Arithmetic & Geometric Sequences — Reviewer
Designed to prepare you for the exam on sequences, series, means, and
convergence.
Part A: Key Terms & Concepts
Sequence: An ordered list of numbers that follow a rule.
Series: The sum of the terms of a sequence.
Arithmetic Sequence: A sequence where a constant number (common difference
d) is added to get the next term.
Geometric Sequence: A sequence where each term is obtained by multiplying the
previous term by a constant (common ratio r).
Common Difference (d): The difference between consecutive terms in an
arithmetic sequence: d = a₂ − a₁.
Common Ratio (r): The quotient of consecutive terms in a geometric sequence: r
= a₂ ÷ a₁, with a₁ ≠ 0.
Arithmetic Mean (AM): A term inserted between two numbers so that the three
form an arithmetic sequence.
Geometric Mean (GM): A term inserted between two numbers so that the three
form a geometric sequence.
For positive numbers a and b, GM = √(ab).
Finite Sequence: A sequence that has a last term.
Infinite Sequence: A sequence that does not have a last term; usually written
with an ellipsis (…).
Part B: Essential Formulas
1. Arithmetic nth term: aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d
2. Geometric nth term: aₙ = a₁ · r^(n − 1)
3. Common difference: d = a₂ − a₁
4. Common ratio: r = a₂ / a₁ (provided a₁ ≠ 0)
5. Sum of first n terms (Arithmetic): Sₙ = (n/2)[2a₁ + (n − 1)d]
6. Sum of first n terms (Geometric, r ≠ 1): Sₙ = a₁(1 − rⁿ) / (1 − r) (if |r| < 1, also
used towards convergence)
7. Infinite Geometric Series (|r| < 1): S∞ = a₁ / (1 − r)
Part C: Quick Concept Checks
Q: It is a term between two given terms of an arithmetic sequence.
A: Arithmetic Mean
Q: It is inserted between two numbers to form a geometric sequence.
A: Geometric Mean
Q: It is an amount by which we multiply each time (in a geometric sequence).
A: Common Ratio
Q: It is the difference between consecutive terms (in an arithmetic sequence).
A: Common Difference
Q: It is a number pattern that uses a certain rule.
A: Sequence
Q: It is the sum of the elements of a sequence.
A: Series
Q: A sequence that has a last term.
A: Finite Sequence
Q: A sequence that does not have a last term and ends with an ellipsis.
A: Infinite Sequence
Part D: Worked Examples
Example 1: Find the next term of the sequence −5, 1, 7, 13, 19, 25, …
Solution: The common difference is d = 1 − (−5) = 6. This is arithmetic with d = 6.
The next term = 25 + 6 = 31.
Example 2: Find the next term of the sequence 8, 2, −4, −10, −16, −22, −28, …
Solution: The common difference is d = 2 − 8 = −6. This is arithmetic with d = −6.
The next term = −28 + (−6) = −34.
Example 3: Find the common difference d.
a) 3, 7, 11, 15, … → d = 7 − 3 = 4
b) 4, 9, 14, 19, … → d = 9 − 4 = 5
c) −7, −1, 5, 11, … → d = −1 − (−7) = 6
d) −5, 1, 7, 13, … → d = 1 − (−5) = 6
e) 3.15, 3.38, 3.61, 3.84, … → d = 3.38 − 3.15 = 0.23
f) 659, 653, 647, 641, … → d = 653 − 659 = −6
g) 1, 7/4, 5/2, 13/4, … → write with denominator 4: 4/4, 7/4, 10/4, 13/4 → d = 3/4
h) 1, 1/3, −1/3, −1, … → common difference d = (1/3 − 1) = −2/3 (also check next:
−1/3 − 1/3 = −2/3)
i) 5, 8, 11, 14, … → d = 3
j) 3, 8, 13, 18, … → d = 5
k) 9, 16, 23, 30, … → d = 7
Example 4: Sum of a geometric sequence (partial sum).
a) 4, 12, 36, 108, …, S₁₀ → a₁ = 4, r = 3. S₁₀ = a₁(1 − r¹⁰)/(1 − r) = 4(1 − 3¹⁰)/(1 − 3) =
2(3¹⁰ − 1) = 118096.
b) 5, 20, 80, 320, …, S₉ → a₁ = 5, r = 4. S₉ = 5(1 − 4⁹)/(1 − 4) = (5/3)(4⁹ − 1) =
436905.
c) 12, 3, 3/4, 3/16, …, S₇ → a₁ = 12, r = 1/4. S₇ = 12(1 − (1/4)⁷)/(1 − 1/4) = 16(1 −
1/16384) ≈ 15.999 (close to 16).
d) 125, 25, 5, 1, …, S₈ → a₁ = 125, r = 1/5. S₈ = 125(1 − (1/5)⁸)/(1 − 1/5) = (125)(1 −
1/390625)/(4/5) = 156.25 (≈ 156.25).
e) 1, 1/3, 1/9, 1/27, …, S₆ → a₁ = 1, r = 1/3. S₆ = (1 − (1/3)⁶)/(1 − 1/3) = (1 −
1/729)/(2/3) = (3/2)(728/729) = 364/243.
f) 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, …, S₇ → a₁ = 1, r = 1/2. S₇ = (1 − (1/2)⁷)/(1 − 1/2) = 2(1 − 1/128)
= 127/64.
g) 2, 6, 18, …, S₈ → a₁ = 2, r = 3. S₈ = 2(1 − 3⁸)/(1 − 3) = 1(3⁸ − 1) = 6560.
h) 7, −21, 63, −189, …, S₇ → a₁ = 7, r = −3. S₇ = 7(1 − (−3)⁷)/(1 − (−3)) = 7(1 +
2187)/4 = 7(2188)/4 = 3830. Depending on rounding/choices, closest exact integer
is 3830.
i) 0.5, 0.05, 0.005, …, S₅ → a₁ = 0.5, r = 0.1. S₅ = 0.5(1 − 0.1⁵)/(1 − 0.1) = 0.5(1 −
10⁻⁵)/0.9 ≈ 0.555555… ≈ 0.55556.
j) 10, −5, 2.5, …, S₇ → a₁ = 10, r = −1/2. S₇ = 10(1 − (−1/2)⁷)/(1 − (−1/2)) = 10(1 +
1/128)/(3/2) = (20/3)(129/128) ≈ 6.71875.
Part E: Identify the Sequence Type
For each list, determine if it is ARITHMETIC, GEOMETRIC, or NEITHER. (Answers
follow below.)
8. 1) 4, 40, 400, 4000, …
9. 2) 5, 9, 13, …, 101
10. 3) 3/4, 3/2, 3, 6, 12, …
11. 4) 1, 1.25, 1.5, …, 9.75
12. 5) −2, 6, −18, 54, …
13. 6) 2, 5, 8, 11, …
14. 7) 16, 8, 4, 2, …
15. 8) 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, …
16. 9) −5, −1, 3, 7, 11, …
17. 10) 3, 9, 27, 81, …
18. 11) 10, 20, 40, 80, …
19. 12) 0, 5, 10, 15, …
20. 13) 81, 27, 9, 3, …
21. 14) 7, 14, 28, 50, …
22. 15) 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, …
Part F: Pattern Completion — Practice
Write the next term. (Answers follow below.)
23. 1) 60, 48, 36, 24, …
24. 2) 8, 3, −2, −7, …
25. 3) 4, 8, 12, 16, …
Create your own additional 7 items here:
26. 4) ______________________
27. 5) ______________________
28. 6) ______________________
29. 7) ______________________
30. 8) ______________________
31. 9) ______________________
32. 10) ______________________
Part G: Convergence of Series
Decide if each series is CONVERGENT or DIVERGENT. (Answers follow below.)
1) 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + …
2) 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + …
3) 100 + 50 + 25 + …
4) 1 − 2 + 4 − 8 + …
5) 1/3 + 1/9 + 1/27 + …
6) 1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + …
7) 5 + 10 + 20 + 40 + …
8) 3 − 1 + 1/3 − 1/9 + …
9) 1/2 + 1 + 2 + 4 + …
10) 2 + 2/3 + 2/9 + 2/27 + …
Part H: Means & Term-Finding
1) Insert three arithmetic means between −10 and 26.
Guide: For k arithmetic means between A and B, use d = (B − A)/(k + 1).
2) Insert three geometric means between 1 and 81.
Guide: For k geometric means between A and B (positive), use r = (B/A)^(1/(k + 1)).
3) Harmonic sequence term: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, … Find the 10th term.
Guide: If {aₙ} is harmonic, then {1/aₙ} is arithmetic.
4) Find the 9th term of: 6, 3, 2, 3/2, …
Guide: Recognize the pattern and apply the geometric nth term if appropriate.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
Part E Answers — Identify the Sequence Type
33. 1) Geometric (×10)
34. 2) Arithmetic (d = 4)
35. 3) Geometric (×2)
36. 4) Arithmetic (d = 0.25)
37. 5) Geometric (×−3)
38. 6) Arithmetic (d = 3)
39. 7) Geometric (×1/2)
40. 8) Neither (differences: 1, 2, 3, 4, …)
41. 9) Arithmetic (d = 4)
42. 10) Geometric (×3)
43. 11) Geometric (×2)
44. 12) Arithmetic (d = 5)
45. 13) Geometric (×1/3)
46. 14) Neither
47. 15) Geometric (×1/2)
Part F Answers — Pattern Completion
1) 12 (subtract 12 each time)
2) −12 (subtract 5 each time)
3) 20 (add 4 each time)
Part G Answers — Convergence
48. 1) Convergent (a₁ = 8, r = 1/2; S∞ = 8/(1 − 1/2) = 16)
49. 2) Divergent (r = 2 > 1)
50. 3) Convergent (a₁ = 100, r = 1/2; S∞ = 200)
51. 4) Divergent (|r| = 2 > 1 in magnitude, alternating but unbounded)
52. 5) Convergent (a₁ = 1/3, r = 1/3; S∞ = (1/3)/(1 − 1/3) = 1/2)
53. 6) Convergent (a₁ = 1, r = 1/2; S∞ = 2)
54. 7) Divergent (r = 2 > 1)
55. 8) Convergent (a₁ = 3, r = −1/3; S∞ = 3/(1 − (−1/3)) = 9/4)
56. 9) Divergent (terms grow without bound)
57. 10) Convergent (a₁ = 2, r = 1/3; S∞ = 2/(1 − 1/3) = 3)
Part H Solutions — Means & Term-Finding
1) Insert three arithmetic means between −10 and 26.
d = (26 − (−10)) / (3 + 1) = 36/4 = 9 → Sequence: −10, −1, 8, 17, 26.
Arithmetic means: −1, 8, 17.
2) Insert three geometric means between 1 and 81.
r = (81/1)^(1/4) = 3 → Sequence: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81.
Geometric means: 3, 9, 27.
3) Harmonic sequence: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, … Find the 10th term.
Reciprocals form an arithmetic sequence: 2, 3, 4, 5, … with d = 1.
So the 10th reciprocal is 11 → the 10th term is 1/11.
4) 6, 3, 2, 3/2, … Find the 9th term.
This is geometric with a₁ = 6 and r = 1/2 (since 3 ÷ 6 = 1/2).
aₙ = a₁ · r^(n − 1) → a₉ = 6 · (1/2)^8 = 6/256 = 3/128.
Exam Tips & Reminders
• Write down given values (a₁, d, r, n) clearly before substituting into formulas.
• Check whether a sequence is arithmetic (constant difference) or geometric (constant
ratio) first.
• For fractions, keep work exact as long as possible and convert to decimal only at the end if
needed.
• For geometric sums, verify r and whether |r| < 1 when reasoning about convergence.
• Always re-check units/signs (positive/negative, increasing/decreasing).
