Subject: Math- 10 Quarter:1st

REVIEW NOTES

Topic: SEQUENCES & SERIES

Teacher: Beverly C. Cinco

POINTS TO PONDER

● A sequence is a set of numbers that are arranged in a specific order.

● An arithmetic sequence is a sequence in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is
constant. This constant is called the common difference.

● A geometric sequence is a sequence in which the ratio between any two consecutive terms is constant.
This constant is called the common ratio.

● A series is the indicated sum of the terms of a sequence.

● An arithmetic series is the indicated sum of an arithmetic sequence.

● A geometric series is the indicated sum of a geometric sequence.

● The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (n-1) d,
where 𝑎1 is the first term and d is the common difference.
Example:
Find the 12th term of the sequence 3, 5, 7, 9
Given:
𝑎1 = 3 ; d = 2 ; n = 12
Solution:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (n-1) d
𝑎12 = 3 + (12-1) (2) Use the PEMDAS Rule
𝑎12 = 25

● The nth term of a geometric sequence is

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 ,
where 𝑎1 is the first term and r is the common ratio.

Example:
Find the 6th term of the geometric sequence 64, 32, 16, 8…..
Given:
𝑎1 = 64 ; r = 2 ; n = 6
Solution:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
𝑎6 = (64) 26−1
𝑎6 = (64) (25 )
𝑎6 = (64) (32)
𝑎6 = 2028
 Subject: Math- 10 Quarter:1st

REVIEW NOTES

Topic: SEQUENCES & SERIES

Teacher: Beverly C. Cinco

● The sum of a finite arithmetic series is

𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = 2 (𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛 )
Example:
Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the sequence whose first term is 7 and 𝑎10 =
Given:
n= 10 ; 𝑎1 = 7 ; 𝑎𝑛 = 25

Solution:
𝑛 10
𝑆𝑛 = 2 (𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛 ) ------------𝑆10 = (7 + 25)
2
𝑆10 = 5 (32)

𝑆10 = 160

● The sum of an infinite arithmetic series is

𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎1 + (n-1) d]
2
Example:
Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the sequence whose first term is 5 with common
difference of -5.
Given:
n=10 ; d =-5 ; 𝑎1 = 5
Solution:
𝑛 10
𝑆𝑛 = 2 [2𝑎1 + (n-1) d] ------------------𝑆10 = [2(5) + (10-1) -5]
2

𝑆10 = 5 [10 + (9) (-5)] (Use PEMDAS Rule)

𝑆10 = 5 (-35)
𝑆10 = -175

● The sum of a finite geometric series is

𝑎1 (𝑟 𝑛 −1)
𝑆𝑛 =
𝑟−1
Example:
Find the sum of the first 5 terms of a geometric sequence 5, -15, 75.
Given:
𝑎1 = 5 ; n = 5; r = (-15/5 = -3)
Solution:
𝑎1 (𝑟 𝑛 −1) 5 (−35 −1)
𝑆𝑛 = ---------- 𝑆5 =
𝑟−1 −3−1

5 (−243 −1)
𝑆5 = −4
5 (−244)
𝑆5 = −4
𝑆5 = 305
 Subject: Math- 10 Quarter:1st

REVIEW NOTES

Topic: SEQUENCES & SERIES

Teacher: Beverly C. Cinco

● The sum of infinite geometric series is

𝑎1
𝑆∞ =
1−𝑟

1 1 1
Example: Find the sum of the infinite geometric series 3, 9, 27, ……
1 1 1 1
Given: 𝑎1 = 3 ; r = 9 ÷ 3 = 3

Solution:
1
𝑎1 3
𝑆∞ = 1−𝑟 ---------- 𝑆∞ = 1
1−
3
1

3
𝑆∞ = 2

3
3 1
𝑆∞ = or
6 2