Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Arithmetic Progressions (AP)

An Arithmetic Progression (AP) is a sequence of numbers in which the difference
between consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common
difference, denoted by d.

General Form of an AP
The general form of an arithmetic progression is:

T1 = a, T2 = a + d, T3 = a + 2d, T4 = a + 3d, ...

where:

ˆ T1 = a = First term

ˆ d = Common difference (d = Tn − Tn−1 for n ≥ 2)

n-th Term of an AP
The n-th term (Tn ) of an AP is given by:

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

Example 1
The first term of an AP is −4 and the 15th term is double the 5th term. Find the 12th
term.

Solution
We are given the first term of an arithmetic progression (AP) and a relationship between
the 15th term and the 5th term. We need to find the 12th term.

Step 1: Formula for the n-th term of an AP

The n-th term of an AP is given by:

Tn = a + (n − 1)d

where:

ˆ Tn is the n-th term,

ˆ a is the first term,

ˆ d is the common difference,

ˆ n is the term number.

1
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Step 2: Substitute the given first term

The first term a is −4:
Tn = −4 + (n − 1)d

Step 3: Express the 15th term and the 5th term

Using the formula:
T15 = −4 + (15 − 1)d = −4 + 14d
T5 = −4 + (5 − 1)d = −4 + 4d

Step 4: Relationship between the 15th and 5th terms

Given that the 15th term is double the 5th term:
T15 = 2T5
Substituting the expressions:
−4 + 14d = 2(−4 + 4d)

Step 5: Solve for the common difference d

Expand and simplify:
−4 + 14d = −8 + 8d
14d − 8d = −8 + 4
6d = −4
4 2
d=− =−
6 3

Step 6: Find the 12th term

Using the formula with d = − 23 :
   
2 2
T12 = −4 + (12 − 1) − = −4 + 11 × −
3 3
22 12 22 34
T12 = −4 − =− − =−
3 3 3 3

Final Answer
34
−
3

Example 2
If the 12th term of an AP is double the 5th term, find the common difference, given that
the first term is 7.

2
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Solution
We are given:
ˆ First term (a) = 7

ˆ T12 = 2T5
We need to find the common difference (d).

Step 1: Formula for the n-th term of an AP

The general term of an arithmetic progression is given by:
Tn = a + (n − 1)d
where:
ˆ Tn = n-th term

ˆ a = first term

ˆ d = common difference

ˆ n = term number

Step 2: Express the 12th and 5th terms

Using the formula:
T12 = 7 + (12 − 1)d = 7 + 11d
T5 = 7 + (5 − 1)d = 7 + 4d

Step 3: Apply the given relationship

We know that T12 = 2T5 :
7 + 11d = 2(7 + 4d)

Step 4: Solve for the common difference d

Expand and simplify:
7 + 11d = 14 + 8d
11d − 8d = 14 − 7
3d = 7
7
d=
3

Final Answer
The common difference is:
7
3

3
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Example 3
If x + 1, 2x − 1 and x + 5 are three consecutive terms of an AP, find the value of x.

Solution
For three consecutive terms of an arithmetic progression (AP), the difference between
consecutive terms is constant. That is, the difference between the second and first term
equals the difference between the third and second term.

Step 1: Express the common difference condition

Let the three terms be:

T1 = x + 1
T2 = 2x − 1
T3 = x + 5

The AP condition requires:

T2 − T1 = T3 − T2

Step 2: Substitute the terms into the equation

Substituting the expressions:

(2x − 1) − (x + 1) = (x + 5) − (2x − 1)

Step 3: Simplify both sides

Simplify left side:
2x − 1 − x − 1 = x − 2
Simplify right side:
x + 5 − 2x + 1 = −x + 6
So the equation becomes:
x − 2 = −x + 6

Step 4: Solve for x

Combine like terms:
x+x=6+2
2x = 8
x=4

4
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Verification
Let’s verify by substituting x = 4 back into the original terms:

T1 = 4 + 1 = 5
T2 = 2(4) − 1 = 7
T3 = 4 + 5 = 9

The differences are:

7 − 5 = 2 and 9 − 7 = 2
The common difference is indeed equal, confirming our solution.

Final Answer
The value of x is:
4

Example 4
If x + 2, x + 3, and 2x2 + 1 are three consecutive terms of an AP, find the possible values
of x.

Solution
For three consecutive terms of an arithmetic progression (AP), the difference between
consecutive terms must be equal. This means:

Difference = T2 − T1 = T3 − T2

Step 1: Identify the terms

Let the three consecutive terms be:

T1 = x + 2
T2 = x + 3
T3 = 2x2 + 1

Step 2: Apply the AP condition

Set up the equation:

(x + 3) − (x + 2) = (2x2 + 1) − (x + 3)

5
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Step 3: Simplify both sides

Simplify the left side:
1 = 2x2 + 1 − x − 3
Simplify the right side:
1 = 2x2 − x − 2

Step 4: Form a quadratic equation

Rearrange the equation:
2x2 − x − 3 = 0

Step 5: Solve the quadratic equation

Using the quadratic formula:
√
1± 1 + 24 1±5
x= =
4 4
This gives two solutions:
6 3 −4
x= = and x = = −1
4 2 4

Verification
Verify both solutions:
1. For x = 32 :
3 7
T1 = +2=
2 2
3 9
T2 = + 3 =
2 2
 2
3 11
T3 = 2 +1=
2 2

Differences: 92 − 72 = 1 and 11
2
− 9
2
= 1 (valid)
2. For x = −1:

T1 = −1 + 2 = 1
T2 = −1 + 3 = 2
T3 = 2(−1)2 + 1 = 3

Differences: 2 − 1 = 1 and 3 − 2 = 1 (valid)

Final Answer
The possible values of x are:
3
and −1
2

6
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Example 5
The sum of three consecutive terms of an arithmetic progression (AP) is 18, and their
product is 120. Find these terms.

Solution
Let the three consecutive terms be:

T1 = a − d, T2 = a, T3 = a + d

where a is the middle term and d is the common difference.

Step 1: Use the sum condition

(a − d) + a + (a + d) = 18
3a = 18
18
a= =6
3

Step 2: Use the product condition

(a − d) · a · (a + d) = 120
Substitute a = 6:
(6 − d) · 6 · (6 + d) = 120
6(36 − d2 ) = 120
120
36 − d2 =
6
2
36 − d = 20
d2 = 36 − 20 = 16
d = ±4

Step 3: Find the terms

Case 1: d = 4
T1 = 6 − 4 = 2, T2 = 6, T3 = 6 + 4 = 10
Case 2: d = −4

T1 = 6 − (−4) = 10, T2 = 6, T3 = 6 + (−4) = 2

Final Answer
The three consecutive terms are either:

2, 6, 10 or 10, 6, 2

7
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Example 6
The sum of the first 8 terms of an AP is 12 and the sum of the first 16 terms is 56. Find
the AP.

Solution
Let the first term be a and the common difference be d.
n
(2a + (n − 1)d)
Sn =
2
Step 1: Use the sum of 8 terms

S8 = 12
8
(2a + 7d) = 12
2
4 (2a + 7d) = 12
2a + 7d = 3 (Equation 1)
Step 2: Use the sum of 16 terms

S16 = 56
16
(2a + 15d) = 56
2
8 (2a + 15d) = 56
2a + 15d = 7 (Equation 2)
Step 3: Solve the system of equations

(2a + 15d) − (2a + 7d) = 7 − 3

8d = 4
1
d=
2
Substitute into Equation 1:  
1
2a + 7 =3
2
7
2a + = 3
2
7
2a = 3 −
2
6 7 1
2a = − = −
2 2 2
1
a=−
4
Final AP:
1 1
Tn = − + (n − 1) ·
4 2
8
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

First few terms:

1
T1 = −
4
1
T2 =
4
3
T3 =
4
5
T4 = , . . .
4

Example 7
The sum of the first 10 terms of an AP is 80 and the sum of the next 12 terms is 624.
What is the AP?

Solution
Let the arithmetic progression (AP) be defined by:
ˆ First term: a
ˆ Common difference: d

Step 1: Express the sum of first 10 terms

The sum of first n terms of an AP is given by:
n
Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2
For the first 10 terms (S10 = 80):
10
[2a + 9d] = 805(2a + 9d) = 802a + 9d = 16 (Equation 1)
2

Step 2: Express the sum of next 12 terms

The sum of terms from 11th to 22nd is 624. First, find S22 :
22
S22 = [2a + 21d] = 11(2a + 21d)
2
Since S22 = S10 + 624 = 80 + 624 = 704:
11(2a + 21d) = 7042a + 21d = 64 (Equation 2)

Step 3: Solve the system of equations

Subtract Equation 1 from Equation 2:
(2a + 21d) − (2a + 9d) = 64 − 1612d = 48d = 4
Substitute d = 4 into Equation 1:
2a + 9(4) = 162a + 36 = 162a = −20a = −10

9
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Step 4: Write the AP

The AP is defined by:

ˆ First term: a = −10

ˆ Common difference: d = 4

Thus, the AP is:

−10, −6, −2, 2, 6, 10, . . .

Verification
Verify the sums:

ˆ Sum of first 10 terms:

10
[2(−10) + 9(4)] = 5[−20 + 36] = 80 ✓
2

ˆ Sum of next 12 terms (11th to 22nd):

S22 − S10 = 704 − 80 = 624 ✓

Final Answer
The arithmetic progression is:

−10, −6, −2, 2, 6, 10, . . .

with first term −10 and common difference 4 .

Example 8
The 6th term of an AP with 12 terms is 14 and the sum of the last 6 terms is 126.
Calculate the sum of the first 6 terms.

Solution
Let the arithmetic progression (AP) be defined by:

ˆ First term: a

ˆ Common difference: d

ˆ Number of terms: 12

10
Diploma in Electrical Engineering Engineering Mathematics II

Step 1: Express the 6th term

The n-th term of an AP is given by:
Tn = a + (n − 1)d
For the 6th term (T6 = 14):
a + 5d = 14 (Equation 1)

Step 2: Express the sum of last 6 terms

The last 6 terms are the 7th to 12th terms. Their sum is:
6
Slast 6 = [2T7 + (6 − 1)d] = 126
2
First, find T7 :
T7 = a + 6d
Thus:
3[2(a + 6d) + 5d] = 1262a + 12d + 5d = 422a + 17d = 42 (Equation 2)

Step 3: Solve the system of equations

From Equation 1: a = 14 − 5d
Substitute into Equation 2:
2(14 − 5d) + 17d = 4228 − 10d + 17d = 427d = 14d = 2
Now find a:
a = 14 − 5(2) = 4

Step 4: Calculate sum of first 6 terms

Using the sum formula:
6
S6 = [2a + (6 − 1)d] = 3[2(4) + 5(2)] = 3[8 + 10] = 54
2

Verification
Verify the given conditions:
ˆ 6th term: 4 + 5(2) = 14 (valid)
ˆ Sum of last 6 terms:
T7 = 4 + 6(2) = 16
Slast 6 = 3[2(16) + 5(2)] = 3[32 + 10] = 126 (valid)

Final Answer
The sum of the first 6 terms is:
54

11