Arithmetic sequences
Contents
1. Linear sequences.
2. Formula for the next term of an
arithmetic sequence.
3. Formula for the sum of an arithmetic
sequence.
4. Questions and problem solving.
Objectives: to be able to,
•find the nth term of an arithmetic
sequence,
•find the sum of an arithmetic sequence.
Prior knowledge: you should already know
how to,
•solve of quadratic equations,
•solve simultaneous equations.
Find thenext two terms and aformulafor thenth termof thesequences below.
Arithmetic sequences
1. 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, .......
2.
1
2
, 1,
3
2
, 2,
5
2
, .......
3. 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, .......
20,23 3n2
3,
7
2
1
2
n
5,3 172n
Each sequence is known as linear or arithmetic.
We are adding on a common difference, d, in each sequence.
d  3
d 
1
2
d  2
In theabovewehavegiven theformulaein terms of n. At IB thenotation is slightly different.
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence.
Consider thesequence5, 8, 11, 14, 17, ....... We need two numbers to find the nth term
- the difference, d and the first term u1
.
u1
 5, d  3
Write down u2
(the second term) in
terms of u1
and d.
u2
 53u1
d
Write down u3
(the third term) in
terms of u1
and d.
Write down u4
(the fourth term) in
terms of u1
and d.
What about the nth term un
?
u3
 56 u1
2d
u4
 59u1
3d
 
1 1
n
u u n d
  
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence.
 
1
Use the general formula 1 to write the th term of each of the following
arithmetic sequences.
n
u u n d n
  
1. 7, 12, 17, 22, 27, .....
2. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, .....
3. 20, 17, 14, 11, 8, .....
4.
1
4
,
1
2
,
3
4
,1,
5
4
, ......
5. 1,
7
8
,
3
4
,
5
8
,
1
2
......
un
 75(n1)un
 25n
un
 42n
un
 233n
un

1
4
n
un

9
8

1
8
n
The Gauss Problem
This is the 18th century German mathematician
Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss. A story is told of how
his lazy mathematics teacher set the class a
problem of adding all the integers from
1 to 100.
His teacher sat back for a rest expecting the class to
spend an hour doing this calculation, but Gauss
gave him the answer in a matter of minutes.
How did he do it?
The answer is 5050. How can you do it without a
calculator in a matter of minutes like Gauss?
The Gauss Problem continued
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + ………….. 95 + 96 + 97 + 98 + 99 +100
Gauss started to pair off numbers at
the start and end of the sum.
1 + 100=101
2 + 99=101
3 + 98=101
4 + 97=101
How many pairs of these numbers
did Gauss have?
101
50
5050
50 pairs of 101
Gauss’ method can be applied to
any arithmetic sequence.
Sum of an arithmetic sequence
Use the Gauss technique to add up the sequence, 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + …. + 23.
How many terms in this sequence?
un
 u1
d(n1)
12(n1)23
2n2  22
2n  24
n  12
We have 12 terms, or 6 pairs.
The sum of each pair?
1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + …. + 21+ 23
1 + 23=24
3 + 21=24
24
6
144
What is the relationship between the number
of terms, n, and the number of pairs. Number of pairs =
n
2
Sum of an arithmetic sequence
Add up the first 9 terms of the sequence 5 + 9 + 13 + …. + 37.
Pair off the numbers 5 + 9 + 13 + 17 + 21 + 25 + 29 + 33 + 37 5 + 37=42
9 + 33=42
13 + 29=42
17 + 25=42
We have 4 pairs of 42 and 21.
or 4
1
2
pairs of 42.
Sum = 4
1
2
 42 = 189
Can we now develop a general formula for the sum of an arithmetic sequence.
The general sum of an arithmetic sequence
Sn
 u1
u2
u3
.........un
       
1 1 1 1 1
2 3 ......... ( 1)
n
S u u d u d u d u n d
          
From previous work we have found that
we add together the first and last term and
multiply by the number of pairs -
n
2
.
 
1 1 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u u n d
 
    
 
 
1 1 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u u n d
   
 
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
Thegeneral termfor thesumof an arithmetic sequence.
Sum of an arithmetic sequence un
 u1
 n1
 d  
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
1. Find the sum of the first 21 terms of the
sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ......
2. Calculate the sum of
1
2
1
3
2
2......42
u1
 5 d  2 n  21
 
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
 
21
21
(2)(5) (20)(2)
2
S  
S21
 525
We need the value of .
n un
 u1
 n1
 d
u1

1
2
d 
1
2
un
 42  
1 1
42 1
2 2
n
  
42 
1
2
n
n  84
42
84 1 1
2 (83)
2 2 2
S
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
u1

1
2
d 
1
2
n  84
S42
1785
Questions un
 u1
 n1
 d  
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
1. A sequence is defined by un
 253n.
a) Write down the first three terms of the
sequence.
b) Calculatethe30th termof thesequence.
c) Calculate the sum of the first 25 terms of
the sequence.
2. A sequence is defined by un

5n3
2
.
a) Write down the first term u1
and the
common difference, d.
b) Write down the formula for the sum of
the first n terms of this sequence.
c) Calculate down the sum of the first 31
terms of the sequence.
22, 19, 16
65
S25
 350
u1
 4, d 
5
2
 
11 5
11 5
2 2 2 4
n
n n
S n n
 
   
 
 
S31
1286.5
Questions  
1 1
n
u u n d
    
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
3. An arithmetic sequence has the first 3
terms k 1, 3k -8, 2k.
Find the value of k and hence find the sum
of the first 25 terms of the sequence.
4. An arithmetic sequence has the first 3
terms 5, k2
-1, 4k -1.
Find two possible solutions for the sum of
the first 10 terms of this sequence.
5. Find the formula for the nth term of an
arithmetic sequence given that u20
 88
and u25
108.
6. By first calculating the number of terms
find the sum of
3
11

7
22

4
11
...
23
11
.
k  5 S25
1000
See solution
k  1 and k  3
S10
 175 and S10
185
See solution
un
 4n8
See solution
n  41 S41

533
11
 48.45
See solution
Questions  
1 1
n
u u n d
    
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
7. The sum of the first 3 terms of an arithmetic
sequence is 69 and the sum of the first 5 terms
is 130.
Find the first term and the common difference
of the sequence.
8. An arithmetic sequence is defined as
4, 15, 26, 37, ....
Calculate the first term to exceed 500.
9. The sequence shown below is arithmetic.
5, ..... , ..... , ..... , ..... , 26.
Find the missing numbers in the sequence.
10. Find the smallest value of n such that
the sum of the arithmetic sequence defined
by un

4n1
3
exceeds 100.
u1
 20 d  3 See solution
n  48 is the first term
See solution
5, 9.2, 13.4, 17.6, 21.8, 26
See solution
n 13 is the smallest term.
See solution
Worked solutions
An arithmetic sequence has the first 3 terms k 1, 3k -8, 2k.
Find the value of k and hence find the sum of the first 25 terms of the sequence.
k 1, 3k-8, 2k
   
3 8 1
d k k
   
d  2k 7 equation 1
   
2 3 8
d k k
  
d  8k equation 2
2k 7  8k
3k 15
k  5
k 1, 3k-8, 2k and k  5
4, 7, 10, ....
u1
 4 d  3 n  25
   
 
25
25
2 4 (24) 3
2
S  
S25
1000
Return
Worked solutions
An arithmetic sequence has the first 3 terms 5, k2
-1, 4k -1.
Find two possible solutions for the sum of the first 10 terms of this sequence.
5, k2
-1, 4k -1
   
2
1 5
d k
  
d  k2
6 equation 1
   
2
4 1 1
d k k
   
d  4k k2 equation 2
k2
6  4k  k2
2k2
 4k 6  0
k2
2k 3  0
(k 3)(k 1) 0
k  1 and k  3
Using k  -1: 5, 0, -5
u1
 5, d  -5, n 10
   
 
10
10
2 5 (9) 5
2
S   
S10
 175
Using k  3: 5, 8, 11
u1
 5, d  3, n 10
   
 
10
10
2 5 (9) 3
2
S  
S10
185 Return
Worked solutions
Find the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence given that u20
 88 and u25
108.
u20
 88
u1
19d  88
u25
108
u1
24d 108
equation 1
equation 2
5d  20 eqn 2 - eqn 1
d  4
u1
 4(19) 88
u1
12
u1
12 d  4
un
12 4(n1)
un
 4n8
Return
Worked solutions
By first calculating the number of terms find the sum of
3
11

7
22

4
11
...
23
11
.
3
11

7
22

4
11
...
23
11
u1

3
11
d 
7
22

3
11
 d 
76
22
d 
1
22
 
3 1
1
11 22
n
u n
  
 
23 3 1
1
11 11 22
n
  
20
11

n
22

1
22
41
22

n
22
n  41
u1

3
11
d 
1
22
n  41
41
41 3 1
2 (40)
2 11 22
S
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
S41

533
11
 48.45
Return
Worked solutions
The sum of the first 3 terms of an arithmetic sequence is 69 and the sum of the first 5 terms is 130.
Find the first term and the common difference of the sequence.
 
1
2 ( 1)
2
n
n
S u n d
  
S3
 69
 
1
3
2 2 69
2
u d
 
u1
d  23 equation 1
S5
130
 
1
5
2 4 130
2
u d
 
u1
2d  26 equation 2
d  3 eqn 2 - eqn 1
u1
 20
u1
 20 d  3
Return
Worked solutions
An arithmetic sequence is defined as 4, 15, 26, 37, ...
Calculate the first term to exceed 500.
4, 15, 26, 37
u1
 4 d 11
un
 411(n1)
un
11n7
11n7  500
11n  507
n 
507
11
n  47.09
n  48 is the first term
Return
Worked solutions
The sequence shown is arithmetic 5, ..... , ..... , ..... , ..... , 26.
Find the missing numbers in the sequence.
5, ..... , ..... , ..... , ..... , 26
5, 5d, 52d, 53d, 54d, 55d
55d  26
5d  21
d 
21
5
Return
5, 9.2, 13.4, 17.6, 21.8, 26
Worked solutions
Find the smallest value of n such that the sum of the arithmetic sequence defined
by un

4n1
3
exceeds 100.
un

4n1
3
u1

4(1)1
3

5
3
u2

4(2)1
3
 3
u3

4(3)1
3

13
3
5
3
3
13
3
... 100
u1

5
3
d 
4
3
5 4
2 ( 1) 100
2 3 3
n
n
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
6 4
200
3 3
n n
 
 
 
 
4n2
6  600
2n2
3  300
n2

297
2
n 12.19
n 13 is the smallest term.
Return

More Related Content

PPTX
6-C1-Sequences-and-Series.237033027.pptx
PPT
10.1-10.8.js-lecturenotes for students.ppt
PDF
Successful Minds,Making Mathematics number patterns &sequences Simple.
PDF
Ebook 1
PDF
Arithmetic Sequence and Arithmetic Series
PPT
Arithmetic Sequences and Series.ppt
PPTX
MATHEMATICS Lesson-2-Arithmetic-Sequence (1).pptx
PPTX
Series.pptxvvggghgufifudududydydydudyxyxyx
6-C1-Sequences-and-Series.237033027.pptx
10.1-10.8.js-lecturenotes for students.ppt
Successful Minds,Making Mathematics number patterns &sequences Simple.
Ebook 1
Arithmetic Sequence and Arithmetic Series
Arithmetic Sequences and Series.ppt
MATHEMATICS Lesson-2-Arithmetic-Sequence (1).pptx
Series.pptxvvggghgufifudududydydydudyxyxyx

Similar to Arithmetic sequences (1).ppt (20)

PPT
Arithmetic Sequences and Series-Boger.ppt
PPT
Arithmetic Sequences and Series-Boger.ppt
PPT
Arithmetic Sequences and Series-Boger.ppt
PPT
Sequences_Arithmetic_Harmonic_Geometric.ppt
PPT
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES.ppt
PPT
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES.ppt
PPT
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES (1).ppt
PPT
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES.ppt
PPTX
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE, MEAN AND SERIES WEEK 2 QUARTER 1
PPT
Arithmetic Sequences and Series.ppt grade 10
PPT
Arithmetic Sequences and Series for Grade 10
PDF
Arithmetic Sequence
PPTX
MODULE 3.pptx
PPTX
Mathematics 10 Quarter I Arithmetic Sequence
DOC
Grade 10 Math Module 1 searching for patterns, sequence and series
PPTX
nth terms sequence nth terms sequence__
PPT
Arithmetic and geometric_sequences
PDF
Ap gp
PDF
Arithmetic Progression & Geometric ProgresionP
PDF
Arithmetic And Geometric Progressions
Arithmetic Sequences and Series-Boger.ppt
Arithmetic Sequences and Series-Boger.ppt
Arithmetic Sequences and Series-Boger.ppt
Sequences_Arithmetic_Harmonic_Geometric.ppt
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES.ppt
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES.ppt
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES (1).ppt
ALLIED MATHEMATICS -II UNIT IV & UNIT V SEQUENCES AND SERIES.ppt
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE, MEAN AND SERIES WEEK 2 QUARTER 1
Arithmetic Sequences and Series.ppt grade 10
Arithmetic Sequences and Series for Grade 10
Arithmetic Sequence
MODULE 3.pptx
Mathematics 10 Quarter I Arithmetic Sequence
Grade 10 Math Module 1 searching for patterns, sequence and series
nth terms sequence nth terms sequence__
Arithmetic and geometric_sequences
Ap gp
Arithmetic Progression & Geometric ProgresionP
Arithmetic And Geometric Progressions
Ad

Recently uploaded (20)

PPTX
pharmaceutics-1unit-1-221214121936-550b56aa.pptx
DOCX
EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT SEMESTER MAY 2025.docx
PPTX
ENGlishGrade8_Quarter2_WEEK1_LESSON1.pptx
PDF
FYJC - Chemistry textbook - standard 11.
PDF
Chevening Scholarship Application and Interview Preparation Guide
PPTX
CHROMIUM & Glucose Tolerance Factor.pptx
PPTX
Neurology of Systemic disease all systems
PDF
Unleashing the Potential of the Cultural and creative industries
PDF
WHAT NURSES SAY_ COMMUNICATION BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMP.pdf
PPTX
UCSP Section A - Human Cultural Variations,Social Differences,social ChangeCo...
PDF
African Communication Research: A review
PPTX
IT infrastructure and emerging technologies
PPTX
PAIN PATHWAY & MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN SPEAKER: Dr. Rajasekhar ...
PDF
BSc-Zoology-02Sem-DrVijay-Comparative anatomy of vertebrates.pdf
PDF
GSA-Past-Papers-2010-2024-2.pdf CSS examination
PDF
Diabetes Mellitus , types , clinical picture, investigation and managment
PPTX
Power Point PR B.Inggris 12 Ed. 2019.pptx
PDF
Kalaari-SaaS-Founder-Playbook-2024-Edition-.pdf
PDF
IS1343_2012...........................pdf
PDF
Review of Related Literature & Studies.pdf
pharmaceutics-1unit-1-221214121936-550b56aa.pptx
EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT SEMESTER MAY 2025.docx
ENGlishGrade8_Quarter2_WEEK1_LESSON1.pptx
FYJC - Chemistry textbook - standard 11.
Chevening Scholarship Application and Interview Preparation Guide
CHROMIUM & Glucose Tolerance Factor.pptx
Neurology of Systemic disease all systems
Unleashing the Potential of the Cultural and creative industries
WHAT NURSES SAY_ COMMUNICATION BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMP.pdf
UCSP Section A - Human Cultural Variations,Social Differences,social ChangeCo...
African Communication Research: A review
IT infrastructure and emerging technologies
PAIN PATHWAY & MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN SPEAKER: Dr. Rajasekhar ...
BSc-Zoology-02Sem-DrVijay-Comparative anatomy of vertebrates.pdf
GSA-Past-Papers-2010-2024-2.pdf CSS examination
Diabetes Mellitus , types , clinical picture, investigation and managment
Power Point PR B.Inggris 12 Ed. 2019.pptx
Kalaari-SaaS-Founder-Playbook-2024-Edition-.pdf
IS1343_2012...........................pdf
Review of Related Literature & Studies.pdf
Ad

Arithmetic sequences (1).ppt

  • 1. Arithmetic sequences Contents 1. Linear sequences. 2. Formula for the next term of an arithmetic sequence. 3. Formula for the sum of an arithmetic sequence. 4. Questions and problem solving. Objectives: to be able to, •find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, •find the sum of an arithmetic sequence. Prior knowledge: you should already know how to, •solve of quadratic equations, •solve simultaneous equations.
  • 2. Find thenext two terms and aformulafor thenth termof thesequences below. Arithmetic sequences 1. 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, ....... 2. 1 2 , 1, 3 2 , 2, 5 2 , ....... 3. 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, ....... 20,23 3n2 3, 7 2 1 2 n 5,3 172n Each sequence is known as linear or arithmetic. We are adding on a common difference, d, in each sequence. d  3 d  1 2 d  2 In theabovewehavegiven theformulaein terms of n. At IB thenotation is slightly different.
  • 3. The nth term of an arithmetic sequence. Consider thesequence5, 8, 11, 14, 17, ....... We need two numbers to find the nth term - the difference, d and the first term u1 . u1  5, d  3 Write down u2 (the second term) in terms of u1 and d. u2  53u1 d Write down u3 (the third term) in terms of u1 and d. Write down u4 (the fourth term) in terms of u1 and d. What about the nth term un ? u3  56 u1 2d u4  59u1 3d   1 1 n u u n d   
  • 4. The nth term of an arithmetic sequence.   1 Use the general formula 1 to write the th term of each of the following arithmetic sequences. n u u n d n    1. 7, 12, 17, 22, 27, ..... 2. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ..... 3. 20, 17, 14, 11, 8, ..... 4. 1 4 , 1 2 , 3 4 ,1, 5 4 , ...... 5. 1, 7 8 , 3 4 , 5 8 , 1 2 ...... un  75(n1)un  25n un  42n un  233n un  1 4 n un  9 8  1 8 n
  • 5. The Gauss Problem This is the 18th century German mathematician Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss. A story is told of how his lazy mathematics teacher set the class a problem of adding all the integers from 1 to 100. His teacher sat back for a rest expecting the class to spend an hour doing this calculation, but Gauss gave him the answer in a matter of minutes. How did he do it? The answer is 5050. How can you do it without a calculator in a matter of minutes like Gauss?
  • 6. The Gauss Problem continued 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + ………….. 95 + 96 + 97 + 98 + 99 +100 Gauss started to pair off numbers at the start and end of the sum. 1 + 100=101 2 + 99=101 3 + 98=101 4 + 97=101 How many pairs of these numbers did Gauss have? 101 50 5050 50 pairs of 101 Gauss’ method can be applied to any arithmetic sequence.
  • 7. Sum of an arithmetic sequence Use the Gauss technique to add up the sequence, 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + …. + 23. How many terms in this sequence? un  u1 d(n1) 12(n1)23 2n2  22 2n  24 n  12 We have 12 terms, or 6 pairs. The sum of each pair? 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + …. + 21+ 23 1 + 23=24 3 + 21=24 24 6 144 What is the relationship between the number of terms, n, and the number of pairs. Number of pairs = n 2
  • 8. Sum of an arithmetic sequence Add up the first 9 terms of the sequence 5 + 9 + 13 + …. + 37. Pair off the numbers 5 + 9 + 13 + 17 + 21 + 25 + 29 + 33 + 37 5 + 37=42 9 + 33=42 13 + 29=42 17 + 25=42 We have 4 pairs of 42 and 21. or 4 1 2 pairs of 42. Sum = 4 1 2  42 = 189 Can we now develop a general formula for the sum of an arithmetic sequence.
  • 9. The general sum of an arithmetic sequence Sn  u1 u2 u3 .........un         1 1 1 1 1 2 3 ......... ( 1) n S u u d u d u d u n d            From previous work we have found that we add together the first and last term and multiply by the number of pairs - n 2 .   1 1 ( 1) 2 n n S u u n d            1 1 ( 1) 2 n n S u u n d       1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d    Thegeneral termfor thesumof an arithmetic sequence.
  • 10. Sum of an arithmetic sequence un  u1  n1  d   1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d    1. Find the sum of the first 21 terms of the sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ...... 2. Calculate the sum of 1 2 1 3 2 2......42 u1  5 d  2 n  21   1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d      21 21 (2)(5) (20)(2) 2 S   S21  525 We need the value of . n un  u1  n1  d u1  1 2 d  1 2 un  42   1 1 42 1 2 2 n    42  1 2 n n  84 42 84 1 1 2 (83) 2 2 2 S                     u1  1 2 d  1 2 n  84 S42 1785
  • 11. Questions un  u1  n1  d   1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d    1. A sequence is defined by un  253n. a) Write down the first three terms of the sequence. b) Calculatethe30th termof thesequence. c) Calculate the sum of the first 25 terms of the sequence. 2. A sequence is defined by un  5n3 2 . a) Write down the first term u1 and the common difference, d. b) Write down the formula for the sum of the first n terms of this sequence. c) Calculate down the sum of the first 31 terms of the sequence. 22, 19, 16 65 S25  350 u1  4, d  5 2   11 5 11 5 2 2 2 4 n n n S n n           S31 1286.5
  • 12. Questions   1 1 n u u n d      1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d    3. An arithmetic sequence has the first 3 terms k 1, 3k -8, 2k. Find the value of k and hence find the sum of the first 25 terms of the sequence. 4. An arithmetic sequence has the first 3 terms 5, k2 -1, 4k -1. Find two possible solutions for the sum of the first 10 terms of this sequence. 5. Find the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence given that u20  88 and u25 108. 6. By first calculating the number of terms find the sum of 3 11  7 22  4 11 ... 23 11 . k  5 S25 1000 See solution k  1 and k  3 S10  175 and S10 185 See solution un  4n8 See solution n  41 S41  533 11  48.45 See solution
  • 13. Questions   1 1 n u u n d      1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d    7. The sum of the first 3 terms of an arithmetic sequence is 69 and the sum of the first 5 terms is 130. Find the first term and the common difference of the sequence. 8. An arithmetic sequence is defined as 4, 15, 26, 37, .... Calculate the first term to exceed 500. 9. The sequence shown below is arithmetic. 5, ..... , ..... , ..... , ..... , 26. Find the missing numbers in the sequence. 10. Find the smallest value of n such that the sum of the arithmetic sequence defined by un  4n1 3 exceeds 100. u1  20 d  3 See solution n  48 is the first term See solution 5, 9.2, 13.4, 17.6, 21.8, 26 See solution n 13 is the smallest term. See solution
  • 14. Worked solutions An arithmetic sequence has the first 3 terms k 1, 3k -8, 2k. Find the value of k and hence find the sum of the first 25 terms of the sequence. k 1, 3k-8, 2k     3 8 1 d k k     d  2k 7 equation 1     2 3 8 d k k    d  8k equation 2 2k 7  8k 3k 15 k  5 k 1, 3k-8, 2k and k  5 4, 7, 10, .... u1  4 d  3 n  25       25 25 2 4 (24) 3 2 S   S25 1000 Return
  • 15. Worked solutions An arithmetic sequence has the first 3 terms 5, k2 -1, 4k -1. Find two possible solutions for the sum of the first 10 terms of this sequence. 5, k2 -1, 4k -1     2 1 5 d k    d  k2 6 equation 1     2 4 1 1 d k k     d  4k k2 equation 2 k2 6  4k  k2 2k2  4k 6  0 k2 2k 3  0 (k 3)(k 1) 0 k  1 and k  3 Using k  -1: 5, 0, -5 u1  5, d  -5, n 10       10 10 2 5 (9) 5 2 S    S10  175 Using k  3: 5, 8, 11 u1  5, d  3, n 10       10 10 2 5 (9) 3 2 S   S10 185 Return
  • 16. Worked solutions Find the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence given that u20  88 and u25 108. u20  88 u1 19d  88 u25 108 u1 24d 108 equation 1 equation 2 5d  20 eqn 2 - eqn 1 d  4 u1  4(19) 88 u1 12 u1 12 d  4 un 12 4(n1) un  4n8 Return
  • 17. Worked solutions By first calculating the number of terms find the sum of 3 11  7 22  4 11 ... 23 11 . 3 11  7 22  4 11 ... 23 11 u1  3 11 d  7 22  3 11  d  76 22 d  1 22   3 1 1 11 22 n u n      23 3 1 1 11 11 22 n    20 11  n 22  1 22 41 22  n 22 n  41 u1  3 11 d  1 22 n  41 41 41 3 1 2 (40) 2 11 22 S                     S41  533 11  48.45 Return
  • 18. Worked solutions The sum of the first 3 terms of an arithmetic sequence is 69 and the sum of the first 5 terms is 130. Find the first term and the common difference of the sequence.   1 2 ( 1) 2 n n S u n d    S3  69   1 3 2 2 69 2 u d   u1 d  23 equation 1 S5 130   1 5 2 4 130 2 u d   u1 2d  26 equation 2 d  3 eqn 2 - eqn 1 u1  20 u1  20 d  3 Return
  • 19. Worked solutions An arithmetic sequence is defined as 4, 15, 26, 37, ... Calculate the first term to exceed 500. 4, 15, 26, 37 u1  4 d 11 un  411(n1) un 11n7 11n7  500 11n  507 n  507 11 n  47.09 n  48 is the first term Return
  • 20. Worked solutions The sequence shown is arithmetic 5, ..... , ..... , ..... , ..... , 26. Find the missing numbers in the sequence. 5, ..... , ..... , ..... , ..... , 26 5, 5d, 52d, 53d, 54d, 55d 55d  26 5d  21 d  21 5 Return 5, 9.2, 13.4, 17.6, 21.8, 26
  • 21. Worked solutions Find the smallest value of n such that the sum of the arithmetic sequence defined by un  4n1 3 exceeds 100. un  4n1 3 u1  4(1)1 3  5 3 u2  4(2)1 3  3 u3  4(3)1 3  13 3 5 3 3 13 3 ... 100 u1  5 3 d  4 3 5 4 2 ( 1) 100 2 3 3 n n                6 4 200 3 3 n n         4n2 6  600 2n2 3  300 n2  297 2 n 12.19 n 13 is the smallest term. Return

Editor's Notes