KEYWORD FORMULA

Keyword tells you the formula/method

NEVER add,subtract,divide, multiply to an expression, its only done on an equation.
In an expression always
NEVER divide an equation by x or a trig.
Sequences: paper 1 – we have A/S ; Q/S ; G/S
Arithmetic sequence
Arithmetic/linear 𝑇2 − 𝑇1 = 𝑇3 − 𝑇2 i.e., first diffs are =
Arithmetic/linear d exists, i.e. 𝑑 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇1
Arithmetic/linear General term: 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
Arithmetic/linear Terms-by adding d: 𝑇1 = 𝑎; 𝑇2 = 𝑎 +
𝑑, 𝑇3 = 𝑎 + 2𝑑, 𝑇4 =..
𝑇58 = ⋯
Arithmetic/linear - word problems Create 2 equations and solve them
simultaneously
Which term/how many terms: means find n Sub 𝑇𝑛 in 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
Quadratic sequence
Quadratic (𝑇3 − 𝑇2 ) − (𝑇2 − 𝑇1 ) = (𝑇4 − 𝑇3 ) − (𝑇3 − 𝑇2 )
i.e., 2nd diffs are =
Quadratic General term: 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛2 + 𝑏𝑛 + 𝑐
Quadratic 1st diffs are arithmetic/linear
So use arithmetic formulas
Quadratic 𝑇1 of 1st diffs is between 𝑇1 & 𝑇2 of the
q/s
Max/min/largest/smallest/greatest/ least/most/ not 𝑏
𝑛 = − ; then sub into original
2𝑎
exceed/ increasing/decreasing
general term formula to get the value
of the max/min term
Geometric sequence
Geometric/exponential 𝑇2 𝑇
𝑇1
= 𝑇3 i.e., ratios are =
2
Geometric/exponential 𝑇
r exists, i.e. : 𝑟 = 𝑇2
1
Geometric/exponential General term: 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎. 𝑟 𝑛−1
Geometric/exponential Terms-by multiplying by r: 𝑇1 =
𝑎, 𝑇2 = 𝑎. 𝑟 , 𝑇3 = 𝑎. 𝑟 2 ,
𝑇4 = ⋯, 𝑇92 = ⋯
Geometric/exponential – word problems Divide eq with big exponent by eq with
small exponent
Series: paper 1 – grade 12: WE HAVE A/S and G/S only. If not any of these 2 then add manually.
Sum of terms (adding terms)
𝑛
Sum: arithmetic series 𝑆𝑛 = 2 (2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑)
Sum: geometric series 𝑎(𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 =
𝑟−1
𝑇43 =? When given sum of terms formula 𝑇43 = 𝑆43 − 𝑆42
𝑛
How many terms/n=? Sub 𝑆𝑛 in 𝑆𝑛 = 2 (2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑) or
in
𝑎(𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 =
𝑟−1
The sum of terms that are not divisible by 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝑆÷𝑏𝑦 + 𝑆𝑛𝑜𝑡÷𝑏𝑦
If you have 6 terms (an even number of terms) how many So, generalise:
are on even positions and how many are on odd positions?

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If you have 7 terms (an odd number of terms) how many So, generalise:
are on even positions and how many are on odd positions?
Converge −1 < 𝑟 < 1

∑ 𝑇𝑛 : the sigma notation is the Greek notation for sum of ∑ 𝑇𝑛 means sum of …… terms
terms Always find n; T1; T2;T3, then name of
series.
Change from Greek notation to English notation
c/w:
8 n=top-bottom+1=8 – (-2)+1=7terms
∑ 3𝑘 + 1 For 𝑇1 : sub -2 at k
𝑘=−2 For 𝑇2 : sub -1 at k
For 𝑇3 : sub 0 at k
15
1 Determine if A/S or G/S: by checking if
∑ . 3𝑘 d exists or if r exists. Or by looking at
2
𝑘=0 the structure of 𝑇𝑛
∞ Them use sum of A/S formula or sum
1 of G/S formula
∑ 3(− )𝑚
2 If not A/S or G/S then add the terms
𝑚=0
one by one.

Calculate n for which ∑𝑛𝑝=1(101 − 2𝑝) = 0

Write in sigma notation Means find 𝑇𝑛 , and put it after the
c/w: sigma notation.
1) 1 – 1 – 3 … – 111 Then find n and put it as the top
1 1
2) 1 + + + ⋯
2 4
number while 1 is always the bottom
number.
Combination of two sequences Separate and solve separately.
C/w:
1)The infinite sequence is a combination of two sequences:
1 ; 1 ; 1 ; 5 ; 1 ; 9 ; 1 ; 13 ; … . Determine
a) the thirty first term b) 𝑆32 c) the smallest value(s) of the even
number n for which 𝑇𝑛 > 97
2) Given 5; 6; 12; 12; 19; 24; 26; 48;… a) write down the next 2 terms. b)
find the value of the 45th term.

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