ARITHMETIC AND GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES / PROGRESSION

Sequence of number: A set of numbers arranged in a specific order.

Succession of term: T1, T2, T3 ,.., Tn

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

Definition: Sequence that the difference between any terms and proceeding term is the same
throughout.

𝑑 = 𝑇𝑛 − 𝑇𝑛−1

The first term of sequence is a, and the common difference is d.

Example

Sequence Common difference, d

i. 1, 2, 3, 4, …
ii. 4, 8, 12, 16, …
iii. 8, 6, 4, 2, …

A. Finding the nth term

𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑

where
Tn = nth term
a = first term
n = number of term
d = common difference

Example A

1. Given the arithmetic sequence is 2, 4, 6, 8, … .Find the:

i. The tenth term
ii. The fifth term
iii. The 100th term

2. Find the first term and common difference of the following:

i. The fourth term is 13 and the eighth term is 1
ii. The 13th term is 3 and the fifth term is 35

B. Finding the sum of first nth term

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Formula:

𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = [2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑]
2

𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = (𝑎 + 𝑙)
2

where
𝑆𝑛 = sum of the first n term
n = number of terms
a = first term
d = common difference
l = last term

Example B

1. Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the arithmetic sequence: 12, 17, 22, 27, …

2. Find the sum of the first 13 terms of the arithmetic sequence: 5, 11, 17, 23, …

3. Find the sum of the first 9terms if a = 3 and l = 39

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GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

Common ratio, r is the common factor by any term that immediately follows it

𝑇𝑛
𝑟=
𝑇𝑛−1

Example

Sequence Common ratio, r

i. 2, 4, 8, 16, …
ii. 6, 18, 54, 162, …
1 1 1 1
iii. , , , …
2 4 8 16

A. Finding the nth term

𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎𝑟 𝑛−1

where
Tn = nth term
a = first term
n = number of term
r = common ratio

Example A

1. Given the sequence is 2, 6, 18, 54,… . Find the:

i. The 10th term
ii. The 15th term

2. Find the first term and the common ratio of the following;
i. The fifth term is 405 and the third term is 45
ii. The sixth term 12500 and the fourth term is 500

B. Finding the sum of the first nth term

𝑎(1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 < 1
1−𝑟

𝑎(𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 > 1
𝑟−1

Example B

1. Find S10 and S8 if a = 5 and r = 2

2. Find S5 and S15 if a = 1500 and r = ½

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Exercise

1. The first term in an arithmetic sequence is -5 and the last term is 40. If the common difference
is 3, find the (i) number of terms in the sequence, (ii) sum of all the terms in the sequence.

2. The fifth term of a geometric sequence is 252 and the common ratio is 0.5. Find the first term
and the sum of the first ten terms.

3. The eight term of an arithmetic sequence is triple its third term. If the first is 2, find the
common difference of this arithmetic sequence.

4. In a geometric sequence, the seventh term exceeds the fifth term by 1,920. Find the sum of
the first eleven terms if the common ratio of the sequence is 2.

5. In an arithmetic sequence, the sum of the first ten terms is 125 and the third term is 5. Find (i)
the first term and the common difference, and (ii) the sum of the first 15 terms.

6. In a geometric sequence, the 7th term exceeds the 5th term by 48. Find the first term if the
common ratio is 2.

7. Given the first three terms of Geometric Sequence: 2b+2, b+4, b,… where each of the term is
positive, find (i) the value of b, and (ii) the first term and common ratio.

8. The fourth term and the eight term of an arithmetic sequence are -8 and -20, respectively.
Find (i) common difference, and (ii) the sum of the first 10 terms.

9. The twelve term of a geometric sequence is 1024. The fourth term divided by the second term
is equal to 4. Find the first term and the positive common ratio.

10. Given the third of an arithmetic sequence less than the fourth term by three. The seventh term
is two times the fifth term. Find the common different and the first term.

11. Given a sequence 25, 31, 37…103. (i) State whether the sequence is arithmetic or geometric.
(ii) Find the number of terms in the sequence. (iii) Find the sum of the sequence.

12. Initially, a man saves RM60 in his personal “piggy bank” and in each succeeding month, he
saves 2% more than the previous month. Calculate this man’s total saving after a year.

13. The difference between the tenth term and the seventh term of an arithmetic sequence is -30.
If the twelve terms divided by the sixth term is 3, find the first term and the common difference.

14. The price of a share today is RM4. It is estimated to increase 2% every month in the coming
year. Find the share price after 9 months.

Ans:

1. 16, 280 6. 1 10. 3, -6

2. 4032, 8056125 7. i) 18, 8 11. i)14
3. 4 ii) 3/2 ii) 896
4. 40 8. i) 1,-3 12. RM799.20
5. i) 3,-1 ii) -125 13. -10, 20
ii)RM300 9. 2, 0.5 14. RM4.69

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