Tutorial on sequences and summations.
A - Arithmetic Sequences
An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers that is obtained by adding a constant number to the preceding number. The constant number is called the common difference.
Example 1:
0,6, 12, 18, 24, ... each term of the sequence is obtained by adding 6 to the preceding term.
If a1 is the first term and d is the common difference, the nth term an is given by
an = a1 + (n - 1)d
The sum Sn of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence is given by
Sn = (n/2)(a1 + an) = (n/2)[2 a1 + (n - 1)d]
Examples with Detailed Solutions
Example 2:
Which term of the arithmetic sequence 2, 5, 8... is equal to 227?
Solution to Example 2:
The first term a1 is 2 and the common difference is equal to: 5 - 2 = 8 - 5 = 3
Hence using the formula for the nth term, an = a1 + (n - 1)d to the term equal to 227, we can write the equation:
227 = 2 + (n - 1)3
Solve the above for n
n - 1 = (227 - 2) / 3 = 75 and n = 76
The 76th term is equal to 227.
Example 3:
How many consecutive odd integers of an arithmetic sequence, starting from 9, must be added in order to obtain a sum of 15,860?
Solution to Example 3:
The first term a1 = 9 and d = 2 (the difference between any two consecutive odd integers). Hence the sum Sn of the n terms may be written as follows
Sn = (n/2)[2*a1 + (n - 1)d] = 15,960
With a1 = 9 and d=2, the above equation in n may be written as follows
n2 + 8 n - 15860 = 0
Solve the above for n
n = 122 and n = -130
The solution to the problem is that 122 consecutive odd numbers must be added in order to obtain a sum of 15,860.
Example 4:
What are the first 3 terms of an arithmetic sequence whose sum of the first n terms is equal to 2 n2 + 5 n?
Solution to Example 4:
The sum Sn of the first n terms is given by Sn = 2 n2 + 5 n. The sum of the first n-1 terms is given by Sn-1 = 2(n-1)2 + 5(n-1). The difference between Sn and Sn-1 gives the nth term. Hence
an = Sn - Sn-1 = 2 n2 + 5 n - 2(n-1)2 - 5(n-1) = 2 n2 + 5 n - 2 n2 + 4 n - 2 - 5 n + 5
Which after simplification gives an = = 4 n + 3
We now use the formula for an to find the first 3 terms a1, a2 and a3.
a1 = 4(1)+3 = 7 , a2= 4(2)+3 = 11 and a3 = 4(3)+3 = 15.
Example 5:
The sum of three consecutive numbers in an arithmetic sequence is equal 27 and their product is equal to 585. What are the three numbers?
Solution to Example 5:
Let the three numbers be x, x+d and x+3d where d is the common difference. Their sum is 27. Hence
x + (x+d) + (x+2d) = 27
Which gives 3x + 3d = 27 or x + d = 9
Their product is equal to 585. Hence
x(x+d)(x+2d) = 585
The equation x + d = 9 may be written as x = 9 - d
Substitute x by 9 - d in the equation x(x+d)(x+2d) = 585 to obtain
(9-d)(9)(9+d) = 585
Simplify to obtain
92 - d2 = 65
which gives d2 = 16
Solve to obtain d = 4 or d = -4
Use x = 9 - d to obtain x = 5 for d = 4 and x = 13 for d = -4
There are two solutions to the given problem
1) d = 4 and the three terms are: 5, 9 and 13
2) d = -4 and the three terms are: 13, 9 and 5
Example 6:
The first three terms of an arithmetic sequence are as follows: x , 5 x/4 , 9/2. Find the first term x and the common difference d.
Solution to Example 6:
The common difference d is given by:
d = 5 x/4 - x = 9/2 - 5 x/4
Which gives 5 x/4 - x = 9/2 - 5 x/4
Solve the above equation for x
Common denominator: 5x/4 - 4x/4 = 18/2 - 5x/4
The equation: 6x = 18 and x = 3
d = 5 x / 4 - x = 15/4 - 3 = 3/4