Sequence and Series 2

Sequences and Series
Introduction
The word sequence as used in ordinary English mean
“one after another”. A set of events occurs in a sequence
if event one occurs, then the next, then next and so on. A
sequence of numbers is a set of numbers with specific
order. For example
1 , 2/3 , 3/4 , 4/5 and 2, 5, 6, -1
are examples of sequences. In order for a sequence to be

uniquely determined, it is necessary that there be one rule
that determines the nth term of the sequence.
Arithmetic Sequence
Definition: An arithmetic sequence is a sequence for

which any element, except the first, can be obtained by
adding a constant to the preceding element. The constant
addend is called the common difference and is denoted
by d.
Arithmetic Sequence
Theorem: The nth element of an arithmetic sequence is
given by
an  a1  (n  1)d
where an = the nth element ,

a1 = the 1st element,
r = the common difference
Arithmetic Sequence
Theorem: In an arithmetic sequence,
an 1  an  an  an 1
Arithmetic Sequence
Example: Find the first element of an arithmetic sequence
whose common difference is -5 and whose eighteenth
element is -21 .
Solution:
an  a1  ( n  1)d
 21  a1  (18  1)( 5)

a1  64
Arithmetic Series
Definition: An arithmetic series is the sum of finite

elements of an arithmetic sequence.
Arithmetic Sequence
Theorem: If a1 , a2 , a3 ,  , an is an arithmetic sequence
with common difference d, and

S n  a1  a2  a3    an
then
n
S n  (a1  an )
2
and
n
S n   2a1  (n  1)d 
2
Arithmetic Sequence/Series
Example: It is desired to pile some logs in layers so that the
top layer contains one log, the next layer contains two
logs, the next layer contains three logs, and so on; each
layer containing one more log than the layer on top of it.
There are 190 logs. Can all the logs be used in such a
grouping, and if so, how many logs are in the bottom
row?
Solution: S n  1  2  3  4  ...
a1  1 d 1 n  unknown
n
S n   2a1  (n  1)d 
2
n
190   2(1)  (n  1)(1)
2
n 2  n  380  0
( n  19)( n  20)  0
n  19 n  20
Arithmetic Sequence/Series
Example: Find the sum of all proper fractions (not
necessarily in lowest terms) whose denominators are less
than or equal to 100.
Solution:
1 1 2 1 2 3 99
Sum         
2 3 3 4 4 4 100
Solution:
1 3 1
1 1 , 1 , , 2 ,  , 49
 2 2 2
2 2
This is an arithmetic sequence with
1 2
 1 1 1
3 3 a1  d n  99
2 2
1 2 3 6 3
    99   1   1 
4 4 4 4 2 Sn   2   (99  1) 
2  2  2 
1 2 3 4 10
    2 99
5 5 5 5 5 S n  1  49
2
S n  2475
1 2 99 99 1
    49
100 100 100 2 2
Geometric Sequence
Definition: A geometric sequence is a sequence such that

any element after the first can be obtained by multiplying
the preceding element by a constant. The constant
multiplier is called the common ratio and is denoted by r.
Geometric Sequence
Theorem: The nth element of a geometric sequence is given
by
an  a1r n 1
where an = the nth element ,

a1 = the 1st element,
r = the common ratio
Geometric Sequence
Theorem: In a geometric sequence,
an 1 an

an an 1
Geometric Sequence
Example: What number must be added to 2, 3, and 5 in
order that the resulting numbers form a geometric
sequence?
Solution: Let x = number
This gives us a new sequence
2 x , 3 x , 5 x
Solution:
2 x , 3 x , 5 x forms a geometric sequence. Thus,
5 x 3 x  2  x  5  x    3  x  2

3 x 2 x
x  7 x  10  x  6 x  9
2 2
x  1
The new sequence formed is 1 , 2 , 4 which is a
geometric sequence.
Geometric Sequence
Example: Find a sequence of four numbers, the first of
which is 6 and the fourth of which is 16, such that the first
3 numbers form an arithmetic sequence and the last three
form a geometric sequence.
Solution:
6 x y 16
Since the first three is an A.S., then x6  y x

Since the last three is a G.S., then 16 y

y x
Solution:
x6  y x y  2x  6 (Equation 1)
16 y
 y 2  16 x (Equation 2)
y x
Substituting Equation 1 to Equation 2, we get
 2 x  6 2
 16 x ( x  1)( x  9)  0
If x = 1: The sequence is 6 , 1 , -4 , 16
If x = 9: The sequence is 6 , 9 , 12 , 16
Finite Geometric Series
Definition: A finite geometric series is the sum of finite

elements of a geometric sequence.
Finite Geometric Series
Theorem: If a1 , a2 , a3 ,  , an is an arithmetic sequence
with common ratio r, and

S n  a1  a2  a3    an
then
a1 1  r n 
Sn  if r 1
1 r
and
a1  ran
Sn  if r 1
1 r
Infinite Geometric Series
Definition: An infinite geometric series is the sum of

infinite elements of a geometric sequence.
Infinite Geometric Series
Theorem: The sum S of an infinite geometric sequence, for
which , r  1 is given by
a1
S
1 r
Geometric Series
Example: A race horse takes 1 minute to go to the first half
mile of a 1-mile race. For the next one-fourth mile, it takes
2/5 minutes; for the next 1/8 mile, it takes 4/25 minutes
and so on. How long will it take the horse to finish the
race?
2 4
Solution: 1 min. min. min.
5 25
2 4 1 5
We have 1     S  minutes
5 25 1 2 3
5
Geometric Series
Example: The floor of a room is in the shape of a square
ABCD, with each side of length 12 feet. A bug at point A
crawls on the floor in the following pattern: First the bug
crawls from A to B, then turns 90 degrees counter clockwise
and crawls in a line 1/2 of the distance it had traveled in the
previous step. The bug relocates to a new location, again
turns 90 degrees counter clockwise and crawls in a line 1/2
of the distance it had traveled in the previous step. If the
bug continues this pattern, estimate the position of the bug
in the long run?
 3  3
Horizontal Displacement = 1 2  ( 3)       
 4   16 
Vertical Displacement = 6  
3  3  3
   
 2   8   32 
d
 3  3
Horizontal Displacement = 1 2  (3)       
 4   16 
12 48


1  1
4
 
5
= 6  
3  3  3
Vertical Displacement    
 2   8   32 
6 24
 

1  1
4
 5
Bug Crawl Revisited:
2
 48   24 
2
482  24 2
d      
 5   5  52
24
 5
5
d
24
5
48
5

Sequence and Series 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sequence and Series 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sequence and Series 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sequences and Series

1 , 2/3 , 3/4 , 4/5 and 2, 5, 6, -1

are examples of sequences. In order for a sequence to be

Definition: An arithmetic sequence is a sequence for

where an = the nth element ,

Theorem: In an arithmetic sequence,

 21  a1  (18  1)( 5)

Definition: An arithmetic series is the sum of finite

with common difference d, and

Definition: A geometric sequence is a sequence such that

where an = the nth element ,

Theorem: In a geometric sequence,

This gives us a new sequence

Since the first three is an A.S., then x6  y x

Definition: A finite geometric series is the sum of finite

with common ratio r, and

Definition: An infinite geometric series is the sum of

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.