S&P

SEQUENCE & PROGRESSION

1. INTRODUCTION :
A sequence is a set of terms which may be algebraic, real or complex numbers, written
according to definite rule and the series thus formed is called a progression.
e.g. 0, 1, 7, 26.............. (rule is n3 – 1)
2. SHORT STORY :
Leading to historical development and origin of the chapter - Fredric Karl Gauss.

3(a) ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION :

It is a sequence whose terms increase or decrease by a fixed number. Fixed number is
called the common difference. If 'a' is the first term and 'd' is the common difference,
then the standard appearance of an A.P. is
a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + ......... + (a + n 1 d )
and nth or last term is given by

r
Tn = a + (n – 1)d
Note : If d > 0  increasing A.P.
If d < 0  decreasing A.P. Si
If d = 0  all the terms remain same
3(b) Sum of n terms of an A.P.
.B
Sn = a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + .............. + (a + n 1 d )
Sn = (a + n 1 d ) + (a + n  2 d ) + (a + d) +.................+ a
——————————————————————————————
2Sn = n [2a + (n – 1)d], (Note that there are 4 variables)
G

n n
Sn = [2a + n 1 d] or (a + l) where l = a + n 1 d]
2 2
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3(c) HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT AN A.P.

(i) If each term of an A.P. is increased, decreased, multiplied or divided by the same non
zero number, then the resulting sequence is also an AP.
(ii) Three numbers in AP can be taken as a – d , a , a + d ; four numbers in AP can be taken
as a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d ; five numbers in AP are a – 2d, a – d , a, a + d, a + 2d &
six terms in AP are a – 5d, a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d, a + 5d etc.
(iii) The common difference can be zero, positive or negative.
(iv) The sum of the two terms of an AP equidistant from the beginning & end is constant
and equal to the sum of first & last terms.
(v) If the number of terms in an A.P. is even then take it as 2n and if odd then take it as (2n+1)
(vi) For any series, Tn = Sn – Sn – 1. In a series if Sn is a quadratic function of n or Tn is a
linear function of n, then the series is an A.P.
[Hint: Sn = n2 + n + 1 then Tn = Sn – Sn – 1 = 2n but this is for n  2
T1 = S1 = 3, T2 = 4, T3 = 6 so in this way an A.P. is formed from T2 onwards.
If Sn = an2 + bn then T1 is also in A.P. and T1 = S1 because S0 = 0 ]

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n (n  1)
Remember that : (i) sum of first n natural number is and S100 = 5050
22
(ii) sum of first n odd natural number is n
(iii) sum of first n even natural number is n(n + 1)
3(d) ARITHMETIC MEAN :
Definition : When three quantities are in A.P. then the middle one is called the Arithmetic
Mean of the other two.
e.g. a, b, c are in A.P. then 'b' is the arithmetic mean between 'a' and 'c' and a + c = 2b.
It is to be noted that between two given quantities it is always possible to insert any
number of terms such that the whole series thus formed shall be in A.P. and the terms
thus inserted are called the arithmetic means.
To insert 'n' AM's between a and b.
Let A1, A2, A3 ........ An are the n means between a and b.
Hence a, A1A2, ........ Anb is an A.P. and b is the (n + 2)th terms.
ba
Hence b = a + (n + 1)d  d=
n 1

r
Now A1 = a + d
A2 = a + 2d

An = a + nd
—————
Si
n
n(n  1) n(n  1) b  a
.B
 Ai = na + (1 + 2 + 3 + .... + n)d = na + 2 d = na + 2 · n  1
i 1

n a b
= [2a  b  a] = n   = na
G

2  2 
4(a) GEOMETRICAL PROGRESSION :
Definition : In a sequence if each term (except the first non zero term) bears the same
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constant ratio with its immediately preceding term the series is called a G.P. and the
constant ratio is called the common ratio.
Standard appearance of a G.P. is
a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ..........+ arn – 1 , where nth term is Tn = arn – 1 (r  0)
4(b) Sum of n terms of a G.P.
S = a + ar + ar2 + .......... + arn – 1
Sr= + ar + ar2 + ...................... + arn
subtract – – –
———————————————
S(1 – r) = a – arn = a (1 – rn)
a(1  r n )
S= , where r  1, (if r = 1 then S = na)
1 r
If | r | < 1 and n   then rn  0 and in this case geometric series will be summable
upto infinity and its sum is given by
a
S =
1 r
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4(c) IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

(i) If each term of a GP be multiplied or divided by the same non-zero quantity, the
resulting sequence is also a GP.
(ii) Any 3 consecutive terms of a GP can be taken as a/r, a, ar ; any 4 consecutive terms
of a GP can be taken as a/r3, a/r, ar, ar3 & so on.
(iii) If a, b, c are in GP  b2 = ac.

4(d) GEOMETRICAL MEAN

Definition : If a, b, c are three positive number in G.P. then b is called the geometrical
mean between a and c and b2 = ac. If a and b are two + ve real and G is the G.M.
between them, then
G2 = ab
To insert 'n' GM's between a and b
Let a and b are two positive numbers are G1, G2, .........Gn are 'n' GM's then
a G1 G2 ...........Gn b is a G.P. with 'b' as its (n+2)th term.
Hence b = arn + 1

r
1

r =  b 
n1


n
a
Now G1 = ar, G2 = ar2, ..........Gn = arn
Si n(n 1)  1 
n(n 1)
2
2 n  b  n1 
hence  G i = an · r1 + 2 + .... + n = an · r = a   
.B
i 1 a
 
n  b n 2 
= a · n/2 n/2
 an 2  = a · b =
  ab n = Gn
G

 
where G is the single GM between a and b.
Hence product of n GM's inserted between of a and b is equal to the nth power of a
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single GM between them. It may be noted that between two positive numbers AM  GM

5 ARITHMETIC GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION (AGP):

Standard appearance of an AGP is
S = a + (a + d)r + (a + 2d)r2 + (a + 3d)r3 + ..........
Here each term is the product of corresponding terms in an arithmetic and geometric series.
Let
S = a + (a + d)r + (a + 2d)r2 + (a + 3d)r3 + .......... + a  n 1d rn – 1
 
Sr = + ar + (a + d)r2 + ...............................+ a  n  2d  rn – 1 + a  n 1d rn
—————————————————————————————————
Now subtract and get the expression for Sn and S as the case may be

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6. Miscellaneous sequences
(Type-1): Sequence dealing with  n ;  n 2 ;  n3
n(n  1)
(1) n  2 

*  n2 
n(n  1)(2n  1) 
 Proof to be done. Results to be remembered.
6 
2 
** 3 n(n  1)  2 
 n   2    n 
 
For proof :
* Consider the identity k3 – (k – 1)3 = 3k2 – 3k + 1
** Consider the identity k4 – (k – 1)4 = 4k3 – 6k2 + 4k – 1
n n n
Note : (i)  (a r  br ) =  a r   br ;
r1 r1 r1
n

r
n
(ii)  k ar = k ar

Important: (iii)
r1
n
k
r1
n
= k  = kn
r1
r 1
Si
(explain by taking Tn = n2 – n + 1 then computing the sum of n terms)
.B
TYPE-2 (Using method of difference) :
If T1, T2, T3, ....... are the terms of a sequence then the terms
G

T2 – T1, T3 – T2, T4 – T3 ..........

some times are in A.P. and some times in G.P. For such series we first compute their
nth term and then compute the sum to n terms, using sigma notation.
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TYPE -3 (Splitting the nth term as a difference of two) :

(a) Here is a series in which each term is composed of the reciprocal of the product of r
factors in A.P., the first factor of the several terms being in the same A.P.
TYPE-4 :
Here is a series in which each terms is composed of r factor in A.P., the first factor of
the several terms being in the same A.P.
7(a) HARMONICAL PROGRESSION (HP):
Definition : A sequence is said to be in H.P. if the reciprocals of its terms are in A.P.
1 1 1
e.g. if a1, a2, a3, .... are in H.P. then a , a , a .... are in A.P.  for every
1 2 3
 HP  a
1  corresponding
1 1 1  H.P.
A standard H.P. is + + + ........ +
a ad a  2d a  n 1d

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For every HP  a corresponding HP

Terms of harmonic series are the outcomes of an A.P.
Note:
(i) If the term of an H.P. is  this means that the corresponding term of the A.P. is zero.
This also means that no term of HP can be zero.
(ii) There is no general formula for finding the sum to n terms of H.P.
1 1 1
(iii) If a, b, c are in H.P.  , , are in A.P
a b c
2 1 1 2ac
 = +  b=  a, b, c are in HP
b a c ac
1 1 1 1 a b bc a ab
also – = – i.e. = i.e. =  a, b, c are in A.P]
b a c b ab bc c bc

7(b) HARMONICAL MEAN :

r
If a, b, c are in H.P. then middle term is called the harmonic mean between them. Hence

and H =
2ab
ab
. (Recall that AM =
Si
if H is the harmonic mean (H.M.) between a and b then a, H, b are in H.P.
ab
and GM = ab if a > 0, b > 0)
.B
G
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Relation between A.M, G.M. and H.M :

If a and b are two positive numbers then A  G  H and A, G, H are in G.P. i.e. G2=AH