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Notes

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS
In your daily life you must have observed that in nature, many things follow patterns such
as petals of flowers, the holes of a honey-comb, the spirals on a pine apple etc. In this
lesson, you will study one special type of number pattern called Arithmetic Progression
(AP). You will also learn to find general term and the sum of first n terms of an arithmetic
progression.

OBJECTIVES
After studying this lesson, you will be able to

identify arithmetic progression from a given list of numbers;

determine the general term of an arithmetic progression;

find the sum of first n terms of an arithmetic progression.

PREVIOUS BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of number system

Operations on number system

7.1 SOME NUMBER PATTERNS

Let us consider some examples:
(i) Rita deposits ` 1000 in a bank at the simple interest of 10% per annum. The amount
at the end of first, second, third and fourth years, in rupees will be respectively
1100, 1200, 1300, 1400
Do you observe any pattern? You can see that amount increases every year by a fixed
amount of ` 100.

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(ii) The number of unit squares in a square with sides 1, 2, 3, 4, ... units are respectively
1, 4, 9, 16, ....

Notes

Can you see any pattern in the list of these numbers? You can observe that
1 = 12, 4 = 22, 9 = 32, 16 = 42, ...
i.e., these are squares of natural numbers.
Now consider some more lists of numbers and try to recognise a pattern if possible:
1, 3, 5, 7, 9 .....
2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ...
1, 4, 7, 10, 13 ....
5, 3, 1, 1, 3...
1, 3, 9, 27, 81, ...
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

You can observe that numbers in the list (1) are odd natural numbers. The first number is
1, second number is 3, third number is 5, etc. All these numbers follow a pattern. The
pattern is that all these numbers, except the first is obtained by adding 2 to its previous
number.
In lists (2), (3) and (4), each number except the first is obtained by adding 2, 3, and 2
respectively to its previous number.
In (5), each number, except the first is obtained by multiplying 3 to its previous number. In
the list (6), you can see that it is the list of prime numbers and it is not possible to give any
rule till date, which gives the next prime number.
The numbers in a list are generally denoted by
a1, a2, a3, ...., an, ...
or

t1, t2, t3, ...., tn, ...

which are respectively called first, second, third and nth term in the list of numbers. We
sometimes call each of these lists as sequence or pattern of numbers.

7.2 ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

You have seen different type of patterns. Some patterns follow definite mathematical rules
to generate next term in the pattern. You will now study one particular type of pattern of
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numbers.Recall the following patterns.

Notes

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ....

(1)

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ....

(2)

1, 4, 7, 10, 13,...

(3)

You have observed that in (1) and (2), each term except first is obtained by adding 2 to its
previous number (term). In (3), each term except first is obtained by adding 3 to its previous
term. The numbers appearing in a number pattern are called its terms. As already stated
these terms are usually denoted by

or

a1, a2, a3, ...., an, ...

t1, t2, t3, ...., tn, ... etc

The suffix denotes the position of the term in the pattern. Thus, an or tn denotes nth term
of the pattern.
A particular type of pattern in which each term except the first is obtained by adding a
fixed number (positive or negative) to the previous term is called an Arithmetic Progression
(A.P.). The first term is usually denoted by a and the common difference is denoted by d.
Thus, standard form of an Arithmetic Progression would be:
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, ...
Example 7.1: In the following list of numbers, find which are Arithmetic Progressions. In
case of AP, find their respective first terms and common differences.
(i) 2, 7, 12, 17, 22, ....
(ii) 4, 0, 4, 8, 12 ...
(iii) 3, 7, 12, 18, 25 ...
(iv) 2, 6, 18, 54, 162 ...
Solution:
(i) It is an arithmetic progression (AP).
Since 7 2 = 5, 12 7 = 5, 17 12 = 5 and 22 17 = 5
Thus, each term except first is obtained by adding 5 to its previous term. Hence, first
term a = 2 and common difference d = 5.
(ii) We observe that
0 4 = 4, 4 0 = 4, 8 (4) = 4, 12 (8) = 4
Thus, it is an AP with first term a = 4
and common difference d = 4.
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(iii) You can see that in the list
3, 7, 12, 18, 25, ...
7 3 = 4, 12 7 = 5, 18 12 = 6, 25 18 = 7
Thus, difference of two consecutive terms is not the same. Hence, it is not an AP.

Notes

(iv) In the list of numbers

2, 6, 18, 54, 162, ...
6 2 = 4, 18 6 = 12
Therefore, difference of two consecutive terms is not the same. Hence, it is not an AP.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 7.1

Which of the following are AP? If they are in AP, find their first terms and common differences:
1. 5, 1, 3, 7, 11, ....
2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, ...
3. 1, 4, 6, 7, 6, 4, ....
4. 6, 3, 0, 3, 6, 9, ....

7.3 GENERAL (nth) TERM OF AN AP

Let us consider an AP whose first term is a and common difference in d. Let us denote
the terms of AP as t1, t2, t3,....,tn, where tn denotes the nth term of the AP. Since first term
is a, second term is obtained by adding d to a i.e., a + d, the third term will be obtained by
adding d to a + d. So, third term will be (a + d) + d = a + 2d and so on.
With this
First term, t1

=a

= a + (1 1) d

Second term, t2 = a + d

= a + (2 1) d

Third term, t3 = a + 2d

= a + (3 1) d

Fourth term, t4 = a + 3d

= a + (4 1) d

Can you see any pattern? We observe that each term is a + (term number 1) d. What will
be 10th term, say:
t10 = a + (10 1)d = a + 9d
Can you now say what will be the nth term or general term?
Clearly tn = a + (n 1) d
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Example 7.2: Find the 15th and nth terms of the AP
16, 11, 6, 1, 4, 9, ...
Solution:
Notes

Here a = 16 and d = 11 16 = 5

Thus,

t15 = a + (15 1)d = a + 14d

= 16 + 14(5) = 16 70
= 54

Therefore, 15th term i.e., t15 = 54

Now

tn = a + (n 1)d
= 16 + (n 1) (5) = 16 5n + 5
= 21 5n

Thus, nth term, i.e., tn = = 21 5n

Example 7.3: The first term of an AP is 3 and 12th term is 41. Determine the common
difference.
Solution: Let first term of AP be a and commong difference be d.
Therefore,

t12 = a + (12 1)d = 41

or

3 + 11d = 41

or

11d = 44

or

d=4

[Since a = 3]

Therefore, common difference is 4.

Example 7.4: The common difference of an AP is 5 and 10th term is 43. Find its first
term.
Solution:

We have:
t10 = a + (10 1) d

So,

43 = a + 9 5

or

43 = a + 45

Hence,

a=2

[Since d = 5]

Therefore, first term is 2.

Example 7.5: The first term of an AP is 2 and 11th term is 18. Find its 15th term.
Solution:
Now

188

To find 15th term, you need to find d.

t11 = a + (11 1)d

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So,

18 = 2 + 10d

or

10d = 20

or

d=2

Now

t15 = a + 14d

Notes

= 2 + 14 2 = 26
Therefore, t15 = 26.
Example 7.6: If p times the pth term of an AP is equal to q times the qth term, prove that
its (p + q)th term is zero, provided p q.
Solution:

We have:
tp = a + (p 1)d
tq = a + (q 1)d

Since ptp = qtq, therefore,

p[a + (p 1)d] = q[a + (q 1)d]
or

pa + p(p 1)d qa q(q 1)d = 0

or

(p q)a + (p2 q2)d pd + qd = 0

or

(p q)a + (p2 q2)d (p q)d = 0

or

(p q)a + (p q) (p + q) d (p q) d = 0

or

(p q) [a + (p + q)d d] = 0

or

a + (p + q) d d = 0 [as p q 0]

or

a + (p + q 1)d = 0

Since, LHS is nothing but (p + q)th term, therefore,

tp + q = 0

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 7.2

1. The first term of an AP is 4 and common difference is 3, find its 12th term.
2. The first term of an AP is 2 and 9th term is 26, find the common difference.
3. The 12th term of an AP is 28 and 18th term is 46. Find its first term and common
difference.
4. Which term of the AP 5, 2, 1, .... is 22?
5. If the pth, qth and rth terms of an AP are x, y and z respectively, prove that:
x (q r) + y (r p) + z (p q) = 0
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7.4 SUM OF FIRST n TERMS OF AN AP

Notes

Carl Friedrich Gauss, the great German mathematician, was in elementary school, when
his teacher asked the class to find the sum of first 100 natural numbers. While the rest of
the class was struggling with the problem, Gauss found the answer within no time. How
Gauss got the answer? Probably, he did as follows:
S = 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 99 + 100

(1)

Writing these numbers in reverse order, we get

S = 100 + 99 + 98 + ... + 2 + 1

(2)

Adding (1) and (2), term by term, we get

2S = 101 + 101 + 101 + ... + 101 + 101 (100 times)
= 100 101
100 101
= 5050
2
We shall use the same method to find the sum of first n terms of an AP.

or S =

The first n terms of an AP are

a, a + d, a + 2d, ..., a + (n 2)d, a + (n 1)d
Let us denote the sum of n terms by Sn. Therefore,
Sn = a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + .... + [a + (n 2)d] + [a + (n 1)d]

(3)

Writing these terms in reverse order, we get

Sn = [a + (n 1)d] + [a + (n 2)d] + ... + (a + d) + a

(4)

We now add (3) and (4), term by term. We can see that the sum of any term in (3) and the
corresponding term in (4) is 2a + (n 1)d. We get
2Sn = [2a + (n 1)d] + [2a + (n 1)d] + ... + [2a + (n 1)d] + [2a + (n 1)d] , n times
or 2Sn = n[2a + (n 1)d]
or Sn =

n
[2a + (n 1)d],
2

which gives general formula for finding the sum of first n terms of an AP.
This can be rewritten as
Sn =
=

190

n
[a +{a+ (n 1)d}]
2
n
(a + tn),
2

[as nth term tn = a + (n 1)d]

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Sometimes, nth term is named as last term and is denoted by l. Thus:
Sn =

n
(a + l)
2

(4)

Example 7.7: Find the sum of the first 12 terms of the following AP

Notes

(i) 11, 16, 21, 26 ....

(ii) 151, 148, 145, 142
Solution: (i) The given AP is
11, 16, 21, 26 ....
Here, a = 11, d = 16 11 = 5 and n = 12.
You know that sum of first n terms of an AP is given by

Therefore,

Sn =

n
[2a + (n 1)d]
2

S12 =

12
[2 11 + (12 1)5]
2

= 6 [22 + 55] = 6 77 = 462

Hence, required sum is 462.
(ii) The given AP is
151, 148, 145, 142
Here,

a = 151, d = 148 (151) = 3 and n = 12.

We know that
Sn =

n
[2a + (n 1)d]
2

Hence, sum of first 12 terms is

S12 =

12
[2 ( 151) + (12 1)3]
2

= 6[ 302 + 33] = 6 ( 269)

= 1614
Therefore, required sum is 1614.

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Example 7.8: How may terms of the AP 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 .... are needed to get sum 210?
Solution: For the given AP, a = 2, d = 2 and Sn = 210.

Notes

Sn =

We have:

n
[2a + (n 1)d]
2
n
[2 2 + (n 1)2]
2

or

210 =

or

420 = n[2n + 2]

or

420 = 2n2 + 2n

or

2n2 + 2n 420 = 0

or

n2 + n 210 = 0

or

n2 + 15n 14n 210 = 0

or

n(n + 15) 14(n + 15) = 0

or

(n + 15) (n 14) = 0

or

n = 15 or n = 14

Since, n cannot be negative, so, n = 14

Therefore, first 14 terms are needed to get the sum 210.
Example 7.9: Find the following sum
2 + 5 + 8 + 11 + .... + 59
Solution:

Here 2, 5, 8, 11, ... are in AP and a = 2, d = 3 and tn = 59.

To find the sum, you need to find the value of n.

Now, tn = a + (n 1) d
So,

59 = 2 + (n 1) 3

or

59 = 3n 1

or

60 = 3n

Therefore,

n = 20

Now, Sn =

or

192

S20 =

n
[2a + (n 1)d]
2
20
[2 2 + (20 1)3]
2

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or

S20 = 10[4 + 57] = 610

Therefore, required sum is 610.

Example 7.10: Find the sum of all natural numbers between 1 and 1000 which are divisible
by 7.

Notes

Solution: Here, the first number which is divisible by 7 is 7 and last number, which is
divisible by 7 is 994. Therefore, the terms to be added are
7, 14, 21, ...., 994
Here

a = 7, d = 7, tn = 994

Now

tn = a + (n 1)d

or

994 = 7 + (n 1)7

or

994 = 7n

This gives n = 142.

Now, Sn =

n
[a + l ]
2

142
[7 + 994] = 711001
2
= 71071

Therefore, required sum is 71071.

Example 7.11: The sum of first three terms of an AP is 36 and their product is 1620. Find
the AP.
Solution: We can take three terms of the AP as a, a + d and a + 2d. However, the product
will be rather difficult and solving the two equations simultaneoulsy will be time consuming.
The elegant way is to assume the first three terms as a d, a and a + d, so that the sum of
three terms becomes 3a.
Let first three terms of the AP b a d, a and a + d
Therefore,
or
which gives

a d + a + a + d = 36
3a = 36,
a = 12

Now, since product is 1620, we have:

(a d) a (a + d) = 1620
or

(12 d) 12 (12 + d) = 1620

or

122 d2 = 135

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or

144 d2 = 135

or

d2 = 9

Therefore,

d = 3 or 3

If d = 3, the numbers are 12 3, 12 and 12 + 3

Notes

i.e. 9, 12, 15 (Since a = 12)

If d = 3, the numbers are15, 12 and 9
Therefore, the first three terms of the AP 9, 12, 15 and 15, 12, 9
satisfy the given conditions.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 7.3

1. Find the sum of first 15 terms of the following APs:
(i) 11, 6, 1, 4, 9 ...
(ii) 7, 12, 17, 22, 27 ...
2. How many terms of the AP 25, 28, 31, 34, .... are needed to give the sum 1070?
3. Find the following sum:
1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + .... +118
4. Find the sum of all natural numbers upto 100 which are divisible by 3.
5. The sum of any three consecutive terms of an AP is 21 and their product is 231. Find
the three terms of the AP.
6. Of the l, a, n, d and Sn, determine the ones that are missing for each of the following
arithmetic progression
(i) a = 2, d = 5, Sn = 568.
(ii) l = 8, n = 8, S8 = 20
(iii) a = 3030, l = 1530, n = 5
(iv) d =

2
, l = 10, n = 20
3

LET US SUM UP

194

A progression in which each term, except the first, is obtained by adding a constant to
the previous term is called an AP.

The first term of an AP is denoted by a and common difference by d.

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The nth term of an AP is given by tn = a + (n 1)d.

The sum of first n terms of an AP is given by Sn =

The sum of an AP whose first term is a and last term is l and number of terms is n is
given by Sn =

n
[2a + (n 1)d]
2

Notes

n
(a + l)
2

TERMINAL EXERCISE
1. Which of the following patterns are arithmetic progressions?
(i) 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, ....
(ii) 3, 0, 3, 6, 9 .....
(iii) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, .....
2. Write the nth term of each of the following arithmetic progressions:
(i) 5, 9, 13, 17, ....
(ii) 7, 11, 15, 19
3. The fourth term of an AP is equal to three times its first term and seventh term exceeds
twice the third term by 1. Find the first term and common difference.
4. The 5th term of an AP is 23 and 12th term is 37. Find the first term and common
difference.
5. The angles of a triangle are in AP. If the smallest angle is one-third the largest angle,
find the angles of the triangle.
6. Which term of AP
(i) 100, 95, 90, 85, ...., is 25?
(ii)

25
1 1 3 5
?
, , ,1, ..... is
4
4 2 4 4

7. The nth term of an AP is given by tn = a + bn. Show that it is an AP. Find its first term
and common difference.
8. If 7 times the 7th term of an AP is equal to 11 times the 11th term, show that the 18th
term is zero.
9. Each term of an AP whose first term is a and common difference is d, is doubled. Is the
resulting pattern an AP? If so, find its first term and common difference.
10. If k + 2, 4k 6 and 3k 2 are three consecutive terms of an AP, find k.
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11. How many terms of the AP:
(i) 1, 4, 7, 10, .... are needed to get the sum 715?
(ii) 10, 7, 4, 1, ..... are needed to get the sum 104?
Notes

12. Find the sum of first 100 odd natural numbers.

13. In an AP, a = 2 and sum of the first five terms is one-fourth the sum of the next five
terms. Show that its 20th term is 12.
[Hint: If AP is a, a + d, a + 2d, ... , then S5 =

5
[a + (a + 4d)]
2

In the next five terms, the first term is a + 5d and last term is a + 9d.
14. If sum of first n terms of an AP is 2n + 3n2, find rth term of the A.P. [Hint tr = Sr Sr-1]
15. Find the sum of all 3-digit numbers which leave the remainder 1, when divided by 4.
[Hint: First term = 101, last term = 997]

ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

7.1
1. a = 5, d = 4
2. a = 6, d = 1
3. Not an AP
4. a = 6, d = 3
7.2
1. 29

2. 3

3. 5, 3

4. 10th term

7.3
1. (i) 360

(ii) 630

2. 20
3. 2380
4. 1689
5. 3, 7, 11 or 11, 7, 3
6. (i) n = 16, l = 73
(iii) d = 375, Sn = 11400

196

(ii) a = 3, d = 3
3
220
(iv) a = , Sn =
8
3
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ANSWERS TO TERMINAL EXERCISE

1. (ii)
2. (i) tn = 4n + 1

(ii) tn = 4n 3

Notes

3. 3, 2
4. 15, 2
5. 30o, 60o, 90o
6. (i) 26th term

(ii) 25th term

7. a + b, b
9. Yes, first term = 2a, common difference = 2d
10. 3

11. (i) 22 terms

(ii) 13 terms

12. 10,000

14. 6r 1

15. 123525

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Secondary Course
Mathematics
Practice Work-Algebra

Notes
Maximum Marks: 25

Time : 45 Minutes

Instructions:
1. Answer all the questions on a separate sheet of paper.
2. Give the following informations on your answer sheet
Name
Enrolment number
Subject
Topic of practice work
Address
3. Get your practice work checked by the subject teacher at your study centre so that
you get positive feedback about your performance.
Do not send practice work to National Institute of Open Schooling
1. The value of a if (x a) is a factor of x6 ax5 + x4 ax3 + 3x a + 2, is

(A) a = 1
(B) a = 1
(C) a = 2
(D) a = 2
2. The reciprocal of
3
(A)
5

1
( 3 / 5)2 is

5
(B)
3

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(C) ( 5 / 3)2
3
(D)
5

Notes

3. In an A.P., the sum of three numbers is 15 and their product is 45. Then the three
numbers are
1
(A) 1, 3, 15
(B) 2, 4, 9
(C) 1, 5, 9
(D) 0, 5, 9
4. If y =

1
x 1
, then 2 y
is equal to
2y
x +1

3x 2 10 x 3
(A)
2 x2 1

(B)

3 x 2 10 x + 1
x2 1

3x 2 + 10 x + 3
(C)
2 x2 1

3x 2 10 x + 3
(D)
2 x2 1

4 x 2 25
5. The lowest form of the expression 2
is
2 x + 11x = 15

(A)

2x 5
x+3

(B)

2x + 5
x+3

(C)

2x 5
x3

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(D)

2x 5
x3
3

Notes

7
8
6. Find x, so that
8
7

11

7
= :
8

7. Find three irrational numbers between 3 and 8 .

8. The HCF of two polynomials is (x2) and their LCM is x4 + 2x3 8x 16. If one of
2
the polynomials is x3 8, find the other polynomial.
9. The sum of a number and its reciprocal is

50
, find the number.
7

10. The length of a rectangle is 5 cm less than twice its breadth. If the perimeter is 110 cm,
find the area of the rectangle.
2
11. Show that the sum of an AP whose first term is a, the second term is b and the last term
is c, is equal to

(a + c )(b + c 2a )
.
2(b a )

12. Had Ajay scored 10 more marks in his test out of 30 marks, 9 times these marks
would have been the square of his actual marks. How many marks did he get in the
test?
6

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MODULE 2
Commercial Mathematics
It is a common saying by elders keep your expenditure, less than your income. The
latent meaning of this is to save something for difficult times. You must have seen
birds and animals saving eatables for rainy season, in their nests or caves. Taking
the lead from this, the students have been told about the importance and need of
savings in this module
Many Indian mathematicians have worked on the topic of commercial Mathematics.
Yodoksu (370 B.C.) worked on fractions and ratio and proportion. In the reigns of
Ashoka and Chandragupta, there is a description of levying taxes. There is a
description of many mathematicians working on practice and proportion (like
Aryabhatt, Mahavira, Brahmgupta, Sridharacharya). In 900 A.D., Bakhshali
Manuscript was discovered which had a number of problems on Commercial
mathematics.
To keep your savings safe is another tough task. Banks and other financial institutions
keep the money of their customers and on the expiry of the period pay extra money,
called interest, in addition to the money deposited. This encourages citizens to save
and keep the money safe. This is why calculation of interest on deposits in banks is
included for teaching.
The Government provides a number of facilities to the citizens. For that they levy
certain taxes on citizens. One of these taxes is sales tax to which the learners are
introduced in this module. Financial transactions about buying and selling are
generally done for profit. Due to greater supply of goods or sub-standard goods they
are to be sold on loss. The learners are, therefore, introduced to percentage and
profit and loss. Sometimes we have to buy articles on instalments because of nonavailability of adequate funds. Due to this the students are taught to calculate interest
when they buy articles on instalment plan. Sometimes when we are not able to return
loaned money on time, the financer starts charging interest on interest also, which is
called compound interest. Due to this the study of compound interest has been
included in this module. The formulae of compound interest is also used in finding
increase or decrease in prices of things. This is also taught under Appreciation and
Depreciation of value.