ARITHMETIC AND GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

BIT102-Computer Mathematics

Lecturer: Mr. Saviour Chibeti

January 31, 2023

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1 ARITHMETIC AND GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
Objectives

• Recognize the dierence between a sequence and a series;

• dene an arithmetic progression and geometric progression.

• Learn how to nd the nth terms of an Arithmetic and Geometric Progression.

• Learn how to nd the sum of the nth terms of an Arithmetic and Geometric progression.

• Finding the sum of an innite Geometric progression.

1.1 Sequences and Series

Let us consider the arrangement of seats in a conference lecture room. Each row (except the
rst) contains, one seat more than the number of seats in the row ahead of it. In doing so, we
are basically applying the notion of sequences, also we might be interested in observing how
the money increases when you deposit a certain amount at the rate of say 10% per annum
compounded annually. we see that if we deposit an amount of K10, 000, after the rst year,
we have an amount of 11, 000, after the second year 12, 000 will be in the bank, after the third
year 13, 310. From the above, if we denote the number of years by n, we have that
Number of years (n) Amount
n=0 K10, 000
n=1 K11, 000
n=2 K12, 000
n=3 13, 310

. From the table we can have a well ordered list of the amount in the rst 3 years which goes
to innity, that is
K10, 000, K11, 000, K12, 000, K13, 310, . . .

Denition 1.1.1. A list of numbers written down in succession is called the sequence.
In other words we can say that a sequence is an ordered list of objects or events (collection
of numbers in this case. If the sequence is innite, the rst few terms are followed by an ellipsis
(. . .) indicating that the pattern continues forever. For example the numbers

10, 000, 11, 000, 12, 000, 13, 310, . . .

We can say that 10, 000 is the rst term of the above. In general, you describe a sequence with
subscripts that are used to index the terms. The kth term in the sequence is ak . We denote the
rst term by a1 , the second term by a2 , the third term by a3 we can write
a1 , a2 , a3 , . . .

We can also represent the above sequence as

{ai }∞
i=1

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Denition 1.1.2. The sum of terms of the sequence is called a series.
We can write the series as
a1 + a2 + a3 + . . .
There are basically many types of sequences, but in this chapter, we will only focus on the
arithmetic and geometric sequences.

1.2 Arithmetic Progession

Let us consider these two common sequences

2, 5, 8, 11, . . .
and
−10, 0, 10, 20, . . .
From the two sequences above, we note one interesting thing, for the rst sequence, we see that
5 was obtained by adding 3 to 2 and also 8, was obtained by adding 3 to 5. We also observe the
same in the second sequence, there we are adding to each sequence. These are quite interesting
sequences and they are referred to as arithmetic sequences.
Denition 1.2.1. A sequence in which each successive term can be found by adding the same
number is called an arithmetic sequence
In other words, we can say that an arithmetic progression is a sequence of terms such that
the dierence between any term and the one immediately preceding it is a constant. This
dierence is called the common dierence. For example, the sequences
2, 5, 8, 11, . . .
and
−10, 0, 10, 20, . . .
are arithmetic sequences with common dierence 3 and 10 respectively.
Example 1.2.2. Find the common dierence of the following sequences
(a) 23, 17, 11, . . .
(b) −7, −3, 1, . . .
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. We have that for the rst one, the common dierence is given
by
d = 17 − 23
= −6
For the second one, the common dierence is given by
d = −3 − (−7)
=4

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1.2.3 Finding the nth term of an Arithmetic Progression
To nd a general rule for nding the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, we rst consider having
the rst term a and the common dierence d. Then we have that
First Term a

Second Term a + d

Third Term a + 2d

..
.

nth Term a + (n − 1)d.

We have that the general formula for computing the nt h term of an arithmetic progression is
given by

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

Example 1.2.4. Find the 8th term of an arithmetic sequence 30, 28, 26, 24 . . .
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. From the sequence 30, 28, 26, 24 . . ., we have that the rst term
a = 30 and common dierence

d = 28 − 30

= −2.

To compute the 8th , we have that n = 8 and we use the formula

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

we now have,
Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T8 = 30 + (8 − 1)(−2)

= 30 − 14

= 16

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Example 1.2.5. Find the 11th term of the arithmetic sequence 7, 11, 15, 19, 23 . . .
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. From the sequence 7, 11, 15, 19, 23 . . ., we have that the rst
term is given by a = 7 and the common dierence is given by
d = 11 − 7

=3

To compute the 11th term, we have that n = 11 in the formula

Tn = a + (n − 1)d,

therefore we have,
Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T8 = 7 + (11 − 1)3

= 37.

Example 1.2.6. Find the 16th , 23rd and nth terms of the arithmetic progression 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 . . ..
Solution Remember, we learn by doing. From the sequence 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 . . ., we have that
the rst term a = 1 and the common dierence is given by

d=4−1

=3

To compute the 16th term, we have that n = 16 and we have

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T16 = 1 + (16 − 1)3

= 1 + 45

= 46

To compute the 23rd , we have that n = 23, thus

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 Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T23 = 1 + (23 − 1)3

= 1 + 66

= 67

To compute the nth , we have that

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

= 1 + (n − 1)3

= 1 + 3n − 3

= 3n − 2

Example 1.2.7. The 6th term of an AP is 17 and the 13th term is 38. Determine the 19th term.
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. The 6th term of an AP is 17, from this, we have
Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T6 = a + (6 − 1)d

17 = a + 5d

Thus we have
17 = a + 5d (1)
From the statement 13th term is 38, we have
Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T13 = a + (13 − 1)d

38 = a + 12d

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We have another expression given by

38 = a + 12d (2)

We now solve Equation 1 and Equation 2, we now have by subtracting Equation 1 from Equation
2
(
38 = a + 12d
−
17 = a + 5d

21 = 7d
d=3

We can now compute the rst term, we have

17 = a + 5(3)

17 = a + 15

a = 17 − 15

=2

Now that we have the rst term and the common dierence, we can now compute the 19th , we
have

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T19 = 2 + (19 − 1)3

= 2 + 54

= 56

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1.2.8 Finding the sum of an Arithmetic Progression
Consider the following terms of an arithmetic progression
First Term a

Second Term a + d

Third Term a + 2d
..
.
nth Term a + (n − 1)d.

We denote the sum of the nth by Sn and we write

Sn = a + (a + d) + · · · + a + (n − 2)d + a + (n − 1)d (3)

We can write Sn in reverse and we have that

Sn = a + (n − 1)d + a + (n − 2)d + · · · + (a + d) + a (4)

Adding Equation 3 and Equation 4 vertically, we have

Sn = a + (a + d) + · · · + a + (n − 2)d + a + (n − 1)d

Sn = a + (n − 1)d + a + (n − 2)d + · · · + (a + d) + a

2Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d] + [2a + (n − 1)d] + · · · + [2a + (n − 1)d]

From the above we see that the expression 2a + (n − 1)d repeats n times, therefore we have
that

2Sn = n[2a + (n − 1)d]

We now have that the sum for the nth term of an arithmetic progression, we have

n
Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d].
2

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Example 1.2.9. Find the sum of the rst 7 terms of the series 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 . . ..
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. To compute the sum of the rst 7 terms, we note that the
rst term a = 1 and the common dierence

d=4−1

=3

We now make use of the formula for the sum and we have that

n
Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2

7
S7 = [2(1) + (7 − 1)3]
2

7
= [2 + 18]
2

7
= [20]
2

= 70

Example 1.2.10. Find the sum of all the numbers between 0 and 207 which are exactly divis-
ible by 3

Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. The common dierence is 3, we have the sequence is given
by
3, 6, 9, . . . , 207

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We can now use the above sequence to nd n, we have
Tn = a + (n − 1)d

207 = 3 + (n − 1)3

207 = 3 + 3n − 3

3n = 207

n = 69

Now that we know what n is, we can now compute the sum that is

n
Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2

69
S69 = [2(3) + (69 − 1)3]

69
= [6 + 204]
2

69
= [210]
2

= 69 × 105

= 7245

1.2.11 Application of Arithmetic Progression

An arithmetic sequence can be used to describe any circumstance in which you start with a
dened amount and add or subtract a xed amount at regular intervals. For example, the age
of a human being increases every after one year, or the amount of wine left in a bottle decreases
as glasses of wine are poured. A person on a weight-loss program is the subject of the following
example.
Example 1.2.12. On commercing employment a man is paid a salary of K20, 000 per month
and receives monthly increments of K500. Determine his salary in the 9th month and calculate
the total he will have received in the rst 2 years of the contract

Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. We note that his rst salary becomes the rst term a = 20000

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and the common dierence is given by d = 500, we have in the 9th month,
Tn = a + (n − 1)d

T9 = 20000 + (9 − 1)500

= 20000 + 4000

= 24, 000

We have the 9th month, he will receive K24, 000.

To calculate the total he will have received in his rst two years of the contract, we compute the
sum of the 24th months, that is

n
Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2

24
= [2(20000) + (24 − 1)500]
2

= 12[20000 + 11500]

= 12(31500)

= 378, 000

1.3 GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

A sequence in which each term after the rst is obtained by multiplying the preceding term by
a constant is called a Geometric Sequence. In other words, a geometric sequence or geometric
progression is a sequence in which each term, except the rst, is obtained by multiplying the
term immediately preceding it by a xed, non-zero number. The xed number is called the
common ratio and will be denoted by ′ r′ . To nd the common ratio, divide the second term by
the rst term or the third term by the second term and so on. Suppose that we have a sequence

a1 , a2 , a2 , . . . ,

then we can compute the common ratio as follows

a2 a3
r= = = ···
a1 a2
Example 1.3.1. Find the common ratio of the following sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, . . .

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Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. We compute the common ratio, r by dividing the second ter
by the rst term or the third term by the second term, that is

2 4
r= = = 2.
1 2

1.3.2 Finding the nth term of a Geometric Progression

Since a geometric sequence or geometric progression is a sequence in which each term, except
the rst, is obtained by multiplying the term immediately preceding it by a xed, non-zero
number, r, we have when we consider a to be the rst term the sequence

a, ar, ar2 , ar3 , . . .

From the sequence above, we see that the power of the common ratio is always one less than
the position and we can deduce that the nth term of a geometric distribution is given by

Tn = arn−1
Example 1.3.3. Find the 7th term of a geometric sequence 2, −6, 18, . . .
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. From the sequence 2, −6, 18, . . ., we have that the rst term
a = 2 and the common ratio is given by

−6 18
r= = = −3
2 −6
We now employ the general formula for computing the nth term of a geometric progression given
by

Tn = arn−1
Now n = 7, so we have,

Tn = arn−1

T7 = 2 × (−3)7−1

= 2 × (−3)6

= 2 × 729

= 1458.

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Example 1.3.4. Find the rst term of a geometric sequence whose fourth term is 8 and whose
1
common ratio is .
2
Solution
1
Remember, we learn by doing. We have that T4 = 8 and r = . Employing the formula, we have
2

Tn = arn−1

T4 = ar4−1

 3
1
8=a
2

a
8=
8

a = 64.

Task 1.3.5. (a) For the sequence 128, −96, 72, . . .

i Find the nth term of the sequence
ii 6th term
(b) For the sequence 100, −110, 121, . . .
i Find the nth term of the sequence
ii 6th term
(c) For the sequence 3, 3.3, 3.63, . . .
i Find the nth term of the sequence
ii 6th term

1.3.6 Finding the Sum of a Geometric Progression

For a nite geometric sequence

a, a, ar2 , . . . , arn−1 ,

we can nd the sum of the sequence. Suppose that the sum is denoted by Sn , we have that

Sn = a + ar + ar2 + · · · + arn−1 . (5)

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We can multiply Equation 5 by the common ratio, r, we have

rSn = ar + ar2 + · · · + arn . (6)

Now subtracting Equation 6 from Equation 5, we have that

Sn − rSn = a − arn

Sn (1 − r) = a(1 − rn )

a(1 − rn )
Sn =
(1 − r)

Therefore, the sum of a geometric progression when the common ratio is less than one is given by

a(1 − rn )
Sn = r < 1.
(1 − r)

Similarly, we can also subtract Equation 5 from Equation 6, and we have that

rSn − Sn = arn − a

Sn (r − 1) = a(rn − 1)

a(rn − 1)
Sn =
r−1

Therefore, the sum of a geometric progression when the common ratio is greater than one is
given by

a(rn − 1)
Sn = r > 1.
r−1
Example 1.3.7. Find the sum of the rst ve terms of the geometric sequence 2, 6, 18, . . .
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. We have that the rst term a = 2 and the common ratio is
given by

6 18
r= = =3
2 6

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The common ratio is greater than one, so we now employ the formula, we have that
a(rn − 1)
Sn =
r−1

2(35 − 1)
=
3−1

2 × 242
=
2

484
=
2

= 242
2 2 2
Example 1.3.8. Find the sum of the rst 10 terms in the series 2 + + + + ···
3 9 27
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. The rst term a = 2 and the common ratio is given by

2/3
r=
2

1
=
3
Since the common ratio is less than 1, we have that,

a(1 − rn )
Sn =
(1 − r)

  10 
1
2 1−
3
=
1
1−
3

2 × 0.999983064
=
2
3

1.99996613
=
2/3

= 2.999949195

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Task 1.3.9. Find the sum of the following geometric sequences
i The rst 20 terms of 128, −96, 72, −54, . . .
√ √
ii The rst 6 terms of 3, 3, 3 3, . . .
iii The rst 20 terms of 2, 8, 32, . . .

1.3.10 Sum of an Innite Geometric Progression

An innite geometric series is an innite series whose successive terms have a common ratio.
Such a series converges if and only if the absolute value of the common ratio is less than 1.
That is if

|r| < 1

=⇒ − 1 < r < 1,

then the innite geometric series,

a, ar, ar2 , ar3 , . . . , arn , . . .

converges to a particular value. The sum to innity for a geometric series with the rst term
a and the common ratio, r between −1 and 1 is given by

a
S∞ = , |r| < 1
1−r
Example 1.3.11. Find the sum to innity for the series 96 + 48 + 24 + · · · if it exists.
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. The rst term, a = 96 and the common ratio is
48
r=
96

1
= = 0.5
2
The common ratio is between −1 and 1, we have that

a
S∞ =
1−r

96
=
1 − 0.5

= 192

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 1
Example 1.3.12. Find the innite sum of the series 4 + 2 + 1 + + · · ·
2
Solution
Remember, we learn by doing. The rst term, a = 4 and the common ratio is
2
r=
4

1
= = 0.5
2
The common ratio is between −1 and 1, we have that

a
S∞ =
1−r

4
=
1 − 0.5

=8

Task 1.3.13. Find the innite sum of the following series

i 248.6 + 99.44 + 39.776 + · · ·
1 1 1
ii + + + ···
9 27 81
1 1 1
iii + + + ···
5 10 20
iv 125 + 25 + 5 + 1 + · · ·

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