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IB Maths DP Your notes

1.2 Sequences & Series

Contents
1.2.1 Language of Sequences & Series
1.2.2 Arithmetic Sequences & Series
1.2.3 Geometric Sequences & Series
1.2.4 Applications of Sequences & Series

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1.2.1 Language of Sequences & Series

Your notes
Language of Sequences & Series
What is a sequence?
A sequence is an ordered set of numbers with a well-defined rule for getting from one number to
the next
For example 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, … is a sequence with the rule ‘start at one and add two to get each
subsequent number’
The numbers in a sequence are often called terms
The terms of a sequence are often referred to by letters with a subscript
In IB this will be the letter u
So in the sequence above, u1 = 1, u2 = 3, u3 = 5 and so on
Each term in a sequence can be found by substituting the term number into the formula for the
nt h term

What is a series?
You get a series by summing up the terms in a sequence
E.g. For the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, … the associated series is 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + …
We use the notation Sn to refer to the sum of the first n terms in the series
S n = u1 + u2 + u3 + … + un
So for the series above S5 = 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25

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Worked example
Your notes
Determine the first five terms and the value of S5 in the sequence with terms defined by un = 5 - 2n.

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Sigma Notation
What is sigma notation? Your notes
Sigma notation is used to show the sum of a certain number of terms in a sequence
The symbol Σ is the capital Greek letter sigma
Σ stands for ‘sum’
The expression to the right of the Σ tells you what is being summed, and the limits above and
below tell you which terms you are summing

Be careful, the limits don’t have to start with 1

4 14
For example ∑ (2k + 1) or ∑ (2k − 13)
k =0 k =7
r and k are commonly used variables within sigma notation

Exam Tip
Your GDC will be able to use sigma notation, familiarise yourself with it and practice using it to
check your work

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Worked example
Your notes
A sequence can be defined by u = 2 × 3n − 1 for n ∈ ℤ + .
n

a) Write an expression for u + u 2 + u 3 + . . . + u 6 using sigma notation.

1

b) Write an expression for u + u 8 + u 9 + . . . + u12 using sigma notation.

7

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Your notes

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1.2.2 Arithmetic Sequences & Series

Your notes
Arithmetic Sequences
What is an arithmetic sequence?
In an 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, u1, is 1
The common difference, d, is 3
An arithmetic sequence can be increasing (positive common difference) or decreasing
(negative common difference)
Each term of an arithmetic sequence is referred to by the letter u with a subscript determining
its place in the sequence

How do I find a term in an arithmetic sequence?

The nth term formula for an arithmetic sequence is given as
u = u + (n − 1) d
n 1

Where u is the first term, and d is the common difference

1
This is given in the formula booklet, you do not need to know how to derive it
Enter the information you have into the formula and use your GDC to find the value of the term
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
You could use your GDC for this
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 a system of linear equations
Solve the simultaneous equations
You could use your GDC for this

Exam Tip
Simultaneous equations are often needed within arithmetic sequence questions, make sure
you are confident solving them with your GDC

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Worked example
Your notes
The fourth term of an arithmetic sequence is 10 and the ninth term is 25, find the first term and the
common difference of the sequence.

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Arithmetic Series
How do I find the sum of an arithmetic series? Your notes
An arithmetic series is the sum of the terms in an arithmetic sequence
For the arithmetic sequence 1, 4, 7, 10, … the arithmetic series is 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + …
Use the following formulae to find the sum of the first n terms of the arithmetic series:
n n
Sn = (2u 1 + (n − 1) d ) ; Sn = (u 1 + u n )
2 2
u 1 is the first term
d is the common difference
u n is the last term
Both formulae are given in the formula booklet, 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 first version
If you know the first and last term then the second 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
You could use your GDC for this

Exam Tip
The formulae you need for arithmetic series are in the formula book, you do not need to
remember them
Practice finding the formulae so that you can quickly locate them in the exam

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Worked example
Your notes
The sum of the first 10 terms of an arithmetic sequence is 630.
a) Find the common difference, d, of the sequence if the first term is 18.

b) Find the first term of the sequence if the common difference, d, is 11.

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1.2.3 Geometric Sequences & Series

Your notes
Geometric Sequences
What is a geometric sequence?
In a geometric sequence, there is a common ratio, r, between consecutive terms in the
sequence
For example, 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, … is a sequence with the rule ‘start at two and multiply each number
by three’
The first term, u1, is 2
The common ratio, r, is 3
A geometric sequence 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 by negative four’
The first term, u1, is 1
The common ratio, r, is -4
Each term of a geometric sequence is referred to by the letter u with a subscript determining its
place in the sequence
How do I find a term in a geometric sequence?
The n th term formula for a geometric sequence is given as
u = u rn −1
n 1

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

1
This formula allows you to find any term in the geometric sequence
It is given in the formula booklet, you do not need to know how to derive it
Enter the information you have into the formula and use your GDC to 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
You could use your GDC for this
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 on your GDC

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Your notes
Exam Tip
You will sometimes need to use logarithms to answer geometric sequences questions
Make sure you are confident doing this
Practice using your GDC for different types of questions

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Worked example
Your notes
The sixth term, u , of a geometric sequence is 486 and the seventh term, u , is 1458.
6 7

Find,
i) the common ratio, r , of the sequence,

ii) the first term of the sequence, u .

1

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Geometric Series
How do I find the sum of a geometric series? Your notes
A geometric series is the sum of a certain number of terms in a geometric sequence
For the geometric sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, … the geometric series is 2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + …
The following formulae will let you find the sum of the first n terms of a geometric series:
u 1 ( rn − 1) u 1 (1 − rn )
Sn = =
r −1 1−r
u 1 is the first term
r is the common ratio
Both formulae are given in the formula booklet, you do not need to know how to derive them
You can use whichever formula is more convenient for a given question
The first version of the formula is more convenient if r > 1 and 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
You could use your GDC for this

Exam Tip
The geometric series formulae are in the formula booklet, you don't need to memorise them
Make sure you can locate them quickly in the formula booklet

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Worked example
Your notes
A geometric sequence has u = 25 and r = 0 . 8 . Find the value of u and S .
1 5 5

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1.2.4 Applications of Sequences & Series

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Applications of Arithmetic Sequences & Series
Many real-life situations can be modelled using sequences and series, including but not limited to:
patterns made when tiling floors; seating people around a table; the rate of change of a population;
the spread of a virus and many more.
What do I need to know about applications of arithmetic sequences and series?
If a quantity is changing repeatedly by having a fixed amount added to or subtracted from it then
the use of arithmetic sequences and arithmetic series is appropriate to model the situation
If a sequence seems to fit the pattern of an arithmetic sequence it can be said to be
modelled by an arithmetic sequence
The scenario can be modelled using the given information and the formulae from the formula
booklet
A common application of arithmetic sequences and series is simple interest
Simple interest is when an initial investment is made and then a percentage of the initial
investment is added to this amount on a regular basis (usually per year)
Arithmetic sequences can be used to make estimations about how something will change in the
future

Exam Tip
Exam questions won't always tell you to use sequences and series methods, practice
spotting them by looking for clues in the question
If a given amount is repeated periodically then it is likely the question is on arithmetic
sequences or series

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Worked example
Your notes
Jasper is saving for a new car. He puts USD $100 into his savings account and then each month he
puts in USD $10 more than the month before. Jasper needs USD $1200 for the car. Assuming no
interest is added, find,

i) the amount Jasper has saved after four months,

ii) the month in which Jasper reaches his goal of USD $1200.

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Applications of Geometric Sequences & Series

What do I need to know about applications of geometric sequences and series? Your notes
If a quantity is changing repeatedly by a fixed percentage, or by being multiplied repeatedly by a
fixed amount, then the use of geometric sequences and geometric series is appropriate to
model the situation
If a sequence seems to fit the pattern of a geometric sequence it can be said to be
modelled by a geometric sequence
The scenario can be modelled using the given information and the formulae from the formula
booklet
A common application of geometric sequences and series is compound interest
Compound interest is when an initial investment is made and then interest is paid on the initial
amount and on the interest already earned on a regular basis (usually every year)
Geometric sequences can be used to make estimations about how something will change in the
future
The questions won’t always tell you to use sequences and series methods, so be prepared to
spot ‘hidden’ sequences and series questions
Look out for questions on savings accounts, salaries, sales commissions, profits, population
growth and decay, spread of bacteria etc

Exam Tip
Exam questions won't always tell you to use sequences and series methods, practice
spotting them by looking for clues in the question
If a given amount is changing by a percentage or multiple then it is likely the question is on
geometric sequences or series

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Worked example
Your notes
A new virus is circulating on a remote island. On day one there were 10 people infected, with the
number of new infections increasing at a rate of 40% per day.

a) Find the expected number of people newly infected on the 7 th day.

b) Find the expected number of infected people after one week (7 days), assuming no one
has recovered yet.

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Your notes

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