Sequences &

Series
a1
a2
…
…
an
12/14/24 1
 Sequence
• Collection of terms in a proper
order (pattern).
• The pattern is normally composed
of some operation.
• The operation can be either
addition, subtraction, multiplication
or division.
• a1, a2, a3……….. an
• First term = a1 n-term = an
12/14/24 2
 Sequence
A list of numbers or objects in a special order.

Example: 3, 5, 7, 9, ... is a sequence starting at 3 and increasing by

2 each time

12/14/24 3
 Types of
Sequence
1. Arithmetic sequence
2. Geometric sequence
3. Harmonic sequence

12/14/24 4
 Operations on
sequence
For each sequence the following
rules are applied…

Rule for finding the

general term
Rule for finding the
mean
Rule for finding the
sum
12/14/24 5
HE ARITHEMATIC SEQUENC

12/14/24 6
 Arithmetic Sequence
• The sequence in which the next
term is obtained by Adding or
Subtracting a number k with the
previous term. The difference
between consecutive terms is
constant (or the same).
• The constant difference is also
known as the Common Difference
(d).
12/14/24 7
Decide whether each sequence is
Arithmetic?
• -10,-6,-2,0,2,6,10,… • 5,11,17,23,29,…
• -6-(-10)=4 • 11-5=6
• -2-(-6)=4
• 0-(-2)=2 • 17-11=6
• 2-0=2 • 23-17=6
• 6-2=4 • 29-23=6
• 10-6=4

Not arithmetic (because • Arithmetic

the differences are not (common
the same)
12/14/24 difference is 6) 8
Rules for an Arithmetic
Sequence

Rule for finding the

general term
Common difference

an = a1 + (n - 1) d
nth term 1st term Total number of terms

12/14/24 9
 Example: Write a rule for the nth
term of the sequence 32,47,62,77,… .
Then, find a12.
• The common difference d=15, therefore the
sequence is arithmetic.
• Use an=a1+(n-1)d
an=32+(n-1)(15)
an=32+15n-15
an=17+15n
a12=17+15(12)=197
12/14/24 10
 Example: One term of an arithmetic
sequence is a8=50. The common
difference is 0.25. Write a rule for the
• Use an=a1+(n-1)dnth term.
to find the 1st term!
a8=a1+(8-1)(.25)
50=a1+(7)(.25)
50=a1+1.75
48.25=a1
* Now, use an=a1+(n-1)d to find the rule.
an=48.25+(n-1)(.25)
an=48.25+.25n-.25

12/14/24 an=48+.25n 11
Questions
1. The sixth term of an arithmetic
sequence is a6=75. The common difference
is 15. Find a16.

2. Find the 36th term of the sequence

whose 3rd term is 7 & 8th term is 17.

3. The seventh term of an arithmetic

sequence is a7=25. The common difference
is 4. Write a rule for the nth term. Also
find a12
12/14/24 12
 Rules for an Arithmetic
Sequence
Rule for finding the arithmetic mean

a+b
A.M =
2

First given term Second given term

12/14/24 13
 Arithmetic mean
The terms between any two nonconsecutive
terms in an
arithmetic sequence are called arithmetic
means. it is
represented by A.M or in short A.
let a and b are any two terms of an arithmetic
sequence
then
an arithmetic mean between them are given
by the a b
A.M 
Following formula 2
12/14/24 14
Example
Find the arithmetic mean
between 24 and 92
Here a = 24 and b = 92
So…
a+b 24+92 116
A.M = = = =58
2 2 2

12/14/24 15
 Arithmetic Mean( More than
one)
Example: Find the three arithmetic means
between 10 and -30.
Let A1,A2 and A3
10, A1, A2, A3, -30
Comparing with standard form of
arithmetic sequence.
a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 , a5
a1=10 and a5=-30

12/14/24 16
• Using formula for the general term of an
arithmetic sequence
• an = a1 + ( n – 1 )d
• a5 = 10 + ( 5– 1 )d
• -30 = 10 + 4d
• 4d = -40
• d = -10
• A1 = a2= a1 + d(2-1) = 10 – 10 = 0
• A2 = a3= a1 + 2d = 10 – 2(10) = 10 – 20 =
-10 and
• A3 = a4= a1 + 3d = 10 – 3(10) = 10 – 30 =
-20
• So The three arithmetic means are:
• 12/14/24
0, -10, -20 17
Examples
1. Find the three arithmetic means

between 6 and 22.

2. Find the three arithmetic means

between -6 and 2.

3. Find the three arithmetic means

between
12/14/24 -6 and 14. 18
 Rule for finding the sum
of Arithmetic Series
.

1st Last
Term Term

 a1  an 
S n n 
 2 

# of
12/14/24
terms 19
 Arithmetic Series
• The sum of the
terms in an
arithmetic 1st Last
sequence Term Term

• The formula to
 a1  an 
find the sum of a S n n 
finite arithmetic  2 
series is:
# of
12/14/24
terms 20
• Prove that

 a1+an  n
Sn =n  = 2a1+(n-1
)d
 2  2

12/14/24 21
Example: Consider the arithmetic series
20+18+16+14+…
•
.
Find the sum of the 1st 25 terms.
• First find the rule for the nth term.
• Is this sequence arithmetic?
• Yes ! The common difference is -2 So
• an=a25 = 20 + ( 25 – 1 )(-2) = 20 – 48 =-28
• So, an = a25 = -28 (last term)
• Now using our formula
 a1  an 
S n n 
 2 
12/14/24 22
• Putting the values:
20   28
S 25 25( )
2

• Or

S 25  100

12/14/24 23
Questions
Q1. Consider the arithmetic series
2+8+14+20+26+… .
Calculate the sum of first 38 terms
Q2. Consider the arithmetic series
(-12)+(-8)+(-
4)+0+4+8+12… .
Find the sum of first 28 terms.
Q3. Consider the arithmetic series
2+6+10+14+18+22+
….
12/14/24 24
 Question
• Is there any other way to calculate the
result?
• If yes then find the result and check
whether
First find n using thethe results
formula for generalare
term same or not?
of an arithmetic sequence

n
S n  2a  ( n  1) d 
2
12/14/24 25
THE GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

12/14/24 26
 Geometric Sequence
• The sequence in which the next
term is obtained by multiplying or
dividing a number k with the
previous term. The RATIO between
consecutive terms is constant (or
the same).
• The constant RATIO is also known
as the COMMON RATIO (r).
12/14/24 27
Example: Decide whether each
sequence is geometric?
• 20,30,40,55…… • 5,10,20,40,80,…
• 30/20=3/2 • 10/5 = 2
• 40/30=4/3 • 20/10=2
• 55/40=11/8 • 40/20=2
Not geometric • 80/40=2
(because
the common ratio Geometric (common
is not ratio is 2)
same)
12/14/24 28
 Rules for Geometric
Sequence

Rule for finding the general

term
Common ratio
an = a1 .r n - 1
nth term 1st term Total number of terms
12/14/24 29
 Example: Write a rule for the
nth term of the sequence
32, 16, 8, 4,… . Then, find a12.
• The r is a common ratio where r = 1/2,
therefore the sequence is arithmetic.
• Use an=a1.rn-1
an=32.(1/2)12-1
a12=32.1/2048
a12=1/64
a12 = 1/64
12/14/24 30
 Example: One term of a geometric
sequence is a8=50. The common ratio
is 1/2. Write a rule for the nth term.
• Use an = a1.rn-1 to find the 1st term!
a8 = a1.(1/2)7
50 = a1.1/128
50*128 = a1
6400=a1
* Now, use an= a1.rn-1 to find the
results.
an = 6400.(1/2)n-1
12/14/24
an = 6400.(1/2)n-1 31
Questions
1. Consider 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, …
Find the 8th term of this
sequence.

2. Consider 1, 4, 16, 64, 256, …

Find the 12th term of this
sequence.
12/14/24 32
 Geometric mean
The terms between any two nonconsecutive
terms in a
geometric sequence are called geometric
means. it is
represented by G.M or in short only G
let a and b are any two terms of a
geometric sequence then a
geometric mean between them is given by
the followingG.M  a.b
Formula..
12/14/24 33
 Example
• Find the geometric mean
between 4 and 16
• Here a = 4 and b = 16
• So,
G.Μ= a.b= 4.16= 64=8

12/14/24 34
 Geometric Mean( More than
one)
Example: Find the three geometric means
between 4 and 64.
Let G1,G2 and G3 are the geometric means
between 4 and 64
then
4, G1, G2, G3, 64
Comparing with standard form of geometric
sequence.
a1, a2, a3, a4, a5
a1=4 and a5=64
12/14/24 35
Using formula for the general term of a
geometric sequence
•an = a1.r n – 1
•a5 = 4.r5-1
•64 = 4.r4
•r4 = 16
•r = 2
•G1 = a2 = a1 . r = 4.2 = 8
•G2 = a3= a1 .r2 = 4.4 = 16 and
•G3 = a4= a1. r3 = 4.8 = 32
•So The three arithmetic means are:
•8, 16 , 32
12/14/24 36
 Questions
Q1. Find the three Geometric
means between 2 and 128.

Q2. Find the three Geometric

means between 4 and 324.

12/14/24 37
 Geometric Series
• The sum of the Common ratio
1st Term Number of terms
terms in a
geometric  1 rn 
S n a1  
sequence  1  r  r <1

Common ratio
1 Term
st
Number of terms
• The formula to
 rn  1
find the sum of a S n a1  
finite geometric  r1  r >1

series is
12/14/24 38
Example: Consider the geometric
series 4+8+16+32+64+… .
• Find the sum of the 1st 6 terms.
• First find the rule for the nth term.
• Is this sequence geometric?
• Yes ! The common ratio is 2 So
• Now using our formula  r n - 1
Sn =a 
 r -1 

12/14/24 39
• Putting the
values: 6
 2 -1
S6 =4  =4(64-1)=4(63)=252
 2-1

• Or

S6 =252

12/14/24 40
Questions
Q1. if 2+6+18+54+…..
Find the sum of first 8
terms.

Q1. if 68+34+17+17/2+…..
Find the sum of first 9
terms.
12/14/24 41
THE HARMONIC SEQUENCE

12/14/24 42
 Harmonic sequence
It is a sequence of terms whose
reciprocals form an arithmetic
sequence.
Example:
1, ½,1/3,1/4,1/5…

12/14/24 43
 Rules for harmonic
sequence
Rule for finding the general
term

•Find the reciprocal of all the

terms and then apply the formula
for general term already been
used for arithmetic sequence
12/14/24 44
 Rules for an Harmonic
Sequence

Rule for finding the general

term
reciprocal of all the terms an
Common difference
an = a1 + (n - 1) d
nth term 1st term Total number of terms
12/14/24 45
 Example: Write a rule for the
nth term of the sequence
1, ½, 1/3,… . Then, find a12.
• 1, 2, 3………in arithmetic d=2-1=1,
• Use an=a1+(n-1)d
a12=1+(12-1)(1)
a12=12

a12=12…………………..in arithmetic
a12=1/12…………………..in Harmonic
12/14/24 46
Questions
1. Given is
1/8,1/12,1/16,1/20,1/24,… Find the
10th term of the sequence.

2. If 1/5,1/10,1/15,1/20,1/25,… is
a harmonic sequence then Find
the 15th term of the sequence.

12/14/24 47
 Rules for an Harmonic
Sequence
Rule for finding the Harmonic
mean
2ab
H .M 
a b

First given term Second given term

12/14/24 48
 Harmonic mean
The terms between any two
nonconsecutive terms in a
Harmonic sequence are called
harmonic means. it is
represented by H.M or in short only H.
let a and b are any two terms of an
harmonic sequence then an
harmonic mean between2ab them can be
given by the M
H .following formula
a b
12/14/24 49
 Example
• Find the harmonic mean
between 4 and 16
• Here a = 4 and b = 16
• so
2ab 2.4.16 128 32
H .M    
a  b 4  16 20 5

12/14/24 50
 Rules for harmonic
sequence
• Rule for finding the sum of
series

• Find the reciprocal of all the

terms and then apply the
formula for arithmetic sequence
for summation already been
used for arithmetic sequence
12/14/24 51
 Rules for harmonic
Sequence
Rule for finding the summation
of Harmonic sequence
ind the reciprocal of all the terms and us
n
Sn  2 )d
a1 (n 1
2

Common difference

No of terms 1st term number of terms

12/14/24 52
Example: Write a rule for the nth term of
the sequence
1, 1/2, 1/3… . Then, find S12.
• 1, 2, 3………in arithmetic
• d=2-1=1 and n = 12
• Use n
Sn = 2a+(n-1)d
2
12
S12  2(1)  (12  1)(1) 
2
S12=6(2+11)=6(13)= 78 …………in Arithmetic

S12 = 1/78 …………in Harmonic

12/14/24 53
 Questions
Q1. Consider the Harmonic series

1/2+1/6+1/10+1/14+1/18+1/22+….
Find the sum of first 32 terms.
Q2. Consider the Harmonic series

1/2+1/8+1/14+1/20+1/26+… .
Calculate the sum of first 38
terms
12/14/24 54
 ACTIVITY

Prove the following

2
G =AH

12/14/24 55
.M > G.M > H.M
Let…
a=16 b=4
.M=(a+b)/2=20/2=10

G.M=√ab=
H.M=2ab/(a+b)=2*16*4/(16+4)=128/2
√16*4=8

12/14/24 56