is given that t7 = −1 and t16 = 17
a + (7 −1)d = −1 and a + (16 −1)d = 17
a + 6d = −1 ...(1)
a + 15d = 17 ...(2)
Subtracting equation (1) from equation (2), we get 9d = 18 gives d = 2
Putting d = 2 in equation (1), we get a + 12 = −1 so a = –13
Hence, general term tn = a + (n −1)d
= −13 + (n −1)×2 = 2n −15
Note
In an Arithmetic Progression
If every term is added or subtracted by a constant, then the resulting
sequence is also an A.P.
If every term is multiplied or divided by a non-zero number, then the
resulting sequence is also an A.P.
If the sum of three consecutive terms of an A.P. is given, then they can
be taken as a -d, a and a + d . Here the common difference is d.
If the sum of four consecutive terms of an A.P. is given then, they can
be taken as a - 3d , a -d , a + d and a + 3d . Here common difference
is 2d.
Example 6
In an A.P., sum of four consecutive terms is 28 and their sum
of their squares is 276. Find the four numbers.
Solution
Let us take the four terms in the form (a - 3d), (a -
d), (a + d) and (a + 3d) .
Since sum of the four terms is 28,
a − 3d +a − d +a + d +a + 3d = 28
4a = 28 gives a = 7
Similarly, since sum of their squares is 276,
(a − 3d)2 + (a − d )2 + (a + d )2 + (a + 3d)2 = 276.
a2 − 6ad + 9d2 + a2 − 2ad + d2 +a2 + 2ad +d2 + a2 + 6ad + 9d2 = 276
4a2 + 20d2 =276 ⇒ 4(7)2 + 20d2 = 276.
d2 = 4 gives d = ± 2
If d = 2 then the four numbers are 7 - 3(2), 7 – 2, 7 + 2, 7+3(2)
That is the four numbers are 1, 5, 9 and 13.
If a = 7, d = −2 then the four numbers are 13, 9, 5 and 1
Therefore, the four consecutive terms of the A.P. are 1, 5, 9 and 13.
Condition for three numbers to be in A.P.

If a, b, c are in A.P. then b = a +d, c = a + 2d

so a + c = 2a + 2d
2(a + d) = 2b
Thus,
2b = a +c
Similarly, if 2b = a +c, then b − a = c − b so a, b, c are in A.P.
Thus three non-zero numbers a, b, c are in A.P. if and only
if 2b = a +c
SOVED EXERCISES
1. First term a and common difference d are given below. Find
the corresponding A.P.
(i) a = 5 , d = 6
(ii) a = 7 , d = −5
(iii) a = 3/4 , d = 1/2
2. Find the first term and common difference of the Arithmetic
Progressions whose nth terms are given below,

(i) tn = −3 + 2n
(ii) tn = 4 − 7n
 ,...

3. Find the 19th term of an A.P. - 11, -15, -19,……..

4. Which term of an A.P. 16, 11, 6, 1,... is -54 ?
5. Find the middle term(s) of an A.P. 9, 15, 21, 27,…,183.
6. If nine times ninth term is equal to the fifteen times fifteenth
term of an A.P, show that six times twenty fourth term is zero.
7. If 3 + k, 18 - k, 5k + 1 are in A.P. then find k.
8. Find x, y and z, given that the numbers
x, 10, y, 24, z are in A.P.
9. In a theatre, there are 20 seats in the front row and 30 rows were
allotted. Each successive row contains two additional seats than its
front row. How many seats are there in the last row?
10. The sum of three consecutive terms
that are in A.P. is 27 and their product
is 288. Find the three terms.
11. The ratio of 6th and 8th term
of an A.P. is 7:9. Find the ratio of
9th term to 13th term.
SUM TO N TERMS OF AN A.P.(ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION)
•The sum of the terms of a sequence is called series.
Leta1, a2, a3,..., an ,... be the sequence of real numbers. Then
the real number a1 + a2 + a3 + is defined as the series of real
numbers.
•If a series has finite number of terms then it is called a Finite
series. If a series has infinite number of terms then it is called
an Infinite series. Let us focus our attention only on studying
finite series
Sum to n terms of an A.P.
A series whose terms are in Arithmetic progression is
called Arithmetic series.
Let a , a + d , a + 2d , a + 3d,... be the Arithmetic Progression.
The sum of first n terms of a Arithmetic Progression denoted
by Sn is given by,
Sn=a +(a + d ) +(a + 2d ) + + (a +(n −1)d ) …….(1)
Rewriting the above in reverse order
Sn =(a +(n − 1)d) +(a + (n −2)d ) + +(a + d ) +a ..(2)

I
Adding (1) and (2) we get,
2S n =[a +a + (n −1)d ]+[ a +d +a +(n − 2)d ] + … + [a +(n −
2)d +(a +d )]+[a + (n −1)d +a]
= [2a +(n − 1)d ] +[2a + (n −1)d + .. ..
+[2a + (n −1)d ] (n terms)
2Sn= n ×[2a + (n −1)d ] gives Sn = n/2 [2a + (n − 1)d ]

Note
If the first term a, and the last term l (nth term) are given then
Example 12. Find the sum of first 15 terms of the A. P.

Solution
Here the first term a = 8, common difference d =

Sum of first n terms of an A.P.

Example 13
Find the sum of 0. 40 + 0. 43 + 0. 46 + …..+ 1 .

Solution
Here the value of n is not given. But the last term is given.
From this, we can find the value of n.
Given a = 0. 40 and l = 1 , we find d= 0. 43 − 0.40 = 0. 03 .
Therefore,
Sum of first n terms of an A.P. Sn =

Here, n = 21 . Therefore,

So, the sum of 21 terms of the given series is 14.7.

•
Example 14
How many terms of the series 1 + 5 + 9 + ... must be taken so
that their sum is 190?
Solution
Here we have to find the value of n, such that Sn = 190.
First term a = 1, common difference d = 5 −1 = 4 .
Sum of first n terms of an A.P.

But n = 10 as n = −19/2 is impossible. Therefore, n = 10 .

Example 15
3. Find the sum of first 28 terms of an A.P. whose nth term is
4n - 3 .
What is an arithmetic means between the following ?
1) 7,13,19
Solution: Arithmetic mean between 7 and 19 is 13.
2) 6,9,12,15,18
Solution: Arithmetic means between 6 and 18 is 9,12 and 15.
3) 'a' is an arithmetic between 6 and 18 .Find 'a'
Solution: 'a' is an A.M between 6 and 18
∴ a = (6+18)/2
a = 24/2
∴ a = 12
In the given two numbers, any number of arithmetic means can
be inserted between them.
Let the two numbers be 'a' and 'b' and the arithmetic means
inserted will be A1,A2,A3,.... That means 'n' number of
arithmetic means can be inserted between the two numbers 'a'
and 'b’.

Let a, A1,A2,A3,...An, b is in A.P.

Here b is the (n + 2)th term
So, b = a + [(n + 2) - 1]d
b = a + (n + 1)d
b - a = (n + 1)d
∴ d = (b−a)/(n+1)
Thus 'n' arithmetic means between 'a' and 'b' are as follows
A1 = a + d = a + (b−a)/(n+1)

A2 = a + 2d = a + 2(b−a)/(n+1)

A3= a + 3d = a + 3(b−a)/(n+1)

Thus, An = a + nd = a + n(b−a)/(n+1)
 Example on inserting arithmetic means between the numbers
Insert three arithmetic means between 8 and 26.
Solution: Let three arithmetic numbers inserted will be A1,A2andA3
between 8 and 26.
∴ 8, A1,A2,A3, 26 are in A.P. Then
a = 8 and b = 26 and n = 5
∴ an = a +(n -1)d
26 = 8 + 4d
18 = 4d
18/4=4d/4
∴ d = 4.5
A1= a + d = 8 + 4.5 = 12.5
A2=a+2d=8+2× 4.5 = 17
A3=a+3d=8+3× 13.5 = 21.5
Thus the three arithmetic means between 8 and 26 are 12.5, 17 and 21.5.
 Geometric Progression

In the diagram given in Fig.2.13, ΔDEF is formed by joining

the mid points of the sides AB, BC and CA of ΔABC. Then the
size of the triangle ΔDEF is exactly one-fourth of the size of
ΔABC. Similarly, ΔGHI is also one-fourth of ΔFDE and so on.
In general, the successive areas are one-fourth of the previous
areas.
The area of these triangles are:
In this case, we see that beginning with ΔABC, we see that the
successive triangles are formed whose areas are precisely
one-fourth the area of the previous triangle. So, each term is
obtained by multiplying 1/4 to the previous term.
As another case, let us consider that a viral disease is spreading
in a way such that at any stage two new persons get affected
from an affected person. At first stage, one person is affected,
at second stage two persons are affected and is spreading to
four persons and so on. Then, number of persons affected at
each stage are 1, 2, 4, 8, ... where except the first term, each
term is precisely twice the previous term.

From the above examples, it is clear that each term is got by

multiplying a fixed number to the preceding number.
This idea leads us to the concept of Geometric Progression.
Definition
A Geometric Progression is a sequence in which each term is
obtained by multiplying a fixed non-zero number to the
preceding term except the first term. The fixed number is
called common ratio. The common ratio is usually denoted
by r.
 1. General form of Geometric Progression
Let a and r ≠ 0 be real numbers. Then the numbers of the
form a , ar , ar2 , ... arn-1... is called a Geometric Progression. The
number ‘a’ is called the first term and number ‘r’ is called the common
ratio.
We note that beginning with first term a, each term is obtained by
multiplied with the common ratio ‘r’to give ar , ar 2,ar 3,...

2. General term of Geometric Progression

We try to find a formula for nth term or general term of Geometric
Progression (G.P.) whose terms are in the common ratio.
a , ar , ar2 ,..., arn-1, ... where a is the first term and ‘r’ is the common
ratio. Let tn be the nth term of the G.P.
Then
t1 = a = a × r0 = a ×r1−1
t2 = t1 × r = a × r = a × r2−1
t3 = t2 × r = ar × r = ar2 = ar3−1
tn = tn −1 × r = arn −2 × r = arn −2+1 = ar n−1
Thus, the general term or nth term of a G.P. is tn = arn-1
Note
If we consider the ratio of successive terms of the G.P. then we
have:

Thus, the ratio between any two consecutive terms of the

Geometric Progression is always constant and that constant is the
common ratio of the given Progression.
Example 1
Which of the following sequences form a Geometric
Progression?
(i) 7, 14, 21, 28, …
(ii) 1/ 2 , 1, 2, 4, ...
(ii) 5, 25, 50, 75, …
Solution
To check if a given sequence form a G.P. we have to see if the
ratio between successive terms are equal.
(i) 7, 14, 21, 28, …

Since the ratios between successive terms are not equal, the
sequence 7, 14, 21, 28, … is not a Geometric Progression.
(ii)

Here the ratios between successive terms are equal. Therefore

the sequence 1/2 , 1, 2, 4, ... is a Geometric Progression with
common ratio r= 2.
 (iii) 5, 25, 50, 75,...

Since the ratios between successive terms are not equal , the
sequence 5, 25, 50, 75,... is not a Geometric Progression.
Example 2
Find the geometric progression whose first term and common ratios
are given by
(i) a = −7 , r = 6
(ii) a = 256 , r = 0.5
Solution
(i) The general form of Geometric progression is a, ar, ar2 ,.. .
a = −7 , ar = −7 × 6 = −42 , ar 2 = −7 × 62 = −252
(ii)The general form of Geometric progression is a, ar, ar2 ,...
a = 256 , ar = 256 × 0.5 = 128 , ar 2 = 256 ×(0.5)2 = 64
Therefore the required Geometric progression is 256,128, 64,....
Example 3
Find the 8th term of the G.P. 9, 3, 1,…

Solution
To find the 8th term we have to use the nth term
formula tn = arn−1
First term a = 9 , common ratio r =

Therefore the 8th term of the G.P. is 1/243

Example 4
In a Geometric progression, the 4th term is 8/9 and the 7th term is
64/243. Find the Geometric Progression.
Solution

Substituting the value of r in (1), we get a × [2/3]3 = 8/9 ⇒ a = 3

Therefore the Geometric Progression is a, ar, ar2 , … That is, 3, 2, 4/3,…..
Note
• When the product of three consecutive terms of a G.P. are
given, we can take the three terms as a/r , a, ar.
• When the products of four consecutive terms are given for a
G.P. then we can take the four terms as a/r3 , a/r , ar, ar 3 .
• When each term of a Geometric Progression is multiplied or
divided by a non– zero constant then the resulting sequence is
also a Geometric Progression.
Example 5
The product of three consecutive terms of a Geometric
Progression is 343 and their sum is 91/3. Find the three terms.
Solution
Since the product of 3 consecutive terms is given.
we can take them as a/r, a , ar .
Product of the terms = 343
Sum of the terms = 91/3

3 + 3r + 3r2 = 13r gives 3r2 − 10r + 3 = 0

(3r - 1)(r - 3) = 0 gives r = 3 or r = 1/3
If a = 7, r = 3 then the three terms are 7/3, 7, 21.
If a = 7 , r = 1/3 then the three terms are 21, 7, 7/3.
Condition for three numbers to be in G.P.
If a, b, c are in G.P. then b= ar , c= ar 2 .
So ac = a ×ar 2 = (ar)2 = b2 .Thus b2 = ac
Similarly, if b2 = ac , then
b/a = c/b . . So a, b, c are in G.P.
Thus three non-zero numbers a, b, c are in G.P. if and only
if b2 = ac.
Example 6
The present value of a machine is K40,000 and its value
depreciates each year by 10%. Find the estimated value of the
machine in the 6th year.
Solution
The value of the machine at present is K40,000. Since it is
depreciated at the rate of 10% after one year the value of the
machine is 90% of the initial value.
That is the value of the machine at the end of the first year is 40,
000 × (90/100)
After two years, the value of the machine is 90% of the value in the
first year.
Value of the machine at the end of the 2nd year is 40,000× [90/100]2
Continuing this way, the value of the machine depreciates in the following
way as

This sequence is in the form of G.P. with first term 40,000 and common ratio
90/100. For finding the value of the machine at the end of 5th year (i.e. in
6th year), we need to find the sixth term of this G.P.
Thus, n=6, a=40,000, r = 90/100

Therefore the value of the machine in 6th year = K23619.60

Example 7
Find x so that x + 6, x + 12 and x + 15 are consecutive terms of
a Geometric Progression.
Example 8 Find the number of terms in the following G.P.
(i) 4,8,16,…,8192?
(ii)
Example 9
MR. PHIRI is attending an interview for a job and the
company gave two offers to him. Offer A: K20,000 to start
with followed by a guaranteed annual increase of 6% for the
first 5 years. Offer B: K22,000 to start with followed by a
guaranteed annual increase of 3% for the first 5 years.
What is his salary in the 4th year with respect to the
offers A and B?
Example 10: A man joined a company as Assistant Manager.
The company gave him a starting salary of ₹60,000 and agreed
to increase his salary 5% annually. What will be his salary after
5 years?
Example 11: In a G.P. the 9th term is 32805 and 6th term is
1215. Find the 12th term.
Example 12:Insert three geometric means between 6 and 96.
Permutation and combination
Concept of Permutations
END OF UNIT III

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