Arithmetic Sequences and Series

Arithmetic Sequences and Series

Arithmetic Sequence: sequence whose consecutive terms

have a common difference.
Example: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ...
The terms have a common difference of 2.
The common difference is the number d.
To find the common difference you use an+1 – an
Example: Is the sequence arithmetic?
–45, –30, –15, 0, 15, 30
Yes, the common difference is 15
Find the next four terms of –9, -2, 5, …
Arithmetic Sequence
-2 - -9 = 7 and 5 - -2 = 7
7 is referred to as the common difference (d)
Common Difference (d) – what we ADD to get next term

Next four terms……12, 19, 26, 33

Find the next four terms of 0, 7, 14, …

Arithmetic Sequence, d = 7
21, 28, 35, 42

Find the next four terms of -3x, -2x, -x, …

Arithmetic Sequence, d = x
0, x, 2x, 3x

Find the next four terms of 5k, -k, -7k, …

Arithmetic Sequence, d = -6k

-13k, -19k, -25k, -31k
How do you find any term in this sequence?

To find any term in an arithmetic sequence, use the formula

an = a1 + (n – 1)d

where d is the common difference.

 Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)
a1  First term
an  nth term
n  number of terms
Sn  sum of n terms
d  common difference

nth term of arithmetic sequence  an  a1  n  1 d

n
sum of n terms of arithmetic sequence  Sn  a1  an 
2
 Find the 14th term of the
arithmetic sequence
4, 7, 10, 13,……

an  a1  (n  1)d
a14  4  (14  1)3
 4  (13)3
 4  39
 43
Try this one: Find a16 if a1  1.5 and d  0.5
1.5 a1  First term
a16 an  nth term
16 n  number of terms
NA Sn  sum of n terms
0.5 d  common difference

an  a1  n  1 d

a16 = 1.5 + (16 - 1)(0.5)

a16 = 1.5 + (15)(0.5)

a16 = 1.5+7.5

a16 = 9
The table shows typical costs for a construction company to rent a
crane for one, two, three, or four months. Assuming that the arithmetic
sequence continues, how much would it cost to rent the crane for
twelve months?
Months Cost ($) 75,000 a1  First term an  a1  n  1 d
1 75,000 a12 an  nth term a12 = 75,000 + (12 - 1)(15,000)
2 90,000
3 105,000 12 n  number of terms a12 = 75,000 + (11)(15,000)
4 120,000 NA Sn  sum of n terms
a12 = 75,000+165,000
15,000 d  common difference
a12 = $240,000
 In the arithmetic sequence
4,7,10,13,…, which term has a
value of 301?

an  a1  (n  1)d
301  4  (n  1)3
301  4  3n  3
301  1  3n
300  3n
100  n
Try this one: Find n if an  633, a1  9, and d  24

9 a1  First term
633 an  nth term
n n  number of terms
NA Sn  sum of n terms
24 d  common difference
an  a1  n  1 d
633 = 9 + (n - 1)(24)
633 = 9 + 24n - 24
633 = 24n – 15
648 = 24n
n = 27
Given an arithmetic sequence with a15  38 and d  3, find a1.
a1 a1  First term
38 an  nth term
15 n  number of terms
NA Sn  sum of n terms
-3 d  common difference
an  a1  n  1 d

38 = a1 + (15 - 1)(-3)

38 = a1 + (14)(-3)

38 = a1 - 42

a1 = 80
Find d if a1  6 and a 29  20

-6 a1  First term
20 an  nth term
29 n  number of terms
NA Sn  sum of n terms
d d  common difference
an  a1  n  1 d

20 = -6 + (29 - 1)(d)
20 = -6 + (28)(d)
26 = 28d
13
d
14
Write an equation for the nth term of the arithmetic
sequence 8, 17, 26, 35, …
8 a1  First term
9 d  common difference

an  a1  n  1 d

an = 8 + (n - 1)(9)

an = 8 + 9n - 9

an = 9n - 1
Arithmetic Series: An indicated sum of terms in an
arithmetic sequence.

Example:

Arithmetic Sequence VS Arithmetic Series

3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13
 Recall
Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)
a1  First term
an  nth term
n  number of terms
Sn  sum of n terms
d  common difference
Find the sum of the first 63 terms of the arithmetic sequence -19, -13, -7,…
-19 a1  First term
353 ?? an  nth term
63 n  number of terms
Sn Sn  sum of n terms
6 d  common difference

n n
Sn  a1  an  an  a1  n  1 d Sn  a1  an 
2 2
63
S63   19  353 
2
a63 = 353
S63  10521
Find the first 3 terms for an arithmetic series in which a1 = 9, an = 105, Sn =741.
9 a1  First term
105 an  nth term
13 ?? n  number of terms
9, 17, 25
741 Sn  sum of n terms
?? d  common difference

n
an  a1  n  1 d Sn  a1  an  an  a1  n  1 d
2
A radio station considered giving away $4000 every day in the month of August for a
total of $124,000. Instead, they decided to increase the amount given away every day
while still giving away the same total amount. If they want to increase the amount by
$100 each day, how much should they give away the first day?
a1  First term n
a1 Sn  a1  an 
2
?? an  nth term
31 days n  number of terms
$124,000 Sn  sum of n terms
$100/day d  common difference
n
Sn  a1  an  an  a1  n  1 d
2
 UPPER LIMIT
(NUMBER)

B
SIGMA
(SUM OF TERMS) a
n A
n NTH TERM
(SEQUENCE)

INDEX LOWER LIMIT

(NUMBER)