Introduction to Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences

Contributed by:
Sharp Tutor
This presentation provides an introduction to arithmetic and geometric progression and the formulas related to the sequences.
1. Chapter 11
Investigating Sequences
and Series
2. Section 11-1
3. Arithmetic Sequences
Every day a radio station asks
a question for a prize of
$150. If the 5th caller
does not answer correctly,
the prize money increased
by $150 each day until
someone correctly answers
their question.
4. Arithmetic Sequences
Make a list of the prize
amounts for a week
(Mon - Fri) if the contest
starts on Monday and no one
answers correctly all week.
5. Arithmetic Sequences
• Monday : $150
• Tuesday: $300
• Wednesday: $450
• Thursday: $600
• Friday: $750
6. Arithmetic Sequences
• These prize amounts form a
sequence, more specifically
each amount is a term in an
arithmetic sequence. To
find the next term we just
add $150.
7. Definitions
• Sequence: a list of numbers
in a specific order.
• Term: each number in a
sequence
8. Definitions
• Arithmetic Sequence: a
sequence in which each term
after the first term is
found by adding a constant,
called the common
difference (d), to the
previous term.
9. Explanations
• 150, 300, 450, 600, 750…
• The first term of our
sequence is 150, we denote
the first term as a1.
• What is a2?
• a2 : 300 (a2 represents the
2nd term in our sequence)
10. Explanations
• a3 = ? a4 = ? a5 = ?
• a3 : 450 a4 : 600 a5 :
750
• an represents a general term
(nth term) where n can be
any number.
11. Explanations
• Sequences can continue
forever. We can calculate as
many terms as we want as
long as we know the common
difference in the sequence.
12. Explanations
• Find the next three terms in
the sequence:
2, 5, 8, 11, 14, __, __, __
• 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23
• The common difference is?
• 3!!!
13. Explanations
• To find the common
difference (d), just subtract
any term from the term that
follows it.
• FYI: Common differences
can be negative.
14. Formula
• What if I wanted to find the
50th (a50) term of the
sequence 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, …?
Do I really want to add 3
continually until I get there?
• There is a formula for
finding the nth term.
15. Formula
• Let’s see if we can figure
the formula out on our own.
• a1 = 2, to get a2 I just add 3
once. To get a3 I add 3 to a1
twice. To get a4 I add 3 to
a1 three times.
16. Formula
• What is the relationship
between the term we are
finding and the number of
times I have to add d?
• The number of times I had
to add is one less then the
term I am looking for.
17. Formula
• So if I wanted to find a50
then how many times would I
have to add 3?
• 49
• If I wanted to find a193 how
many times would I add 3?
• 192
18. Formula
• So to find a50 I need to take
d, which is 3, and add it to
my a1, which is 2, 49 times.
That’s a lot of adding.
• But if we think back to
elementary school, repetitive
adding is just multiplication.
19. Formula
• 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15
• We added five terms of
three, that is the same as
multiplying 5 and 3.
• So to add three forty-nine
times we just multiply 3 and
49.
20. Formula
• So back to our formula, to
find a50 we start with 2 (a1)
and add 3•49. (3 is d and 49
is one less than the term we
are looking for) So…
• a50 = 2 + 3(49) = 149
21. Formula
• a50 = 2 + 3(49) using this
formula we can create a
general formula.
• a50 will become an so we can
use it for any term.
• 2 is our a1 and 3 is our d.
22. Formula
• a50 = 2 + 3(49)
• 49 is one less than the term
we are looking for. So if I
am using n as the term I am
looking for, I multiply d by
n - 1.
23. Formula
• Thus my formula for finding
any term in an arithmetic
sequence is an = a1 + d(n-1).
• All you need to know to find
any term is the first term in
the sequence (a1) and the
common difference.
24. Example
• Let’s go back to our first
example about the radio
contest. Suppose no one
correctly answered the
question for 15 days. What
would the prize be on day
16?
25. Example
• an = a1 + d(n-1)
• We want to find a16. What is
a1? What is d? What is n-1?
• a1 = 150, d = 150,
n -1 = 16 - 1 = 15
• So a16 = 150 + 150(15) =
• $2400
26. Example
• 17, 10, 3, -4, -11, -18, …
• What is the common
difference?
• Subtract any term from the
term after it.
• -4 - 3 = -7
•d = - 7
27. Definition
• 17, 10, 3, -4, -11, -18, …
• Arithmetic Means: the
terms between any two
nonconsecutive terms of an
arithmetic sequence.
28. Arithmetic Means
• 17, 10, 3, -4, -11, -18, …
• Between 10 and -18 there
are three arithmetic means
3, -4, -11.
• Find three arithmetic means
between 8 and 14.
29. Arithmetic Means
• So our sequence must look
like 8, __, __, __, 14.
• In order to find the means
we need to know the common
difference. We can use our
formula to find it.
30. Arithmetic Means
• 8, __, __, __, 14
• a1 = 8, a5 = 14, & n = 5
• 14 = 8 + d(5 - 1)
• 14 = 8 + d(4) subtract 8
• 6 = 4d divide by 4
• 1.5 = d
31. Arithmetic Means
• 8, __, __, __, 14 so to find
our means we just add 1.5
starting with 8.
• 8, 9.5, 11, 12.5, 14
32. Additional Example
• 72 is the __ term of the
sequence -5, 2, 9, …
• We need to find ‘n’ which is
the term number.
• 72 is an, -5 is a1, and 7 is d.
Plug it in.
33. Additional Example
• 72 = -5 + 7(n - 1)
• 72 = -5 + 7n - 7
• 72 = -12 + 7n
• 84 = 7n
• n = 12
• 72 is the 12th term.
34. Section 11-2
Series
35. Arithmetic Series
• The African-American
celebration of Kwanzaa
involves the lighting of
candles every night for
seven nights. The first night
one candle is lit and blown
out.
36. Arithmetic Series
• The second night a new
candle and the candle from
the first night are lit and
blown out. The third night a
new candle and the two
candles from the second
night are lit and blown out.
37. Arithmetic Series
• This process continues for
the seven nights.
• We want to know the total
number of lightings during
the seven nights of
celebration.
38. Arithmetic Series
• The first night one candle
was lit, the 2nd night two
candles were lit, the 3rd
night 3 candles were lit, etc.
• So to find the total number
of lightings we would add:
1+2+3+4+5+6+7
39. Arithmetic Series
• 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 28
• Series: the sum of the terms
in a sequence.
• Arithmetic Series: the sum
of the terms in an
arithmetic sequence.
40. Arithmetic Series
• Arithmetic sequence:
2, 4, 6, 8, 10
• Corresponding arith. series:
2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10
• Arith. Sequence: -8, -3, 2, 7
• Arith. Series: -8 + -3 + 2 + 7
41. Arithmetic Series
• Sn is the symbol used to
represent the first ‘n’ terms
of a series.
• Given the sequence 1, 11, 21,
31, 41, 51, 61, 71, … find S4
• We add the first four terms
1 + 11 + 21 + 31 = 64
42. Arithmetic Series
• Find S8 of the arithmetic
sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, …
•1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 =
• 36
43. Arithmetic Series
• What if we wanted to find
S100 for the sequence in the
last example. It would be a
pain to have to list all the
terms and try to add them
up.
• Let’s figure out a formula!! :)
44. Sum of Arithmetic Series
• Let’s find S7 of the sequence
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, …
• If we add S7 in too different
orders we get:
S7 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7
S7 = 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1
2S7 = 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8
45. Sum of Arithmetic Series
S7 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7
S7 = 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1
2S7 = 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8
2S7 = 7(8) 7 sums of 8
S7 =7/2(8)
46. Sum of Arithmetic Series
• S7 =7/2(8)
• What do these numbers
mean?
• 7 is n, 8 is the sum of the
first and last term (a1 + an)
• So Sn = n/2(a1 + an)
47. Examples
• Sn = n/2(a1 + an)
• Find the sum of the first 10
terms of the arithmetic
series with a1 = 6 and a10 =51
• S10 = 10/2(6 + 51) = 5(57) =
285
48. Examples
• Find the sum of the first 50
terms of an arithmetic
series with a1 = 28 and d = -4
• We need to know n, a1, and
a50.
• n= 50, a1 = 28, a50 = ?? We
have to find it.
49. Examples
• a50 = 28 + -4(50 - 1) =
28 + -4(49) = 28 + -196 =
-168
• So n = 50, a1 = 28, & an =-168
• S50 = (50/2)(28 + -168) =
25(-140) = -3500
50. Examples
• To write out a series and
compute a sum can
sometimes be very tedious.
Mathematicians often use
the greek letter sigma &
summation notation to
simplify this task.
51. Examples
last value of n
formula used to
5 find sequence
 n  1
n 1 First value of n
• This means to find the sum
of the sums n + 1 where we
plug in the values 1 - 5 for n
52. Examples
5
! n+1
n=1
• Basically we want to find
(1 + 1) + (2 + 1) + (3 + 1) +
(4 + 1) + (5 + 1) =
•2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 =
• 20
53. Examples
• So
5
 n 1 20
n 1
7
• Try:  3x  2
x 2
• First we need to plug in the
numbers 2 to 7 for x.
54. 7
Examples
 3x  2
x 2
• [3(2)-2]+[3(3)-2]+[3(4)-2]+
[3(5)-2]+[3(6)-2]+[3(7)-2] =
• (6-2)+(9-2)+(12-2)+(15-2)+
(18-2)+ (21-2) =
• 4 + 7 + 10 + 13 + 17 + 19 = 70
55. Section 11-3
56. GeometricSequence
• What if your pay check
started at $100 a week and
doubled every week. What
would your salary be after
four weeks?
57. GeometricSequence
• Starting $100.
• After one week - $200
• After two weeks - $400
• After three weeks - $800
• After four weeks - $1600.
• These values form a
geometric sequence.
58. Geometric Sequence
• Geometric Sequence: a
sequence in which each term
after the first is found by
multiplying the previous term
by a constant value called
the common ratio.
59. Geometric Sequence
• Find the first five terms of
the geometric sequence with
a1 = -3 and common ratio (r)
of 5.
• -3, -15, -75, -375, -1875
60. Geometric Sequence
• Find the common ratio of the
sequence 2, -4, 8, -16, 32, …
• To find the common ratio,
divide any term by the
previous term.
• 8 ÷ -4 = -2
• r = -2
61. Geometric Sequence
• Just like arithmetic
sequences, there is a
formula for finding any given
term in a geometric
sequence. Let’s figure it out
using the pay check example.
62. Geometric Sequence
• To find the 5th term we look
100 and multiplied it by two
four times.
• Repeated multiplication is
represented using
exponents.
63. Geometric Sequence
• Basically we will take $100
and multiply it by 24
• a5 = 100•24 = 1600
• A5 is the term we are looking
for, 100 was our a1, 2 is our
common ratio, and 4 is n-1.
64. Examples
• Thus our formula for finding
any term of a geometric
sequence is an = a1•rn-1
• Find the 10th term of the
geometric sequence with a1 =
2000 and a common ratio of
1/ .
2
65. Examples
• a10 = 2000• (1/2)9 =
• 2000 • 1/512 =
• 2000/512 = 500/128 = 250/64 = 125/32
• Find the next two terms in
the sequence -64, -16, -4 ...
66. Examples
• -64, -16, -4, __, __
• We need to find the common
ratio so we divide any term
by the previous term.
• -16/-64 = 1/4
• So we multiply by 1/4 to find
the next two terms.
67. Examples
• -64, -16, -4, -1, -1/4
68. Geometric Means
• Just like with arithmetic
sequences, the missing terms
between two nonconsecutive
terms in a geometric
sequence are called
geometric means.
69. Geometric Means
• Looking at the geometric
sequence 3, 12, 48, 192, 768
the geometric means
between 3 and 768 are 12,
48, and 192.
• Find two geometric means
between -5 and 625.
70. Geometric Means
• -5, __, __, 625
• We need to know the
common ratio. Since we only
know nonconsecutive terms
we will have to use the
formula and work backwards.
71. Geometric Means
• -5, __, __, 625
• 625 is a4, -5 is a1.
• 625 = -5•r4-1 divide by -5
• -125 = r3 take the cube
root of both sides
• -5 = r
72. Geometric Means
• -5, __, __, 625
• Now we just need to multiply
by -5 to find the means.
• -5 • -5 = 25
• -5, 25, __, 625
• 25 • -5 = -125
• -5, 25, -125, 625
73. Section 11-4
Series
74. Geometric Series
• Geometric Series - the sum
of the terms of a geometric
sequence.
• Geo. Sequence: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81
• Geo. Series: 1+3 + 9 + 27 + 81
• What is the sum of the
geometric series?
75. Geometric Series
• 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 + 81 = 121
• The formula for the sum Sn
of the first n terms of a
geometric series is given by
a1- a1r n
a1(1- r )n
Sn= or Sn=
1- r 1- r
76. Geometric Series
4
• Find ! - 3(2)n- 1
n=1
• You can actually do it two
ways. Let’s use the old way.
• Plug in the numbers 1 - 4 for
n and add.
• [-3(2)1-1]+[-3(2)2-1]+[-3(2)3-1]+
[-3(2)4-1]
77. Geometric Series
• [-3(1)] + [-3(2)] + [-3(4)] +
[-3(8)] =
• -3 + -6 + -12 + -24 = -45
• The other method is to use
the sum of geometric series
formula.
78. 4 Geometric Series
•   3(2) n  1 use S =a1(1- r )
n
x 1
n
1- r
• a1 = -3, r = 2, n = 4
79. 4 Geometric Series
a1(1- r )
n
• - 3(2) use Sn=
n- 1
1- r
• a1 = -3, r = 2, n = 4
- 3(1- 2 ) 4
S4= 1- 2
80. Geometric Series
• - 3(1- 2 )
4
S4= 1- 2
- 3(1- 16)
S4=
-1
- 3(- 15) 45
S4= = =- 45
-1 -1