2022

(AP, GP, HP, AGP, SUMMATION and INEQUALITIES)

Vijayaram Sanaboyina

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.
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PROGESSIONS & SERIES:

Series:
If a1, a2, a3, ……, an, …… is a sequence, then the expression a1 + a2 + a3 + ……+ an + …… is a series.
Progressions:
It is not necessary that the terms of a sequence always follow a certain pattern or they are
described by some explicit formula for the nth term. Those sequences whose terms follow
certain patterns are called progressions.
Arithmetical progressions:
If the difference of any two consecutive terms is same throughout a sequence, then it is called
Arithmetical progression.

• General form:
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d,……………, a+ (n – 1)d,………. where a is the first term and d is the
common difference.
• nth term = tn = a + (n – 1)d.
• Common difference = d = t2 – t1 = t3 – t2 = …….. = tn – tn – 1
𝑛
• Sum of n terms = Sn = 2 {2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑}
𝑛
= 2 {𝑡1 + 𝑡𝑛 }
𝑛
= 2 {𝑟 𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 + 𝑟 𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡}
𝑛
= 2 {𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠} , if n is even,
= n. middle term, if n is odd.
𝑎+𝑐
• If a, b, c are in AP, then b is called arithmetic mean(AM) of a and c and given by 𝑏 = 2
𝑎+𝑏
• AM of a and b = 2
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ……….+ 𝑎𝑛
• AM of 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎3 , … … … . , 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛
𝑎𝑛 + 1 + 𝑏 𝑛 + 1
• is the AM of a and b if n = 0.
𝑎 𝑛 + 𝑏𝑛
• If 𝑎, 𝐴1 , 𝐴2 , 𝐴3 , 𝐴4 , … … … . , 𝐴𝑛 , 𝑏 are in AP then 𝐴1 , 𝐴2 , 𝐴3 , 𝐴4 , … … … . , 𝐴𝑛 are called n
AMs between a and b.
𝑏−𝑎 𝑏−𝑎
Here 𝑑 = 𝑛+1 and 𝐴𝑘 = 𝑎 + 𝑘 (𝑛+1).
• If 𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3 + … … … + 𝑡𝑛 + ⋯ is a series such that 𝑡𝑛 − 𝑡𝑛 − 1= a constant
independent of n, then the series is an AP.

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.
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Properties:
➢ If a constant is added or subtracted from each term of an AP, then the resulting
sequence is also in AP.
➢ If each term of a given AP is multiplied or divided by a non -zero constant k, then the
resulting sequence is also in AP.
➢ If 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 , …. and 𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 , … . . , 𝑏𝑛 , …. are two APs then the sequence 𝑎1 ±
𝑏1 , 𝑎2 ± 𝑏2 , 𝑎3 ± 𝑏3 , … . , 𝑎𝑛 ± 𝑏 𝑛 , … … is also in AP.
➢ A sequence is in AP iff its n th term is a linear expression in n, i.e; 𝑡𝑛 = 𝐴𝑛 + 𝐵 where A
and B are real numbers. In such a case A the coefficient of n is the common difference.
➢ A sequence is in AP iff the sum of its first n terms is of the form 𝐴𝑛2 + 𝐵𝑛 + 𝐶where A
and B are constants independent of n. In such a case 2A is the common difference.
➢ In an AP 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 , …. we have 𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑎3 + 𝑎𝑛− 2 = ⋯
➢ Selection of the terms in an AP:
3 terms: a – d, a, a + d
4 terms: a – 3d, a – d , a + d, a + 2d
5 terms: a – 2d, a – d, a, a + d, a + 2d.
6 terms: a – 5d , a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d, a + 5d.
Geometrical progressions:
If the ratio of any two consecutive terms is same throughout a sequence, then it is called
Geometrical progression.

• General form:
a, a r, ar2 , ar3,……………, a rn -1,………. where a is the first term and r is the common ratio.
• nth term = tn = arn - 1
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡𝑛
• Common ratio = 𝑟 = 𝑡2 = 𝑡3 = 𝑡4 = ⋯ = 𝑡 .
1 2 3 𝑛 −1
𝑎(𝑟 𝑛 −1)
• Sum of n terms = Sn = 𝑟−1
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 ≠ 1
= na, if r = 1.
𝑎
• Sum of infinite terms in a GP = 𝑆∞ = 1−𝑟 , 𝑖𝑓 |𝑟| < 1.
• If a, b, c are in GP, then b is called geometric mean(GM) of a and c and given by 𝑏 = √𝑎𝑐
• GM of two positive numbers a and b is √𝑎𝑏
1
• GM of n positive numbers 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎4 , … … … . , 𝑎𝑛 = GM = (𝑎1 . 𝑎2 . 𝑎3 . 𝑎4 . … … … . . 𝑎𝑛 )𝑛
𝑎𝑛 + 1 + 𝑏 𝑛 + 1 1
• is the GM of a and b if n = − 2.
𝑎𝑛 + 𝑏𝑛
• If 𝑎, 𝐺1 , 𝐺2 , 𝐺3 , 𝐺4 , … … … . , 𝐺𝑛 , 𝑏 are in GP then 𝐺1 , 𝐺2 , 𝐺3 , 𝐺4 , … … … . , 𝐺𝑛 are called n
GMs between a and b.
1 𝑘
𝑏 𝑛+1 𝑏 𝑛+1
Here 𝑟 = (𝑎) and 𝐺𝑘 = 𝑎 (𝑎 ) .

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.
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𝑡𝑛
• If 𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3 + … … … + 𝑡𝑛 + ⋯ is a series such that 𝑡 = a constant independent
𝑛−1
of n , then the series is a GP.
Properties:
➢ If each term of a given GP is multiplied or divided by a non -zero constant k, then the
resulting sequence is also in GP.
➢ If each term of a given GP is raised to a power k, then the resulting sequence is also in
GP.
➢ If 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 , …. and 𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 , … . . , 𝑏𝑛 , …. are two GPs then the sequence
𝑎1 𝑏1 , 𝑎2 𝑏2 , 𝑎3 𝑏3 , … . , 𝑎𝑛 𝑏 𝑛 , … … is also in GP.
➢ If 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 , …. is a GP (each 𝑎𝑖 > 0), then the sequence
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎1 , 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎2 , 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑛 , …. is in AP.
➢ In an GP 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 , …. we have 𝑎1 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎2 𝑎𝑛−1 = 𝑎3 𝑎𝑛− 2 = ⋯
➢ Selection of the terms in a GP:
𝑎
3 terms: , 𝑎, 𝑎𝑟
𝑟
𝑎 𝑎
4 terms: , , 𝑎𝑟, 𝑎𝑟 3
𝑟3 𝑟
𝑎 𝑎
5 terms: , , 𝑎, 𝑎𝑟, 𝑎𝑟 2
𝑟2 𝑟

Harmonic Progression:
A progression in which the reciprocals of the terms are in AP, is called a Harmonic progression.
1 1 1 1
Eg. , , , , … ….
2 4 6 8

• General form:
1 1 1 1 1
, , , , … … … . . , 𝑎+(𝑛−1)𝑑 , … …
𝑎 𝑎+𝑑 𝑎+2𝑑 𝑎+3𝑑
1
• n th term 𝑡𝑛 = 𝑎+(𝑛−1)𝑑.
• No formula for sum of n terms 𝑆𝑛 .
• Harmonic Mean:
If a, b, c are in HP, then b is defined Harmonic Mean(HM) between a and c and given by
2𝑎𝑐
𝐻𝑀 = 𝑏 = 𝑎 + 𝑐.
2𝑎𝑏
• HM of a and b = 𝑎 + 𝑏.
𝑛
• HM of 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 is defined by 𝐻 = 1 1 1 1 .
+ + +⋯ +
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑎𝑛

• If 𝑎, 𝐻1 , 𝐻2 , 𝐻3 , 𝐻4 , … … … . , 𝐻𝑛 , 𝑏 are in HP then 𝐻1 , 𝐻2 , 𝐻3 , 𝐻4 , … … … . , 𝐻𝑛 are called n

HMs between a and b.
1 1 𝑘 1 1
Here = 𝑎 + 𝑛+1 (𝑏 − 𝑎).
𝐻𝑘

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.
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1 1
• If 𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3 + … … … + 𝑡𝑛 + ⋯ is a series such that 𝑡 − 𝑡 = a constant
𝑛 𝑛−1
independent of n, then the series is in HP.
Relation between AM, GM and HM:

If A, G and H are arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means respectively of two positive numbers a and
b, then
𝑎+𝑏 2𝑎𝑏
• 𝐴= 2
, 𝐺 = √𝑎𝑏 , 𝐻 = 𝑎 + 𝑏
• 𝐺 2 = 𝐴𝐻.
• A, G and H are in GP.
• 𝐴≥𝐺≥𝐻
• A = G = H iff a = b

Arithmetico-Geometrical Progression:
A series in which each term is the product of corresponding terms in an AP and a GP.
i.e. Suppose 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 , …. is an AP and 𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 , … . . , 𝑏𝑛 , …. is a GP, then the sequence
𝑎1 𝑏1 , 𝑎2 𝑏2 , 𝑎3 𝑏3 , … . , 𝑎𝑛 𝑏 𝑛 , … … is said to be an Arithmetico- geometric progression
4 7 10
Eg. 1 + 5 + 52 + 53 + ⋯

• General form:
ab + (a + d) br + (a + 2d) br2 + (a + 3d) br3 + ……. + [a + (n – 1)d] brn -1 + …….
𝑎𝑏 𝑏𝑑𝑟(1 − 𝑟 𝑛 − 1 ) [𝑎 +(𝑛−1)𝑑]𝑏𝑟 𝑛
• Sum of n terms 𝑆𝑛 = 1−𝑟 + − .
(1− 𝑟)2 1−𝑟
𝑎𝑏 𝑏𝑑𝑟
• Sum of infinite AGP = 𝑆∞ = 1−𝑟 + (1− 𝑟)2 .

Summation:
Sum of n terms of a series is denoted by ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑡𝑟 or simply ∑ 𝑡𝑛 .
Thus, 𝑆𝑛 = ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑡𝑟 = ∑ 𝑡𝑛 = 𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3 + ⋯ + 𝑡𝑛 .

• 𝑡𝑛 = 𝑠𝑛 − 𝑠𝑛 − 1.
• ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑘 𝑡𝑟 = 𝑘 ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑡𝑟 where k is a constant.
• ∑𝑛𝑟=1(𝑎𝑟 ± 𝑏𝑟 ) = ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑎𝑟 ± ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑏𝑟 . i.e. Summation is distributive on addition and
subtraction.
𝑛(𝑛+1)
• Sum of first n natural numbers = 1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ + 𝑛 = ∑𝑛 = .
2
• Sum of squares of first n natural numbers = 1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ 2 2 2
+𝑛 2

𝑛(𝑛+1)(2𝑛 + 1)
= ∑ 𝑛2 = .
6

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.
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• Sum of cubes of first n natural numbers = 13 + 23 + 33 + ⋯ + 𝑛3

𝑛(𝑛+1) 2
= ∑ 𝑛3 = ( ) .
2

• Sum of first n even natural numbers = 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + ……… + 2n = n (n + 1).

• Sum of first n odd natural numbers = 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + …………. + (2n – 1) = n2.
Note:
(i) ∑𝑛𝑟=1(𝑎𝑟 . 𝑏𝑟 ) ≠ ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑎𝑟 . ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑏𝑟 .
𝑎 ∑𝑛
𝑟=1 𝑎𝑟
(ii) ∑𝑛𝑟=1 𝑏𝑟 ≠ ∑𝑛
.
𝑟 𝑟=1 𝑎𝑟

Inequalities:
Let 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 be n positive real numbers. We define their Arithmetic mean(A),
Geometric mean(G) and Harmonic mean(H) as
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ……….+ 𝑎𝑛
𝐴= .
𝑛
1
𝐺 = (𝑎1 . 𝑎2 . 𝑎3 . 𝑎4 . … … … . . 𝑎𝑛 )𝑛 .
𝑛
𝐻= 1 1 1 1 .
+ + +⋯ +
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑎𝑛

It can be shown that 𝐴 ≥ 𝐺 ≥ 𝐻. More over the equality holds at either place iff 𝑎1 = 𝑎2 =
𝑎3 =. … . = 𝑎𝑛 .
Weighted Means:
Let 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . . , 𝑎𝑛 be n positive real numbers and 𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3 , … . . , 𝑚𝑛 be n positive rational
numbers. Then we define Weighted Arithmetic Mean (𝐴∗ ), Weighted Geometric Mean (𝐺 ∗ )
and Weighted Harmonic mean (𝐻 ∗ ) as follows:

𝑚1 𝑎1 + 𝑚2 𝑎2 + 𝑚3 𝑎3 + ……….+ 𝑚𝑛 𝑎𝑛
𝐴∗ = 𝑚1 +𝑚2 + 𝑚3 +⋯ +𝑚𝑛
1
𝐺 = (𝑎1 𝑚1 . 𝑎2 𝑚2 . 𝑎3 𝑚3 … . . 𝑎𝑛 𝑚𝑛 )𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 +⋯ +𝑚𝑛
∗

𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 +⋯ +𝑚𝑛
𝐻∗ = 𝑚1 𝑚2 𝑚3 𝑚𝑛 .
+ + +⋯ +
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑎𝑛

It can be shown that 𝐴∗ ≥ 𝐺 ∗ ≥ 𝐻 ∗ . More over the equality holds at either place iff 𝑎1 = 𝑎2 =
𝑎3 =. … . = 𝑎𝑛 .

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.
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Arithmetic mean of m th power:

Let 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … . , 𝑎𝑛 be n positive real numbers (not all equal) and m be a positive rational
number. Then
𝑎1𝑚 + 𝑎2𝑚 + 𝑎3𝑚 +⋯ + 𝑎𝑛
𝑚 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ……….+ 𝑎𝑛 𝑚
>( ) if 𝑚 ∈ 𝑄 − [0, 1].
𝑛 𝑛

𝑎1𝑚 + 𝑎2𝑚 + 𝑎3𝑚 +⋯ + 𝑎𝑛

𝑚 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ……….+ 𝑎𝑛 𝑚
<( ) if 𝑚 ∈ 𝑄 ∩ (0, 1).
𝑛 𝑛

𝑎1𝑚 + 𝑎2𝑚 + 𝑎3𝑚 +⋯ + 𝑎𝑛

𝑚 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + ……….+ 𝑎𝑛 𝑚
=( ) if 𝑚 ∈ {0, 1}.
𝑛 𝑛

…@...

SUDHIKSHA Jr. COLLEGE,

KURMANNAPALEM, VISAKHAPATNAM.