11

PTER
CHA

PROGRESSIONS

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS (A.P.) For example to find the 25th term of the A.P. 6, 10, 14, 18, ... ;
using the formula (i), we put the value of a = 6, n = 25 and d = 4
A sequence of numbers which are either continuously increased
in formula and calculate as
or continuously decreased by a common difference found by
subtracting any term of the sequence from the next term.
Illustration 1: In an A.P. if a = – 7.2, d = 3.6, an = 7.2, then
The following sequences of numbers are arithmeticprogressions:
find the value of n.
(i) 5, 8, 11, 14, ... Solution: an = a + (n – 1) d
(ii) – 6, – 1, 4, 9, 14, ... ⇒ 7.2 = – 7.2 + (n – 1) (3.6)
(iii) 10, 7, 4, 1, – 2, – 5, ... ⇒ 14.4 = (n – 1) (3.6)
(iv) p, p + q, p + 2q, p + 3q, ... ⇒ n – 1 = 4 ⇒ n = 5.
In the arithmetic progression (i); 5, 8, 11 and 14 are first term, Illustration 2: Which term of the A.P. 21, 42, 63, ... is 420 ?
second term, third term and fourth term respectively. Common Solution: 420 = an = a + (n – 1) d
difference of this A.P. is found out either by subtracting 5 from 8, [Here a = 21, d = 42 – 21 = 21]
8 from 11 or 11 from 14. Thus common difference = 3. Similarly, = 21 + (n – 1) 21

common difference of arithmetic progression (ii), (iii) and (iv) are = 21n

5, – 3 and q respectively. First term and common difference of an 420
∴ n= = 20
A.P. are denoted by a and d respectively. Hence 21
d of (i) A.P.= 3, d of (ii) A.P.= 5, ∴ required term is 20th term.
d of (iii) A.P. = – 3 and d of (iv) A.P. = q Illustration 3: Is – 150 a term of the A.P. 11, 8, 5, 2, ... ?
Solution: Here a = 11, d = –3
nth TERM OF AN A.P. – 150 = an = a + (n – 1) d

To find an A.P. if first term and common difference are given, we = 11 + (n – 1) (– 3)

add the common difference to first term to get the second term = 11 – 3n + 3

and add the common difference to second term to get the third = 14 – 3n

term and so on. 3n = 14 + 150
The standard form of an A.P. is 164 2
n= = 54 ,
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, ... 3 3
Here ‘a’ is the first term and ‘d ’ is the common difference. Also which is not possible because n is +ve integer.
we see that coefficient of d is always less by one than the posi- ∴ – 150 is not a term of the given A.P.
tion of that term in the A.P. Thus nth term of the A.P. is given by
Tn = a + (n – 1) d ...(1) SUM OF FIRST n TERMS OF AN A.P.
This equation (1) is used as a formula to find any term of the A.P. Sum of first n terms means sum of from first term to nth term.
If l be the last term of a sequence containing n terms, then Consider an A.P. whose first term and common difference
l = Tn = a + (n – 1) d are ‘a’ and ‘d’ respectively. Sum of first n terms Sn of this A.P.
To find any particular term of any A.P., generally we put the is given by
value of a, n and d in the formula (i) and then calculate the re- n
quired term. Sn = [2a + (n – 1) d] ...(1)
2

1
 l Progressions

If last term of an A.P. containing n terms be l, then nth term (e) Sum of even numbers ≤ n

= l = a + (n – 1) d.
n n  nn 
Sn = [2a + (n – 1) d] = [a + {a + (n – 1) d}]   + 1 , if n is odd
2 2   2 2 
\
= 
n  n − 1   n +1

⇒ Sn = (a + l ) ...(2)  , if n is even
2   2   2 

CONSIDERING THE TERMS IN AN A.P. (ii) (a) Sum of squares of first n natural numbers
n (n + 1) (2n + 1)
If sum of three consecutive terms of an A.P. is given, then if = 12 + 22 + 32 + ... + n2 =
6

required consider the three consecutive terms as (a – d), a and
(a + d). This reduces one unknown d thereby making the (b) Sum of cubes of first n natural numbers

solution easier. 2
 n (n + 1) 
Similarly, we consider the four consecutive terms as (a – 3d), = 13 + 23 + 33 + ... + n3 =  
 2 

(a – d), (a + d), (a + 3d) and five consecutive terms as (a – 2d),
(a – d), a, (a + d) and (a + 2d); if their sums are given otherwise = Square of the sum of first n natural numbers.

consider three terms as a, a + d, a + 2d; four terms as a, a + d, (iii) (a) Tn = Sn – Sn – 1
a + 2d, a + 3d and five terms as a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, a + 4d.
(b) For A.P., d = S2 – 2S1
USEFUL RESULTS (iv) (a) In an A.P., the sum of terms equidistant from the
(i) (a) Sum of first n natural numbers beginning and end is constant and equal to the sum of
first term and last term.
n (n + 1)
= 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n = (b) If in an A.P. sum of p terms is equal to sum of q terms,
2


then sum of (p + q) terms is zero.
(b) Sum of first n odd natural numbers (c) If in an A.P., pth term is q and qth term is p then nth term


= 1 + 3 + 5 + ... + (2n – 1) = n2 is (p + q – n).

(c) Sum of first n even natural numbers (d) If in an A.P., sum of p terms is q and sum of q terms


= 2 + 4 + 6 + ... + 2n = n (n + 1) is p, then sum of (p + q) terms is – (p + q).

(d) Sum of odd numbers ≤ n

  n + 1 2
  , if n is odd
 2 
=  2

 n
 2 ,
  if n is even
 

2
 Progressions l

Practice Exercise
Level - I
1. If the 4th term of an arithmetic progression is 14 and 12th 9. What is the sum of all the two-digit numbers which when
term is 70, then the first term is divided by 7 gives a remainder of 3?
(a) – 10 (b) – 7 (a) 94 (b) 676
(c) + 7 (d) + 10 (c) 696 (d) None of these
2. Find the sum of all numbers in between 10–50 excluding 10. The sum of the 6th and 15th terms of an arithmetic progression
all those numbers which are divisible by 8. (include 10 and is equal to the sum of 7th, 10th and 12th terms of the same
50 for counting.) progression. Which term of the series should necessarily
(a) 1070 (b) 1220 be equal to zero ?
(c) 1320 (d) 1160 (a) 10th (b) 8th
3. How many 3-digit numbers are completely divisible by 6? (c) 1st (d) None of these
(a) 149 (b) 150 11. If the mth term of an AP is 1/n and nth term is 1/m, then find
(c) 151 (d) 166 the sum to mn terms.
2 2 2 2 (a) (mn – 1)/4 (b) (mn + 1)/4
4. (11 + 12 + 13 + ... + 20 ) = ?
(a) 385 (b) 2485 (c) (mn + 1)/2 (d) (mn –1)/2
(c) 2870 (d) 3255 12. Find the value of 1– 2 – 3 + 2 – 3 – 4 + ... + upto 100 terms.
5. On March 1st 2016, Sherry saved ` 1. Everyday starting (a) –694 (b) –626
from March 2nd 2016, he save ` 1 more than the previous (c) –624 (d) –549
day. Find the first date after March 1st 2016 at the end of
13. The sum of all terms of the arithmetic progression having
which his total savings will be a perfect square.
ten terms except for the first term, is 99, and except for the
(a) 17th March 2016 (b) 18th April 2016 sixth term, 89. Find the third term of the progression if the
(c) 26th March 2016 (d) None of these sum of the first and the fifth term is equal to 10.
6. A man arranges to pay off a debt of ` 3,600 in 40 annual (a) 15 (b) 5
instalments which form an AP. When 30 of the instalments (c) 8 (d) 10
are paid, he dies leaving one-third of the debt unpaid. Find
14. There are 4 terms in an A.P. such that the sum of two means
the value of the first instalment.
is 110 and product of their extremes is 2125. The 3rd term is
(a) 55 (b) 53
[SSC-Sub. Ins.-2012]
(c) 51 (d) 49
(a) 65 (b) 75
7. A number 15 is divided into three parts which are in AP and
the sum of their squares is 83. Find the smallest number. (c) 55 (d) 45
(a) 5 (b) 3 15. The first term of an Arithmetic Progression is 22 and the last
term is –11. If the sum is 66, the number of terms in the
(c) 6 (d) 8
sequence are : [SSC 10+2-2014]
8. A boy agrees to work at the rate of one rupee on the first
(a) 10 (b) 12
day, two rupees on the second day, four rupees on the third
day and so on. How much will the boy get if he starts (c) 9 (d) 8
working on the 1st of February and finishes on the 20the of 16. The sum of the squares of three consecutive natural numbers
February ? is 194. The sum of the numbers is [SSC 10+2-2014]
(a) 220 (b) 220 – 1 (a) 24 (b) 27
(c) 219 – 1 (d) 219 (c) 21 (d) 30

3
 l Progressions

Level - II
1. Each of the series 13 + 15 + 17 + .... and 14 + 17 + 20 + ... 7. If 13 + 23 + ..... + 93 = 2025, then the value of
is continued to 100 terms. Find how many terms are (0.11)3 + (0.22)3 + ..... + (0.99)3 is close to:
identical between the two series? (a) 0.2695 (b) 0.3695
(a) 35 (b) 34 (c) 2.695 (d) 3.695
(c) 32 (d) 33 8. How many terms are identical in the two APs 1,3, 5,... up to
120 terms and 3, 6, 9, .... up to 80 terms ?
2. The sum of thirty-two consecutive natural numbers is a
(a) 38 (b) 39
perfect square. What is the least possible sum of the
(c) 40 (d) 41
smallest and the largest of the thirty-two numbers?
9. If the sum of the first 2n terms of the AP 2, 5, 8 ....is equal to
(a) 81 (b) 36
the sum of first n terms of the AP 57, 59, 6 ..., then what is the
(c) 49 (d) 64 value of n?
3. The middle term of arithmetic series 3, 7, 11...147, is (a) 7 (b) 9
(a) 71 (b) 75 (c) 11 (d) 13
(c) 79 (d) 83 10. If the positive real numbers a, b and c are in Arithmetic
Progression, such that abc = 4, then minimum possible value
4. If a man saves ` 4 more each year than he did the year
of b is :
before and if he saves ` 20 in the first year, after how
3 2
many years will his savings be more than ` 1000
(a) 22 (b) 23
altogether?
1
(a) 19 years (b) 20 years
(c) 23 (d) None of these
(c) 21 years (d) 18 years
11. After striking a floor a rubber ball rebounds (7/8)th of the
5. What is the maximum sum of the terms in the arithmetic height from which it has fallen. Find the total distance
progression 25, 24½, 24, ..............? that it travels before coming to rest, if it is gently dropped
(a) 637½ (b) 625 from a height of 420 meters?
(c) 662½ (d) 650 (a) 2940 (b) 6300
(c) 1080 (d) 3360
æ 1ö æ 2ö æ 3ö 12. On the ground 12 stones are placed. The distance between
6. ç 1 - ÷ + ç1 - ÷ + ç1 - ÷ + ... upto n terms = ?
è nø è nø è nø the first and the second is 1 metre, between second and 3rd
3 m, between 3rd and 4th 5 m, and so on. How far will a boy
1 1 have to run to touch the last stone if he starts from the first?
(a) n (b) (n - 1)
2 2 (a) 144 m (b) 121 m [SBI PO-2011]
(c) 132 m (d) 110 m
1
(c) n(n - 1) (d) None of these (e) None of these
2

4
 Progressions l

Hints & Solutions

Level-I 9. (b) This series is like ® 10, 17, 21, .....94.
Here n = 13, d = 7 and a = 10
1. (a) a4 = a + (4 – 1) × d Using the formula for the sum
14 = a + 3d Þ a = 14 – 3d ...(1)
n
Also, 70 = a + 11d ...(2) Sn = é 2a + ( n - 1) d ùû ,sum = 676
2ë
After putting the value of a from equation (1) in
Alternatively, using the average method,
equation (2)
average = (1st number + last number)/2
14 – 3d + 11d = 70
10 + 94
8d = 70 – 14 Average = = 52
\d=8 2
So, the sum = average × number of numbers
\ a = 14 – 24 = – 10
= 52 × 13 = 676
2. (a) The answer will be given by:
10. (b) Let the first term and common difference of the AP be
[10 + 11 + 12 + ....... + 50] – [16 + 24 + ... + 48]
a and d, respectively.
= 41 × 30 – 32 × 5
Now, (a + 5d) + (a + 14d)
= 1230 – 160 = 1070.
= (a + 6d) + (a + 9d) + (a + 11d)
3. (b) 3-digit numbers divisible by 6 are
or 2a + 19d = 3a + 26d
102, 108, 114, ...., 996
or a + 7d = 0
This is an A.P. in which a = 102, d = 6 and l = 996
i.e., 8th term is 0.
Let the number of terms be n. Then tn = 996.
11. (c) The A.P. will become:
\ a + (n – 1) d = 996 Þ 102+ (n – 1) × 6 = 996
1/6, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 5/6, 1
Þ 6 × (n – 1) = 894 Þ (n – 1) = 149 Þ n = 150
or in decimal terms, 0.166, 0.333, 0.5, 0.666, 0.833, 1
\ Number of terms = 150.
Sum to 6 terms = 3.5
4. (b) (11 + 122 + 132 + ... + 202) = (12 +22 + .... + 302)
2
Check the option with m = 2 and n = 3. Only option (c)
– (12 + 22 + .. + 102)
gives 3.5.
20 ´ 21 ´ 41 10 ´ 11 ´ 21 12. (b) The first 100 terms of this series can be viewed as:
= -
6 6 (1 – 2 –3) + (2 – 3 – 4) + .... + (33 – 34 – 35) + 34
The first 33 terms fo the above series (indicated inside
é 2 2 2 1 ù
êQ (1 + 2 + ... + n ) = 6 n(n + 1) (2n + 1) ú
the brackets) will give an A.P: – 4, – 5, –6 ... –36
ë û Sum of this A.P. = 33 × –20 = –660
= 2870 – 385 = 2485 Answer = –660 + 34 = – 626
5. (d) n(n + 1)/2 should be a perfect square. The first value 13. (b) Sum of the first term and the fifth term = 10
of n when this occurs would be for n = 8. Thus, on or a + a + 4d = 10
the 8th of March the required condition would come or a + 2d = 5 (1)
ture. and, the sum of all terms of the A.P. except for the 1st
6. (c) Sum of 40 instalments = S40 = 3600 = 20 (2a + 39d) term = 99
or 2a + 39d = 180 ...(1) or 9a + 45d = 99
Sum of 30 instalments = S30 = 2400 = 15 (2a + 29d) a + 5d = 11 ...(2)
or 2a + 29d = 160 ...(2) Solve (1) and (2) we a = 1, b = 2 to get the answer.
From (1) and (2), we get a = 51 and d = 2 14. (a) Let the 4 terms in A.P are a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d
The value of first instalment = ` 51 According to question
7. (b) The three parts are 3, 5 and 7 since 32 + 52 + 72 = 83. a – d + a + d = 110 ... (1)
Since, we want the smallest number, the answer would (a – 3d) (a + 3d) = 2125 ... (2)
be 3. From equation (1)
8. (b) Sum of a G.P. with first term 1 and common ratio 2 and a – d + a + d = 110
number of terms 20.
2a = 110 Þ a = 55
(
1 ´ 2 20 – 1 ) =2 20
-1
From equation (2)
( 2 - 1) (a – 3d) (a + 3d) = 2125
Þ a2 – 9d2 = 2125

5
 l Progressions

Þ (55)2 – 9d2 = 2125 x19 = 3 + (19 – 1) 4

Þ 3025 – 9d2 = 2125 = 3 + 18 × 4 = 75
Þ 900 = 9d2 \ The middle term of the given arithmetic series is 75.
Þ d2 = 100 4. (a) We need the sum of the series 20 + 24 + 28 to cross
Þ d = 10 1000. Trying out the options, we can see that in 20
\ a = 55, d = + 10 years the sum of his savings would be: 20 + 24 + 28
series would be : + ... + 96. The sum of this series would be 20 × 58
= 1160. If we remove the 20th year we will get the
25, 45, 65, 85
series for savings for 19 years. The series would be
IIIrd term would be 65. 20 + 24 + 28 + .... 92. Sum of the series would be 1160
15. (b) The sum of Arithmetic Progression is given by – 96 = 1064. If we remove the 19th years's savings
n the savings would be 1064 – 92 which would go
s = (a + l)
2 below 1000. Thus, after 19 years his savings would
n n cross 1000.
66 = ( 22 - 11) = ´ 11
2 2 5. (a) The maximum sum would occur when we take the
n = 12 sum of all the positive terms of the series.
16. (a) (a – 1)2 + a2 + (a + 1)2 = 194 The series 25, 24.5, 24, 23.5, 23, ....... 1, 0.5, 0 has 51
(a2 – 2a + 1) + a2 + (a2 + 2a + 1) = 194 terms. The sum of the series would be given by:
3a2 + 2 = 194 n × average = 51 × 12.5 = 637.5
3a2 = 192 6. (b) Given sum = (1 + 1 + 1 + ... to n terms)
a2 = 64 æ1 2 3 ö
a= 8 – ç + + + ....to n terms ÷
èn n n ø
Number are 7, 8, 9
Sum of numbers = 7 + 8 + 9 = 24 næ1 ö n
= n - ç + 1÷ [Q l = nth terms = = 1]
2èn ø n
Level-II
n +1 1
1. (d) The two series till their hundredth terms are 13,15, 17 = n- = (n - 1)
2 2
.... 211 and 14, 17, 20 ... 311. The common terms of
the series would be given by the series 17, 23, 29 . 7. (c) (0.11)3 + (0.22)3 + ...+ (0.99)3
... 209. The number of terms in this series of common = (0.11)3 (13 + 23 + ... + 93)
terms would be 192/6 + 1 = 33. = 0.001331 × 2025 = 2.695275 = 2.695.
2. (c) Let the numbers be a, a + 1, a + 2, ……, a + 31. 8. (c) The first series is 3, 5, 7 .... 239
31 ´ 32 While the second series is 3, 6, 9 ... 240
Sum of these numbers 32a + = 16(2a + 31) Hence, the last common term is 237.
2
As 16 is a perfect square, the least possible value of 237 – 3
Thus our answer becomes + 1 = 40
2a + 31 = 49. 6
Therefore, a = 9 and a + 31 = 40. 9. (c) The equation can be written as:
The least possible sum = 49.
2n n
3. (b) 3, 7, 11 ....... 147 é 4 + ( 2n - 1) 3ùû = éë114 + ( n - 1) 2ùû
ë
2 2
It is an arithmetic series whose
\ n = 11
first term, a = 3
10. (b) Product of three numbers a, b and c in A.P. is 4
last term, xn = 147
i.e., abc = 4, a constant.
common difference, d = 4
Hence, the minimum possible value of b = (4)1/3
xn = a + (n – 1) d
= (2)2/3
147 = 3 + (n – 1) × 4
11. (b) The sum of the total distance it travels would be
147 - 3 given by the infinite sum of the series:
n–1=
4 420 × 8/1 + 367.5 × 8/1 = 3360 + 2940 = 6300.
n – 1 = 36, n = 37 1 2 3 4
The given series consists of 37 terms. Therefore, its
12. (b)
middle term will be 3m 5m
1m
37 + 1 Sum of first n odd no. = n 2
= 19th term
2 Ans = (12 – 1)2 = 121