PARUL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES

SUBJECT: BASIC MATHEMATICS

Chapter -3- Arithmetic and Geometric Progression

3.1 INTRODUCTION

We know number of patterns such as

(i) 1,2,3,4,............
(ii) 2,4,6,8,............
(iii) 1,3,5,7,9,.......
(iv) 1,4,7,10,13,........
2 3 4 5
(v) , , , ,…
3 4 5 6
(vi) 1 x 3, 3 x 6, 5 x 12, 7 x 24, …

In some of these patterns, we can guess and decide the next number of pattern while in
some others we are not able to. In this chapter we shall recall some of these patterns and
try to arrive at next number in each pattern.

3.2 SEQUENCE

A sequence is a set of numbers arranged in a defined order according to a certain rule

.It can be finite or infinite. Each number in the sequence is called term of the
sequence.The terms of sequence are usually denoted by a1 ,a2 , a3 ,….,an .Where a1,a2
and an are the first,second and nth term respectively.
Sometime we use the notation Tn for the nth term of the sequence.

For example:
(1) 1,2,3,4,5,……..,100 is a finite sequence.
(2) 1,2,4,8,16,…….is a infine sequence.

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3.3 SERIES

A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence. A series can be finite or

infinite.Suppose we have the sequence a1 ,a2 , a3 ,….,an .Then,the series we obtain
from this sequence is , a1 +a2 + a3 +….+an .

For example :
(1) 1+2+3+….+100 is a finite series.
(2) 1+4+9+16+……is a infinite series.

SOLVED EXAMPLES
Example 1:Write the first three terms and corresponding series of the following sequence
defined by an = 2n+5.
Solution : Here, an = 2n+5. Substituting n=1,2,3.
We get;
a1 =First term= 2(1)+5=7
a2 = Second term = 2(2)+5=9
a3 = third term = 2(3)+5=11

Therefore, the required terms are 7,9 and 11.and the corresponding series is
7+9+11+…….

Example 2 : Find first five terms of sequence whose nth term is n2 .

Solution: The nth term is n2 .
Then , an = n2
2
∴ a1 = (1) = 1
∴ a2 = (2)2 =4
∴ a3 = (3)2 = 9
∴ a4 = (4)2 =16
∴a5 = (5)2 =25

The First five terms of the given sequence are 1,4,9,16,25.

3.4 PROGRESSION

Definition: An arrangement of numbers in a definite order is called “Progression”.

E.g. 1) 2,5,8,11,14,…..
2) 1,10,100,1000,…..

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3) 1/2,1/4,1/8,1/16……

Types of Progression: There are 2 types of Progressions.

1. Arithmetic Progression(A.P.)
2. Geometric Progression(G.P.)

3.5 ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION (A.P.)

Arithmetic progression (A.P.) is a sequence in which each term except the first is
obtained by adding a fixed number (positive or negative)to the preceding term.
Or Arithmetic Progression is the sequence of number in which each term is obtained
from the preceding term by adding or substracting a fixed number called common
difference ‘d ’.
Thus ,any sequence a1 ,a2 , a3 ,….,anis called an arithmetic progression if
an+1 = an +d , n𝜖 N. Where d is called the common difference of the A.P.,Usually we
denote the first term of an A.P. by a and the last term or nth term is denoted by anor 𝑙
.The general term or nth term of an A.P. is given by an= a+(n-1)d.
In general,if an A.P. has first term a and common difference d, thenthe A.P. can be
written as a,a+d,a+2d,a+3d,………….

For e.g. The sequence 1,2,3,…… is an infinite A.P. with first term =1 and common
difference =1 .and the corresponding Arithmetic series is 1+2+3+……

Ex 2 . 9,6,3,0,-3,..... is A.P. and common difference d= 6-9= -3

PROPERTIES OF A.P.

We can verify the following simple properties of an A.P. :

1. If a constant is added to each term of an A.P., the resulting sequence is also

an A.P.
2. If a constant is subtracted from each term of an A.P., the resulting sequence
is also an A.P.
3. If each term of an A.P. is multiplied by a constant, then the resulting
sequence is also an A.P.
4. If each term of an A.P. is divided by a non-zero constant then the resulting
sequence is also an A.P.

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SOLVED EXAMPLE

Example 1:Find the 20th term of 2,5,8,11,…..

Solution : Here, a1= a=2 and a2 = 5.
And it is a A.P. as;
Common difference d=5-2
=3
th
Then,20 term is;
a20 = a+(20-1)d
= 2 + 19(3)

= 59

∴ 20th term of the given A.P. is 59.

Example 2 : Find the next four terms of -9,-2,5,…….. and also find the general formula
of the sequence .
Solution : Here, a1 = a= -9
a2 = -2 and a3 =5.
Common difference d= -2-(-9)= -2+9=7

Next term is a4 = a+(4-1)d

= -9 +(3)7
∴a4 = 12
As an+1 = an + d
Then, a5 = a4 + d= 12 + 7=19
Simillarly, a6 = 19+7 = 26 and a7 =26+7=33
So,the next four term is 12,19,26,33.
The general formula of this sequence is an = a+(n-1)d
an = -9 + (n-1) 7
an = -9+7n-7
an = 7n-16

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Example 3:(a) Find the next Four terms of 0,7,14,…..
Solution: This sequence is an Arithmetic Sequence.

Here, a= 0 and d = 7

Also, a2 = 7 and a3 = 14,

∴ a4 = a3+ d= 14+7=21

a5 = a4+ d= 21+7=28

a6 = a5+ d= 28+7=35

a7= a6+ d= 35+7=42

(b) Find the next four terms of x,2x,3x, ……

Solution : This sequence is an Arithmetic Sequence.

Here, a= x and d = x

Also, a2 = 2x and a3 = 3x,

∴ a4 = a3+ d= 3x+x=4x

a5 = a4+ d= 4x+x=5x

a6 = a5+ d= 5x+x=6x

a7 = a6+ d= 6x+x=7x

Arithmetic mean

The arithmetic mean for any n positive number a1 ,a2 , a3 ,….,an is given by
a1 + a2 + a3 + ..... + an
A.M.= .
n
a+b
Arithmetic mean of numbers a and b is; .
2
4 + 16
For example, the A.M.of two numbers 4 and 16 is 10.( as =10). Thus we
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constructed an A.P. 4,10,16 by inserting a number 10 between 4 and 16.

Example 1 :Find two arithmetic means between - 4 and 5.

Solution : -4,___, ____,5.

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 an= a1+ (n-1) d
∴ 5= -4 + (4-1) d 5 = -4 + 3d => 5 +4 = 3d => 9 = 3d => 9 /3 = d => d = 3
∴ d=3
The two arithmetic means are -1and 2 ,since -4,-1,2,5,forms an arithmetic sequence.

3.6 GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

Geometric Progression (G.P.) is a sequence in which each term except the first is
obtained by multiplying the previous term by a non-zero constant called the common
ratio.
Let us, consider a G.P. with first non-zero term a and common ratio r.
i.e. a,ar,ar2,ar3 ,....... ,arn-1,.....
The general term or nthterm of G.P. is given by 𝑙= an= arn-1
Thus a G.P. can be written as a,ar,ar2,ar3 ,....... ,arn-1.G.P. is finite or infinite.
Then series a+ar+ar2+ar3+…. +arn-1+….are called infinite geometric
Series.
e.g. A sequence 1,2,4,8,16,…..is an infinite G.P. with first term =1and common ratio
=2 and the corresponding geometric series is 1+2+4+8+16,…..

PROPERTIES OF GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

1. If the terms of a G.P. are multiplied or divided by the same non-zero constant
(k ≠0),they still remain in G.P.
a1 a2 a3
2. If a1 , a2 , a3 ,..... are in G.P. , then a1 k , a2k, a3k ,..... and , , ,…… are also
k k k
1
in G.P. with same common ratio,in particularly a1 , a2 , a3 ,.....are in G.P. , then
a1
1 1
, , ,….. are also in G.P.
a2 a3
3. If a1 , a2 , a3 ,.....and If b1 , b2 , b3 ,..... are two G.Ps. then a1 b1, a2 b2 , a3 b3 ,.....
a a a
and 1 , 2 , 3 ,…… are also in G.P.
b1 b2 b3

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Example 1: Find the 10th and nthterms of the G.P. 5,25,125,........

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Solution : Here a=5 and r=5.
Thus,nthterms of the G.P is
an= arn-1
=5(5)n-1
=5n
10thterm is a10=5(5)10-1
=5(5)9
=510

Example 2: In a G.P. , the 3rd term is 24 and the 6th term is 192.Find the 10th term.
Solution :The nth terms of the G.P.is an= arn-1
Then a3= ar2=24 _____(1)
a6= ar5= 192 _____(2)
Now, dividing (2) by (1) we get; r=2.Substituting r=2 in (1).
We get;
4a=24 ⟹ a=6.
Hence, a10= ar9= 6(2)9=3072

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Example 3 :Find the next three terms of 2,3, ,…..
2
3
Solution : a=2 and r= = 1.5 . Then, the next three terms are;
2
3 3 27
a4= ar3= 2( ) =
2 4

3 4 81
a5= ar4= 2( ) =
2 8

3 5 243
a6= ar5= 2( ) =
2 16

9 27 81 243
So,the G.P. is 2,3, , , , .
2 4 8 16

Example 4:Find a G.P. Whose 3rd term and 6th term are 1 and -1/8 respectively.
Solution : Given , 3rd term = 6 so, ar2 =1 ______(1)
and , 5th term = -1/8 so, ar5 = -1/8 ______(2)

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 Now, dividing (1) by (2) we get;

 r 3 =  −1 
ar 2 1 1 8
=  3 =
ar 5
−1 r −1  8 
( )
8
 −1 
3

 r = 
3

 2 
 −1 
 r = 
 2 

Now, ar2 =1 so, a(-1/2)2 = 1  a (1/4)=1  a=4.

so, G.P is 4,-2,1,-1/2,.......

Examples:

(1) For the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, 162,……., find the value of the 12th term.

(2) Find the 8th term of the GP 27, -18, 12, -18, …
4
(3) Which term of the GP: 36, -12, 4, … is ?
81
3
(4) Find the first term of a GP whose 10th term is and whose common ratio
1024

3.10GEOMETRIC MEAN (G.M.)

The Geometric mean of two positive numbers a and b is the number ab .

For example , the geometric mean of 2 and 8 is 4. We observe that the three
numbers 2,4,8 are consecutive terms of a G.P.
This leads to a generalisation of the concept of geometric mens of two
numbers.

Example :Find the AM and GM of 8 and 32.

a+b
Solution: Arithmetic Mean of two numbers is .
2
Here, a=8 and b= 32
a+b
AM=
2

8
 8 + 32
=
2
= 20
Geometric Mean of two number is ab
GM= ab
= 8  32
= 256
= 16

3.11SUM OF INFINITE SERIES

A Series is said to be convergent (when | r | < 1) if the value of the sum to infinity
exists as a finite number.
Otherwise, it is divergent (when | r | > 1).
In general, S(or S ) denote the sum to infinity.
a
and S= , if | r |<1.
1− r

1 1 1
Example 1: Find the sum of the series 1+ + + +….. 
2 4 8
1 1 1
   
Solution: Here, r =  2  =  2  = 2
1 1
 
4

As r = 1 then −1  r  1
2
∴Sum is possible.
S = a = 1 =2
1− r 1− 1
2

∴ S=2

Example 2 : Find the sum of the series : 2 2 +8+ 16 2 +….. 

8 16 2
2 2 9
2
 Solution : Here r = = = 2 2

∴ r  [-1,1]
∴ Sum is not possible.

Examples:

4 8
1. Find the sum of the first 8 terms of the G.P. 3, 2, , , ….
3 9
2. Find the sums to infinity of the following geometric series
(a) 6 + 2 + 2 /3 +…, (b) 1 - ½ + ¼ +…,

SIGMA NOTATION

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 UPPER BOUND
(NUMBER)

B
SIGMA
(SUM OF TERMS)
a
n= A
n NTH TERM
(SEQUENCE)

LOWER BOUND
(NUMBER)

Example 1 :Rewrite using sigma notation: 3 + 6 + 9 + 12

Solution : It is Arithmetic . And d= 3.
∴ an = a1 + (n-1) d
∴ an = 3 + (n-1) 3
an = 3n
4
∴ 3+6+9+12 =  3n
n =1

Example 2 :Rewrite using sigma notation: 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1

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Solution : It is Geometric . and r =
2
11
∴ an = a1 (r)n-1

1
an = 16 ( )n-1
2 n −1
5
1
∴16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16  
n =1 2

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