Sequences and Series

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
• Identify and define a sequence, a series, AP and GP
• Distinguish between a sequence and a series; AP and GP
• Determine the nth term of an AP and GP
• Determine the sum of nth terms of AP and GP
• Carry out operations involving AP and GP
• Appreciate the concepts of series and sequences and solve problems in real life
situation
Introduction
i) A Sequence is a set of terms which are written in a definite order obeying certain
rules e.g. 2, 4,6,8...... , 1,3,5,7,......

ii) A sequence can be finite or infinite. A finite sequence might be divergent or

convergent. A convergent sequence gets closer and closer to some real number
i.e. they converge to a fixed point, otherwise it diverge.
iii) A Recursive sequence is where each term of the sequence is expressed in terms of
n +1
the previous one otherwise it is an Explicit sequence e.g. xn = where
n+2
n = 0,1, 2,.... is an explicit sequence and xn = xn−1 + 2 where x1 = 3 and n > 1 is a

recursive sequence.
iv) A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence.
v) A finite series is an expression of the form;
n
S n = x1 + x2 + x3 + ..... + xn = ∑ xi
i =1

vi) An infinite series is an expression of the form;

∞
S n = x1 + x2 + .... + xn + ..... = ∑ xi where i is the index of summation.
i =1
Example
Evaluate;
4
a) ∑ (3
k =1
k
+ 1)

Solution
4

∑ (3
k =1
k
+ 1) = (31 + 1) + (32 + 1) + (33 + 1) + (34 + 1)

= 4 + 10 + 28 + 85
= 127
Exercise
1. Evaluate;
7
a) ∑ (x +3)
i=2
i

4
b) ∑ (5x -5) if
i=1
i x1 = 1 , x2 = −3 , x3 = 2 , x4 = 3

c) Evaluate the following if x1 = −3, x2 = −2, x3 = 3, x4 = 2, x5 = −1

5 5
(i) ∑ (2x i -1)
i=1
(ii) ∑ (x
i=1
2
i -x i +2)

5
(iii) ∑ (x 2
i +7) (iii) ∑
i=1

Arithmetic Progression (A.P)

Arithmetic Progression is a sequence which proceeds with constant difference/common
difference d . For example: 2,5,8,11,... where d = 3 and the first term a = 2 .

In general an A.P is of the form;

a,a+d,a+2d,a+3d,......a+(n-1)d , where a+(n-1)d is the nth term.

Sum of the first n terms of an A.P

To get the sum of n terms of an A.P S n ,

Add equations (ii) and (i) i.e.

Sn =a+(a+d)+(a+2d)+.....+(l-d)+l........(i)
+Sn =l+(l-d)+(l-2d)+......+(a+d)+a......(ii)
2Sn =(a+l)+(a+d+l-d)+(a+2d+l-2d)+......(l-d+a+d)+(l+a)

1
=> Sn = n(a+l) - where l is the last term.
2
NB: This formula is useful especially when you know the last term l
Otherwise, since l = a + ( n − 1) d
1 1 1
then S n = n( a + l ) = n{a + a + ( n − l )d } = n{2a + ( n − 1) d }
2 2 2
Exercise
1. The first term of an A.P is 7 and the sum of the first 40 terms is 1216. Find the n th
term, and 20th term
2. Find the sum of the first 30 terms of the A.P; 10 + 14 + 18 + 22 + ......
3. The first and the nth terms of an A.P are 2 and 16, and the sum of the n terms is
270. Find the number of terms and the common difference.
4. The 2nd term of an A.P is 11 and the 11th term -7. Find the 1st term, the common
difference and the sum to 30 terms.
5. A man monthly salary is KES 4500 and increase by KES 250 a month. How much
does he earn in the first 6 months?

Geometric Progression G.P

Geometric sequence is a sequence of the form; a,ar,ar 2 ,ar 3 ,....ar n-1

Where a is the first term and r the common ratio, such that the nth term of a G.P ;
Tn = ar n−1

Example
(i) 2, 4,8,16,32,.... is a geometric sequence where a = 2 and r = 2

1 1 1 1 1
(ii) 3,1, , , , ,.... is a geometric sequence where a = 3 and r =
3 9 27 81 3
Sum of a G.P
Consider Sn =a+ar+ar 2 +....+ar n-1.......(i)

Multiply both sides of (i) by r to obtain

rS=ar+ar 2 +ar 3 +......+ar n ......(ii)

Subtract equation (ii) form equation (i) i.e.

Sn =a+ar+ar 2 +......+ar n-1 -
rSn =ar+ar 2 +ar 3 +.....+ar n
Sn -rSn =a-ar+ar-ar 2 +ar 2 -ar 3 +....+ar n-1 -ar n

Sn (1-r)=a-ar n
a(r n -1)
n
a(1-r ) or Sn = ,r>1
Sn = ,r<1 r-1
1-r
Sum to infinite of a G.P
This is the case where the progression is upto infinity
Example
1 1 1
Consider the sequence; 1+ + + + .....
2 4 8
a (1 − r n )
Sum of the first n terms by definition S n = , r < 1 is
1− r
1 1
1[1 − ( ) n ] [1 − ( ) n ]
2 1 2 1 1 2
Sn = since a = 1, r = ⇒ S n = = 2[1 − ( )n ] = 2 − 2( ) n = 2 − n
1 2 1 2 2 2
1−
2 2
1
⇒ n → ∞, → 0 ∴ Sn = 2
2n
In general

a (1 − r n ) a
(a) If S n = , r < 1 , as n → ∞, r n → 0 ∴ S = i.e. a + ar + ar 2 + ..... converges
1− r 1− r
a
to the sum provided r < 1
1− r
a (r n − 1)
(b) If S n = , r > 1 , the series does not converge.
r −1
Exercise
1. Determine the next four terms in the following sequences
a) 3,12, 48,...

1 1 1 1
b) , , , ,.....
3 12 48 192
2. Calculate the sum to infinity of the following G.Ps
2 4 8
a) + + + ......
3 9 27
b) 9 − 6 + 4 − ......
c) 0.13 + 0.0013 + 0.000013 + ....
d) 0.9 + 0.09 + 0.009 + 0.0009 + ...
3. Two consecutive terms of a G.P are the 2nd, 4th and 7th terms of an A.P
respectively. Find the common ratio of the G.P.
4. A snail moves 4 metres along a straight line in 1 hour and in each succeeding
hour 20% less than in the preceding one. Find how far it goes.
5. A man decided to save 50 cents on the first day and on the successive days save
double the amount of the previous day. Determine the day he will save a million
shillings and when he will be a millionaire.