6. If a1, a2, a3,….an are in A.P. then a1 + an = a2 + a n – 1 = a3 + a n – 2 = ……. And so on.

If nth term of any sequence is a linear expression in n, then the sequence is an AP, whose
common difference is the coefficient of n.

7. If sum of n terms of any sequence is a quadratic in n, then the sequence is an AP, whose
common difference is twice the coefficient of n2.

8. If three terms are in A.P., then the middle term is called the arithmetic mean (A.M)
a +c
between the other two i.e. if a, b, c are in A.P. then b = is the A.M. of a and c.
2
a + a2 + a3 + ...... + an
9. The arithmetic mean of a set of any n numbers a1 , a2 ,......, an is A = 1
n
10. The n A.M.’s between a and b are
b−a 2 (b − a ) n (b − a )
a+ ,a + ,......a +
n +1 n +1 n +1
11. The sum of all the n A.M.’s inserted between a and b is equal to n times the single A.M.
(a + b)
between a and b. [ i.e. a1 + a2 + a3 + ...+ an = n ]
2

12. Let S(n) be the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic progression, then
a) S (n + 3) − 3S (n + 2) + 3S (n + 1) − S (n) = 0
b) S (3n) = 3( S (2n) − S (n) )
Sm m2 t 2m − 1
13. Given an Arithmetic progression, if = 2 then m = ( tr -denotes r th term AP
Sn n t n 2n − 1
and S r -denotes sum of first r terms of AP)

14. Let S n be the sum of the first n terms of a geometric progression, ( S n  0, q  0 ) then
Sn S − Sn
= 2n
S 2 n − S n S3n − S 2 n

15. For any arithmetic progression a1 , a2 , a3 ............. then the following equalities hold true:
a) a1 − 2a2 + a3 = 0
b) a1 − 3a2 + 3a3 − a4 = 0
c) a1 − 4a2 + 6a3 − 4a4 + a5 = 0
d) for the terms of an arithmetic progression a1 , a2 , a3 ............. the quality a p + am = a p + k + am − k
is valid.
16. Suppose a1 , a2 ,......., an are in A.P. with first term a1 = 0 and common difference d  0 . Then
a3 a4 a5 a 1 1 1  an −1 a2
+ + + ........ n −d  + + ........ + = +
a2 a3 a4 an −1  a2 a3 an−2  a2 an−1
2 2 2
17. If the numbers a , b , c form an arithmetic progression, then the numbers
1 1 1
, , also form an arithmetic progression.
b+c a +c a +b
18. If the numbers log k x, log m x and logn x ( x  1) form an arithmetic progression then
n2 = ( kn )
logk m
.
19. Cube roots of three distinct prime numbers cannot be three terms (not necessarily
consecutive) of an A.P.
20. Suppose a1 , a2 ,...... are in A.P. and S k denotes the sum of the first k terms of this

( 2m + 1)
3
a
A.P. If S n / S m = n / m for all m, n, N , then prove that m +1 =
4 4

an +1 ( 2n + 1)3
Geometric Progression (G.P.):
If ‘a’ is the first term and ‘r’ the common ratio of a G.P. can be written as a, ar, ar 2, …..the
nth term ‘an’ is given by an = ar n – 1. The sum Sn of the first n terms is
a ( r n − 1)
Sn = ,r  1
r −1
= na, r =1
a
If – 1 < r < 1, then the sum of the infinite G.P. a + ar + ar2 + ….. = .
1− r
Properties of G.P.:
1. If a1 , a2 , a3 ,.............. are in G.P. then
a) a1k , a2 k , a3k .......... are in G.P
a1 a2 a3
b) , , ,........ are in G.P
k k k
c) a1  k , a2  k , a3  k ........ are not in G.P., k  0 .
d) a1k , a2k , a3k , …. a nk are in G.P. [If each term of a G.P.
1 1 1
e) , , .............. are in G.P
a1 a2 a3
2. if a1 , a2 , a3 ,........ and b1 , b2 , b3 ,........ are in G.P. then a1b1 , a2b2 , a3b3 ,........ are in G.P with common
a1 a2 a3
ratio r r ' and , , ........... are in G.P with common ration r/r’
b1 b2 b3
3. if a1 , a2 , a3 , …….and b1 , b2 , b3 , ……….are in G.P. then a1  b1 , a2  b2 , a3  b3 ........ are not in G.P.
But note that addition and subtraction of two G.P. when common ratio of both are same,
is G.P
4. If a1 , a2 , a3 ……..are positive numbers in G.P. then log a1 log a2 , log 3 ,..... are in A.P. &
vice-versa.
5. If a1 , a2 , a3 ,............an are in G.P. then a1an = a2 an −1 = a3an − 2 = .............
6. If a1 , a2 , a3 ,.............. are in G.P. then a22 = a1a3 ; a32 = a2 a4 ; a42 = a3 a5 ;..........
7. If a1 , a2 , a3 ,................ are in G.P. then ar = ar −k ar +k k ,0  k  n − r

8. If three terms are in G.P., then the middle term is called the geometric mean (G.M)
between the two. So if a, b, c are in G.P. then b = ac is the geometric, mean of a and c.

G = ( a1a2 ....an )
1/ n
9. The geometric mean of a set of any n positive numbers a1 , a2 ,....., an is
10. Then G.M.’s between a and b are
1 2 n / n +1
b n +1
b n +1
b
G1 = a   , G2 = a   ,.........., Gn = a  
a a a
11. The product of all the n G.N.s between a and b is equal to the nth power of the single GM
between a and b.
12. If G1, G2 …Gn are n geometric means between a and b then G1, G2 ……., Gn = n(ab)1/n

13. If a is the first term, r the common ratio, n be the number of terms, and if denotes the
last, or nth term of a G.P., we have
n −1
a ( r n − 1)
= ar and Sn =
r −1
 The sum of an infinite geometric series S = a + ar + ar + ............ upto infinity.
2
14.
a
When r  1 is
1− r
HARMONIC PROGRESSION (H.P.):
1 1 1 1
1. The nth term an of the H.P. is an = , where a = , and d = − .
a + ( n − 1) d a1 a 2 a1

2. The harmonic mean of a set of any n numbers a1 , a2 ,......., an is

−1
 1 1 1 
  + + ...... +  
a a2 an  
H =  1
 n 
 
 
3. The n H.M.’s between a and b are given by
1 1
= +
( a − b) , 1 1 2 ( a − b)
= + ,...........,
1 1 n ( a − b)
= +
H1 a ( n + 1) ab H 2 a ( n + 1) ab H n a ( n + 1) ab
4. The sum of reciprocals of n harmonic means between two given numbers is n times the
reciprocal of single H.M. between them.

5. If a and b are two non – zero numbers, then the harmonic mean of a and b is a number H
2ab
such that the numbers a, H, b are in H. b are in H.P. We have H = .
a+b
6. If a1, a2,……..an are ‘n’ non – zero numbers, then the harmonic mean H of these numbers
1 1 1 1 1 
is given by =  + + ..... + .
H n  a1 a 2 an 

ARITHMETIC – GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION:

Sum of n terms Sn = ab + (a + d)br + (a + 2d)br2 + ……+(a + (n – 2)d) brn – 2 + (a + (n –
1)d)brn – 1 is
a dr (1 − r n −1
) − a + ( n − 1) d  r n

Sn = + , r 1
1− r (1 − r ) (1 − r )
And the sum to infinity is
a dr
S = +
1 − r (1 − r )2

Miscellaneous

n
n ( n + 1)
1. a) r =
r =1 2
n
n ( n + 1)( 2n + 1)
b)  r =
2

r =1 6
n 2 ( n + 1)
2 2
n
 n 
c) 
r =1
r =
3

4
=  r 
 r =1 

2. (sum of given numbers)2

= sum of squares of numbers +2 (sum of products of numbers taking two at a time)

3. Recognization of A.P, G.P., H.P.

Let a, b, c be three successive terms of a sequence.
 a −b a
a) If = , then a, b, c are in A.P
b−c a
a −b a
b) If = , then a, b, c are in G.P
b−c b
a −b a
c) If = , then a, b, c are in H.P
b−c c
4. If the first differences are constant, then general term is of the form tn = an + b .
a). If the second differences are constant, then general term tn = an 2 + bn + c
b) If the third differences are constant, then assume the general term as
tn = an3 + bn 2 + cn + d .
c) If the first differences are in G.P. with common ratio r,then general term tn = ar n + b.
d) If the second differences are in G.P. with common ratio r, then general term
tn = ar n + bn + c if the third differences are in G.P. with common ratio r, then assume the
general term as tn = ar n + bn 2 + cn + d

6. a) If Tn = n ( n + 1) , then Sn =
 n [n + 1][n + 2]
3
 n][n + 1][n + 2[n + 3]
b) if Tn = n ( n +1)( n + 2) , then Sn = .
4

7. Let a,b,c be three distinct positive real numbers, and they are in either AP or GP or HP
and n is a natural number then a n + c n  b2 n

11. If p, q, r are in AP then

(a) tp, tq, tr of any AP are in AP
(b) tp, tq, tr of any GP are in GP
(c) tp, tq, tr of any HP are in HP

12. If a1, a2, a3,………….an be a sequence such that an = a(a + d) (a + 2d)………

1
Then Sn = ( Tn -T0 )
(r +1)d
Where r = number of factors in each term Tn = an × next factor

13. If a, b, c are in A.P. b,c,d are in G.P. and c,d,e are in H.P. then a,c,e are in G P
14. Let Tr be the rth term of an A.P. Whose first term is a and common difference is d. If for
1 1
some positive integers m, n, m  n, Tm = and Tn = , then a − d equals 0
n m
15. If a, b, c are in H.P., then
a b c
A) , , will be in H.P.
b+c c+a a +b
a b c
B) , , are in H.P.
b+c−a c+a −b a +b−c
1 1 1 1 1 1
C) + , + , + are in H.P.
a b+c b c+a c a +b
bc ca ab
D) , , are in A.P.
b+ c c+ a a+ b
e) bc(1-a), ca(1-b), ab(1-c) are in AP
f) ac> b2
 2 1 
g) = +
b b−a b−c
b b b
h) a − , , c − are in G.P
2 2 2
16. The pth term Tp of HP is q(p + q) and qth term Tq is p (p + q) when p > 1, q > 1,
(p q) then a) Tp + q = pq b) Tpq = p + q c) Tp + q  Tpq
17. If a,b,c,d are distinct integers in A.P. Such that d = a 2 + b2 + c2 , then a+b+c+d is 2
18. If S1 , S 2 and S3 are the sums of first n natural numbers, their squares and their cubes
S14 S22 − S22 S32
respectively, then is equal to 0
S12 + S32
19. If mth term of an AP is n and nth term of the AP is m
Then pth term of the AP is m + n – p and (m+n)th term of the AP is 0
20. Vn − method
A) To find the sum of n terms, in which each term is the product of r factors in AP
and also the first factors of all terms are also in the same AP, we use Vn
method.
n
Example:  ( 3r − 1)( 3r + 2 )( 3r + 5)
r =1

Let Vn = (3r + 8) t n
Vn − Vn −1 = 12t n
1
 Sn = ( Vn − V0 )
12
B) To find the sum of n terms of a series, in which each term is the reciprocal of
the product of r factors in AP, and the first factors of the denominators of all terms
are also in the same AP, we use Vn method
n
1
Example: i)  ( a + rd ) ( a + ( r + 1) d ) ( a + ( r + 2 ) d )
r =1

Let Vn = ( a + rd ) t n
−1
Vn − Vn −1 = ( −2d ) t n  Sn = ( Vn − V0 )
2d
1 1 1
ii) + + + .... upto n terms.
1.3.5 3.5.7 5.7.9
n
1
Sn = 
n =1 ( 2n − 1)( 2n + 1)( 2n + 3)

Let Vn = ( 2n −1) t n
Vn − Vn −1 = −4t n

4
Sn = −1 Vn − V0  .

INEQUALITIES
1. A.M.  G.M  H.M.:

Moreover equality holds at either place if and only if a 1 = a2 = …..=an.

2. Let a, b be positive real numbers and  ,  be positive rational numbers such that
 +  = 1 . Then  a +  b  a .b  , and equality occurs if and only if a = b .
3. Theorem on weighted means
If ( a1 , a2 ...., an ) be a set of n positive numbers and ( q1 , q2 ...., qn ) be a set of n positive
 qi
  qi ai 
rational numbers then     ai qi
 q
 i 
Where i = 1, 2,......, n and as are not all equal.
4. Power means inequality : -
If ( a1 , a2 ,......an ) be a set of positive numbers and all as are not equal, then

a   ai
m
m
i

  if m < 0 or m > 1
n  n 
 
a   ai
m
m
i

And   if 0 < m < 1 Where the equality occurs when a = b
n  n 
 

5.

a) If a, b, c and x, y, z are any real numbers (positive, Zero or negative), then

( ax + by + cz )  ( a 2 + b2 + c 2 )( x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ) , with equality is a:b : c:: x: y: z.
2

b) If a, b, c and x, y, z are any real numbers (positive, Zero or negative), then

((bz − yc ) 2
+ ( az − xc ) + ( ay − xb )
2 2
)  (a 2
+ b 2 + c 2 )( x 2 + y 2 + z 2 ) , with equality is
a:b : c:: x: y: z.

6. Tchebycheff’s Inequalities
If a1 , a2 ,........, an and b1 , b2 ,........, bn are any real numbers such that a1  a2  ....  an and
a1  a2  ....  an , then n ( a1b1 + a2b2 + ... + anbn )  ( a1 + a2 + ... + an )(b1 + b2 + ... + bn )
7. RMS-AM inequality
(a 2
1 + .... + an2 )

a1 + .... + an
n n
n
c
8. a) If x + y + z + .... + w = c then xyz....w   
n
b) If xyz.....w = c, then
n
 x + y + z + .... + w 
   c, Assuming all quantities as positive.
 n 