BEDELLE IFA BORU SPECIAL BOARDING

SECONDARY SCHOOL
Grade 12 Mathematics
Unit one
Sequence and Series
Short Note

By
Biratu Abera
September 2024/2017 E.C
Sequence and Series
Sequences
Sequence is a function whose domain is the set of
consecutive natural numbers or a subset of cons
ecutive natural numbers starting with 1
 Denoted by 𝑎𝑛
 The function values 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ,…𝑎𝑛 are Terms of
the sequence.
 𝑎𝑛 is general term or 𝑛𝑡ℎ terms of the sequence
There are two types of sequences depending on its
last term
 Finite sequences: a sequence that has last term.
 The domain of finite sequence is 1,2,3 … , 𝑛
2
 Infinite sequence is a sequence that has no last
term.
 The domain of infinite sequence is the set of
natural numbers 𝑁
Example:
List the first five terms of each of the following
general terms where n is positive integer
1 𝑛;1 𝑛
a. 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛 b. 𝑎𝑛 = c. 𝑎𝑛 =
2 𝑛:1

3
Solution
a. 𝑎𝑛 = 2𝑛
𝑎1 = 2, 𝑎2 = 4, 𝑎3 = 6, 𝑎4 = 8, 𝑎5 = 10
1 𝑛;1
b. 𝑎𝑛 =
2
1 1 1 1
𝑎2 = , 𝑎3 = , 𝑎4 = , 𝑎5 =
2 4 8 16
𝑛
c. 𝑎𝑛 =
𝑛:1
1 2 3 4 5
𝑎1 = , 𝑎2 = , 𝑎3 = , 𝑎4 = , 𝑎5 =
2 3 4 5 6

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Recurrence relation
Fibonacci and Mulatu sequence are an example of a
recurrence relation.
 A number in the sequence is obtained by adding the two
preceding numbers.
A recurrence relation: is an equation according to which
the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of a sequence of numbers is equal to some
combination of the previous terms

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5
 Fibonacci Sequence
The Fibonacci Sequence: A Recursive Sequence
The Fibonacci sequence is defined recursively, as follows
a0  1
a1  1  The Fibonacci
ak  ak  2  ak 1 , where k  2. sequence

a2  a2 2  a21  a0  a1  1  1  2
a3  a3 2  a31  a1  a2  1  2  3
a4  a4 2  a41  a2  a3  2  3  5
a5  a5 2  a51  a3  a4  3  5  8
a6  a6 2  a61  a4  a5  5  8  13
a7  a7  2  a7 1  a5  a6  8  13  21,
Sequence And Series
6
Mulatu Sequence
The Mulatu Sequence: A Recursive Sequence
The Mulatu sequence is defined recursively, as follows
a0  4
a1  1  The Mulatu
ak  ak 1  ak  2 , where k  2. sequence

a2  a21  a2 2  a1  a0  1  4  5
a3  a31  a3 2  a2  a1  5  1  6
a4  a41  a4 2  a3  a2  6  5  11
a5  a51  a5 2  a4  a3  11  6  17
a6  a61  a6 2  a5  a4  17  11  28
a7  a7 1  a7  2  a5  a6  8  13  28  17  45,
Sequence And Series
7
 Arithmetic Sequence
 Arithmetic sequence or arithmetic progression
is a sequence in which each term except the first
is obtained by adding a fixed number (positive or
negative) to the preceding term.
 The fixed number is called common difference
of the sequence.
 A sequence whose consecutive terms have a
common difference is an arithmetic sequence.

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Example
1. for the following arithmetic sequence ,what are the first term,
third term and common difference? Find the 6th term.
a. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, … b. 9, 6, 3, 0, −3
Solution
a. 𝑎1 = 3, 𝑎3 = 7, d= 2: 𝑎6 = 13
b. 𝑎1 = 9, 𝑎3 = 3, d= −3: 𝑎6 = −6
2. Find the term from 2nd to 5th of an arithmetic progression
when:
a. 1st term is 1 and common difference is 5
1
b. 1st term is 2 and common difference is −
2
Solution
3 1
a. 6, 11, 16, 21, 26 b. , 1, , 0
2 2
Sequence And Series
9
General Formula
 The 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of arithmetic sequence :
𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝒅
 Where 𝑎1 is the first term
 d is the common difference
 n is the position of term
Example
1. Find the general term of the sequence 𝐴𝑛 when a. 𝐴1 = 2, 𝑑 = 3
Solution: 𝐴1 = 2, 𝑑 = 3: 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
𝐴𝑛 = 2 + 3 𝑛 − 1
𝐴𝑛 = 3𝑛 − 1
2. What is the 10th term of the sequence 10, 6, 2, −2, … ?
𝐴1 = 10, 𝑑 = −4: 𝐴10 = 𝐴1 + 10 − 1 −4
𝐴10 = 10 + −36
𝐴10 = −36
Sequence And Series
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Further On Arithmetic Sequence
Example
1. Given arithmetic sequence with
𝐴2 = 3, 𝐴5 = 24. Find 𝐴𝑛 and 𝐴11 ?
2. Find the ninth term of the arithmetic sequence whose
first two terms are 2 and 9
3. Determine whether the following general term are
arithmetic
a) A. 𝑎𝑛 = 7𝑛 − 3
b) b. 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛2 + 𝑛 + 1
c) C. 𝑎𝑛 = 3𝑛
Sequence And Series
11
Solution
1. 𝐴2 = 3, 𝐴5 = 24: 𝐴1 + 𝑑=3
𝐴1 + 4𝑑 = 24
𝑑 = 7 &𝐴1 = −4
𝐴𝑛 = 7𝑛 − 11
𝐴𝑛 = 77 − 11 = 66
2. 𝐴1 = 2, 𝐴2 = 9: 𝐴9 = 𝐴1 + 𝑛 − 1 d: 𝑑 = 9 − 2 = 7
𝐴9 = 2 + 9 − 1 7
𝐴9 = 58
3. a. 𝑎𝑛 = 7𝑛 − 3
𝑎𝑛:1 − 𝑎𝑛 = 7 𝑛 + 1 − 3 − 7𝑛 − 3 = 7
The difference between two consecutive terms is constant.
Hence it is an arithmetic sequence.
b. 𝑎𝑛 is not an arithmetic sequence
c. 𝑎𝑛 is not an arithmetic sequence
Sequence And Series
12
Arithmetic Mean Between Two
Numbers
The term(s) of arithmetic sequence that lie between two
given terms are called arithmetic mean.
Example:
1. When the sequence 3, 𝑥, 7 is an arithmetic progression,
find 𝑥
2. Find the arithmetic mean between 4 and 14
3. Insert four arithmetic mean between 4 and 14

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Solution
1. 3, 𝑥, 7 is arithmetic progression
Then 𝑥 − 3 = 7 − 𝑥
2𝑥 = 7 + 3
𝑥=5
2. Arithmetic mean
4 + 14
= =9
2
3. When four arithmetic means between 4 and 14, then the
14;4
common difference 𝑑 = = 2.
2
Therefore, the arithmetic means are 6, 8, 10, 12.
Sequence And Series
14
Geometric Sequence
A geometric sequence or geometric progression is one in
which the ratio between consecutive term is a non-zero
constant.
This constant is called common ratio.
𝐺𝑛+1
 𝐺𝑛 is geometric sequence if and only if 𝑟 = ,𝑟 ∈
𝐺𝑛
ℝ & 𝑟 ≠ 0 where r is common ratio.

Sequence And Series

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Example
1. For the following geometric sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, …
find the common ratio r and the 6th term.
Solution:
1st term= 1,
2 4 8 16
common ratio= = = = =2
1 2 4 8
6𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
= 2: hence 6th term= 32
16
2. Given the 1st term of geometric sequence is 1 and its
common ratio is 3, find the terms from 2nd to 5th term.
Solution : 3, 9, 27, 81, 243.
Sequence And Series
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Determining The 𝒏 𝒕𝒉
Term Of
Geometric Sequence
 If 𝐺 is a geometric sequence with the first term 𝐺 and
𝑛 1
common ratio 𝑟, then the nth term of the sequence is given by
𝑮𝒏 = 𝑮𝟏 𝒓𝒏;𝟏
Example
1. For each of the following find 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of the geometric
sequence
a) 𝐺1 = 2, 𝑟 = 5
1
b) 𝐺1 = −3, 𝑟 =
2
2. Find the 5th term of geometric sequence whose first term is -3
1
and common ratio is −
2

Sequence And Series

17
Solution
1. a) 𝐺1 = 2, 𝑟 = 5 ,
hence 𝐺𝑛 = 2 5 𝑛;1

1
b) 𝐺1 = −3 & 𝑟 = ,
2
1 𝑛;1
hence 𝐺𝑛 = −3
2
1
2. 𝐺1 = −3 & 𝑟 = − ,
2
1 4 3
hence 𝐺𝑛 = −3 − =−
2 16

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18
Geometric Mean Between Two
Numbers
When 𝑎, 𝑚, 𝑏 are geometric sequence , then m is called
geometric mean between 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏.(𝑎 ≠ 0, 𝑏 ≠ 0, 𝑚 ≠ 0)
Example
1. Find geometric mean between 3 and 12.
2. In geometric sequence , the 2nd term is 12 and the 6th
term is 192. find the 11th term
3. If 𝑥, 4𝑥 + 3, 7𝑥 + 6 are consecutive terms of a
geometric sequence find the value(s) of 𝑥, 𝑥 ≠ 0

Sequence And Series

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Solution
𝐺𝑚 12
1. = , then 𝐺𝑚2 = 36, Gm = ±6
3 𝐺𝑚
2. 𝐺2 = 12 &𝐺6 = 192
𝐺6 192
=
𝐺2 12
𝑟 5 𝐺1 192
= , this implies 𝑟 4 = 16: 𝑟 = 2
𝑟𝐺1 12
: 𝐺11 = 2 10 6 = 1024 6 = 6144
4𝑥:3 7𝑥:6
3. 𝑥, 4𝑥 + 3, 7𝑥 + 6 : 𝑥 = 4𝑥:3
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 0
𝑥=1
Sequence And Series
20
The Sigma notation and partial
sums
1. Partial Sums
Let 𝑎𝑛 be a sequence. The sum the first n terms of the
sequence, denoted by 𝑆𝑛 is called the partial sum of the
sequence. Such summation is denoted as follows.
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑛𝑘<1 𝑎𝑘 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 + ⋯ 𝑎𝑛 , where
 𝑘 is index of summation
 1 is lower limit of summation
 n is upper limit of summation
 𝑖𝑠 sigma notation or summation notation

Sequence And Series 21

Example
1. Find the sum of first 5 odd natural numbers
2. Find the sum of the following sequence
a. 𝑎𝑛 = 4𝑛 − 3, 𝑆5
b. 𝑎𝑛 = 3 − 5𝑛, 𝑆8
Solution:
1. 𝑆5 = 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25
2. a. 𝑎𝑛 = 4𝑛 − 3
𝑆5 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 + 𝑎5 = 45
b. 𝑎𝑛 = 3 − 5𝑛
𝑆8 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 + 𝑎5 + 𝑎6 + 𝑎7 + 𝑎8 = −156
Sequence And Series
22
Cont…
2. Sigma notation
Sigma notation is a method used to write out a long sum in a
concise way.
We use sigma notation for writing infinite numbers of terms in a
sequence.
Example
1. Express the following sigma notation in the form of sum.
a. 7𝑘<1 2𝑘 b. 5𝑘<3 𝑘 2 c. 𝑛𝑘<1 3𝑘
2. Express the following using the sigma notation
22 + 42 + 62 + 82 + 102 + 122 .
Sequence And Series
23
Solution
1.
7
a. 𝑘<1 2𝑘 =2(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7) = 49
5 2 =32 + 42 + 52 = 50
b. 𝑘<3 𝑘
𝑛 𝑘 =31 + 32 + 33 + ⋯ + 3𝑛
c. 𝑘<1 3
2.
6

22 + 42 + 62 + 82 + 102 + 122 = 2𝑘 2

𝑘<1

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Properties of sigma notation
𝑛 𝑛
1. 𝑘<1 𝑐𝑎 𝑘 = 𝑐 𝑘<1 𝑎𝑘 , c is constant
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
2. 𝑘<1 𝑘𝑎 + 𝑏𝑘 = 𝑘<1 𝑘𝑎 + 𝑘<1 𝑏𝑘
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
3. 𝑘<1 𝑘𝑎 − 𝑏𝑘 = 𝑘<1 𝑘𝑎 − 𝑘<1 𝑏𝑘
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
4. 𝑘<1 𝑘𝑎 = 𝑎
𝑘<1 𝑘 + 𝑘<𝑛:1 𝑎𝑘
Example
Evaluate each of the following sigma notations
4 5 5
a. 𝑘<1 5𝑘 b. 𝑘<1(4𝑘 − 1) c. 𝑘<2 3

Sequence And Series

25
Solution
4
a. 𝑘<1 5𝑘 = 5 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 50

5
b. 𝑘<1 4𝑘 − 1 = 3 + 7 + 11 + 15 + 19 = 55

5
c. 𝑘<2 3 = 3 4 = 12

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26
Sum Of Arithmetic Sequence
The sum of the first 𝑛 consecutive natural numbers is 𝑺𝒏 =
𝒏
𝒏+𝟏 .
𝟐
Example
1. Find the sum of the first 200 natural numbers
200
Solution:𝑆200 = 200 + 1 = 20100
2
2. If the sum of the first n natural numbers is 3240, what is the
value of n?
𝑛 𝑛
Solution: 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑛 + 1 : 3240= 𝑛 + 1
2 2
6480 = 𝑛 + 𝑛 2

𝑛2 + 𝑛 − 6480 = 0: 𝑛 = 80
Sequence And Series
27
Theorem
The sum 𝑆𝑛 of arithmetic sequence with first term 𝐴1 and
common difference 𝑑 is
𝒏
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = 𝟐𝑨𝟏 + 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝒅 .
𝟐
𝒌<𝟏
This formula can also be written as
𝑨𝟏 + 𝑨𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒏 ,
𝟐
Where 𝐴𝑛 is the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term.
This alternative formula is useful when the first and the last terms
are known.
Sequence And Series
28
Example
1. Find the partial sum of the following arithmetic sequences.
a. 𝐴1 = 2, and last term 𝐴10 = 21
Solution:
10
𝑆10 = 2 + 21 = 115
2
1. Find the sum of the following arithmetic sequences
a. 𝐴1 = 2, 𝑑 = 3, 𝑛 = 10
Solution:
𝑛
𝑆𝑛 = 2𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
2
10
𝑆10 = 2(2) + 10 − 1 (3) = 155
2
Sequence And Series
29
Further on Sum of Arithmetic
Sequences
1. Find 𝑆5 of the arithmetic sequence whose 3rd term is 5 and 5th term
is 11.
Solution:
𝐴5 − 𝐴3
𝑑= =3
5−3
𝐴3 = 𝐴1 + 2𝑑: 5 = 𝐴1 + 2 3 : 𝐴1 = −1
𝑛 5
𝑆𝑛 = 2𝑎1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑 : 𝑆5 = 2(−1) + 4 3 = 25
2 2
1. Given sum 𝑆8 = 120 of an arithmetic sequence and 𝐴1 = 1, find
𝐴8 and 𝐴𝑛 .
Solution:
8
𝑆8 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴𝑛 : 120 = 4 𝐴1 + 𝐴𝑛 : 𝐴8 = 29
2
Sequence And Series
30
Sum Of Geometric Sequences
Theorem
 Let 𝐺𝑛 𝑛 be a geometric sequence with common ratio 𝑟.
Then the sum of the first n terms 𝑆𝑛 is given by
𝒏𝑮𝟏, 𝒊𝒇 𝒓 = 𝟏
𝑺𝒏 = 𝟏;𝒓𝒏 𝒓𝒏 ;𝟏 , 𝒊𝒇 𝒓 ≠ 𝟏
𝑮 = 𝑮𝟏
𝟏;𝒓 𝒓;𝟏

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Example
1. Find the sum of 𝑛𝑡ℎ terms of the geometric sequence:
a. 𝐺1 = 3, 𝑟 = 2
Solution:
𝐺1 (𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 = : 𝑆𝑛 = 3(2𝑛 − 1)
𝑟−1
2. Geometric sequence:1, 3, 9, 27, … Find 𝑆𝑛
Solution:
3 9 27
𝑟= = = = ⋯ = 3 &𝐺1 = 1
1 3 9
(3𝑛 ;1)
Hence 𝑆𝑛 =
2
Sequence And Series
32
Further On Geometric Sequence
Example
1. The sum the first three terms of the geometric sequence
is 9, and that of from 4th to 6th term is -18.
Find the first term and common ratio.
3 3 3
2. How many terms of the sequence :3, , , , … are needed
2 4 8
3069
to give the sum ?
512

Sequence And Series

33
Solution
3 9
1. 𝑟 = −2 and 𝐺1 = 3 3
4: ;2:1

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Series: Infinite Series
Convergence of infinite series
 A sequence 𝑎𝑛 converges to 𝛼:
𝑛 → ∞, 𝑎𝑛 → 𝛼
Divergence of infinite series
 A sequence 𝑎𝑛 diverges to posetive infinity:
𝑛 → ∞, 𝑎𝑛 → ∞
 A sequence 𝑎𝑛 diverges to negative infinity:
𝑛 → ∞, 𝑎𝑛 → −∞
 A sequence 𝑎𝑛 vibrates: 𝑎𝑛 has no limit
Sequence And Series
35
Convergence and divergence of
infinite geometric sequence
Consider 𝐺𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛 , where 𝐺1 = 𝑟, and r is common ratio
 𝑟 > 1, when 𝑛 → ∞, then 𝐺𝑛 → ∞(diverge)
 𝑟 = 1, when 𝑛 → ∞, then 𝐺𝑛 → 1(converge)
 𝑟 < 1, when 𝑛 → ∞, then 𝐺𝑛 → 0(converge)
 𝑟 ≤ −1, when 𝑛 → ∞, then 𝐺𝑛 vibrates(no limit)

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36
Example
1. Find whether the given geometric sequence diverge,
converge or vibrates when n approaches to infinity
𝑛
a. 𝐺𝑛 = 3 : soln. diverges
3 𝑛
b. b. 𝐺𝑛 = : soln. converges
4
1 𝑛
c. c. 𝐺𝑛 = − : soln. converges
2

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37
Definition
Let 𝑎𝑛 𝑛<1 be a sequence and 𝑆𝑛 be the 𝑛𝑡ℎ partial sum
such that, as n getting larger and larger, 𝑆𝑛 goes S, where
S is a finite real number, then we say the infinite series
∞ ∞
𝑛<1 𝑛𝑎 converges and is written as 𝑛<1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑆.
However if such an S does not exist or is infinite ,we say
the infinite series ∞𝑛<1 𝑎𝑛 diverges.

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38
Example
∞ 𝑛
1. Determine whether the series 𝑛<1 3 converges or
diverges.
2. Find the sums for each of the following , if it exists,
assuming the patterns continue as in the first few terms.
1 1 7 7 7
a. 3 + 1 + + + ⋯ b. 7 + + + …
3 9 10 100 100
3. Find the sums of each of geometric series
∞ 1 𝑘;1 ∞ 𝑘;3
a. 𝑘<1 3 b. 𝑘<1 5

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Recurring Decimals
 Recurring decimals: repeating decimals
 Purely recurring decimals: decimal that start their
recurring cycle immediately after the decimal point
 Mixed recurring decimals: decimal that have some extra
digits before the repeating sequence of digits.
 Period: the number of digits in the repeating pattern

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Converting Recurring Decimals
To Fraction
Example
1. Convert the following purely recurring decimals to fraction
a. 0.4 b. 0.37 c. 0.56
Solution:
a. 0.4 = 0.4 + 0.04 + 0.004 + ⋯
4 4 4
+ + +⋯
10 100 100
4 1 1
1 + + + ⋯ , therefore the sum becomes
10 10 100
4
𝐺1 10 4
𝑆∞ = = =
1−𝑟 1− 1 9
10
b. 0.37 = 0.3 + 0.07 + 0.007 + ⋯
3 7 7
+ + +⋯
10 100 100
3 7 1 1
+ 1 + + + ⋯ , therefore the sum becomes
10 100 10 100
7
3 𝐺1 3 100 3 7 17
𝑆∞ = + = + 1 = 10 +90 = 45
10 1;𝑟 10 1;10 Sequence And Series
41
Application Of Arithmetic
Sequence And Geometric
Sequences
Example
1. A person is scheduled to get a raise of Birr 250 every 6
months during his/her first 5 years on the job. If his/her
starting salary is Birr 25,250 per year, what will his/her
annual salary be at the end of the 3rd year?
2. The population of a certain town is increasing at a rate of
2.5% per year. If the population is currently 100,000, what
will the population be 10 years from now?

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42
Solution
1. 𝐴1 = 25,250, 𝑑 = 250, 𝑛 = 3 × 2 = 6
Required: 𝐴7
𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
𝐴7 = 25,250 + 7 − 1 250 = 26750ETB
Therefore, his/her annual salary is 26750ETB at the end of
3rd year
2. The population of the town at the end of 𝑛𝑡ℎ year is
2.5 𝑛
𝐺𝑛 = 100,000 1 + = 100,000(1.025)𝑛
100
𝐺10 = 100,000(1.025)10 = 128,00.45
Sequence And Series 43
GOOD LUCK!!!

By Biratu Abera 44