Mathematics Project
Topic: Arithmetic Progression
Introduction
Have you ever noticed the pattern in the numbers like 2, 4, 6, 8...? These are called Arithmetic
Progressions (AP)! An AP is a sequence where each number is obtained by adding a fixed number
(called the common difference) to the previous number. It's like climbing stairs where each step is of
equal height.
Real-Life Connections
Arithmetic Progression is not just in textbooks. You see it in:
- Pocket money increasing every month.
- Number of seats in rows of an auditorium.
- Saving money regularly in a piggy bank.
- Designing steps for a staircase.
Understanding AP helps you predict patterns and plan ahead!
General Formula of AP
Let's break it down:
- First term = a
- Common difference = d
- nth term = a + (n - 1)d
This helps you find any term in the sequence without listing all numbers!
Example 1:
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Mathematics Project
Topic: Arithmetic Progression
Find the 10th term of the AP: 3, 7, 11, 15, ...
Here, a = 3 and d = 4
Using an = a + (n-1)d
=> a10 = 3 + (10-1)x4 = 3 + 36 = 39
Sum of Terms in AP
Want to find the total of several AP terms?
Use:
Sn = n/2 x [2a + (n-1)d] or Sn = n/2 x (a + l)
Where Sn is the sum of n terms, a is the first term, d is the common difference, and l is the last term.
Example 2:
Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the AP: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14
Here, a = 2, d = 3, n = 5
Sn = 5/2 x [2x2 + (5-1)x3] = 2.5 x [4 + 12] = 2.5 x 16 = 40
Conclusion
Arithmetic Progression makes math predictable and fun. Once you understand the formulae, you
can solve many real-world problems easily. It's like having a magic trick to decode patterns around
you!
Acknowledgement
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Mathematics Project
Topic: Arithmetic Progression
I would like to thank my mathematics teacher and school for giving me this opportunity to explore
the concept of Arithmetic Progression. This project helped me understand the importance of
sequences and how they relate to our everyday life.
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