PROGRESSIONS
Content
✓ Sequence
✓ Series
✓ Progressions
✓ Arithmetic Progression
✓ Geometric Progression
Sequence
A list of numbers having specific relation between the consecutive terms is generally called a
sequence.
u1, u2, u3, ......, un
Ex: 1, 3, 5, 7, ....................
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ………….
Series
A series is a sum of the terms (u) in a sequence. If there are n terms in the sequence and we
evaluate the sum then we often write Sn for the result, so that,
Sn = u1 + u2 + u3 + ...... + un
Ex:
1, 3, 5, 7, ....................
S2 = 1 + 3 = 4
Progressions
A Progression is a set of numbers which shows a certain pattern. A Progression may or may
not terminate at some point.
We will consider two types of progressions called Arithmetic and Geometric progressions.
Arithmetic Progression (AP)
An arithmetic progression is a sequence whose terms increase or decrease by a constant number
called the common difference. When we consider two consecutive terms in a sequence and
subtract the term on the left from the term on the right, then if the result is the same for any
consecutive pair, the sequence is called an Arithmetic Progression.
Ex:
4, 7, 10, 13, .................
In above sequence common difference = 7 – 4 = 3
10 – 7 = 3
13 – 10 =
Page 1 of 5
What is the common difference of the below sequence?
8, 5, 2, -1, -4, …………..
Standard form of an Arithmetic Progression
If the first term is denoted by a and common difference is denoted by d, then we get the
standard form of the AP as,
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, ..........
In this 1st term = a
2nd term = a + d
3rd term = a + 2d
⸫ nth term = a + (n - 1) d
=d=1
a a+d a + 2d a + 3d
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Find the first 4 terms and the 17th term of the AP with first term 8 and common difference 5.
Sum of the first n terms of an AP
Consider the AP
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, ..........
If the sum of the first n terms is denoted by Sn we get
Sn = a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + (a + 3d) + ............ + (a + (n – 1) d)
The sum of n terms we find as,
n
Sn = {2a + (n – 1) d}
2
Ex:
Find the sum of 30 terms of given AP.
12, 20, 28, 36, ................
Solution,
a = 12
d = 20-12 = 8
n
Sn = {2a + (n – 1) d}
2
30
= {2 * 12 + (30 – 1) 8}
2
= 15 (24 + 29 * 8)
= 15 (24 + 232)
= 15 (256)
= 3,840
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Find the sum of 50 terms of given AP.
1, 3, 5, 7, ................
Geometric Progression (GP)
Geometric progression is a sequence whose terms increases or decreases by a constant ratio
called the common ratio.
Ex:
2, 4, 8, 16, ..........
4 8 16
In above sequence, common ratio = = = =2
2 4 8
Standard form of a Geometric Progression
If the first term is denoted by a and the common ratio is denoted by r, then we get the standard
form of the GP as,
a, ar, ar2, ar3, ............
In this 1st term = a
2nd term = ar
3rd term = ar2
⸫ nth term = ar (n – 1)
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Sum of the first n terms of an GP
Consider the GP
a, ar, ar2, ar3, ............
If the sum of the first n terms is denoted by Sn we get
Sn = a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ............ + arn-1
The sum of n terms we find as,
𝒂 ( 𝒓𝒏 −𝟏)
Sn = ; when r > 1
𝒓−𝟏
𝒂 ( 𝟏−𝒓𝒏 )
Sn = ; when r < 1
𝟏−𝒓
Note: Sum of infinite terms,
𝒂
S∞ = ; when | r | < 1
(𝟏−𝒓)
Ex:
For the series 2, 6, 18, 54, ............
I. Find the 10th term.
II. The sum of first 8 terms.
Solution:
a=2
r=3
I. 10th term = 2*3 (10 – 1)
= 2 * 39
= 39,366
2 ( 38 −1)
II. S8 =
3−1
= 6,560
END OF THE LESSON
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