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Arithmetic Sequences and Series

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11 views

Arithmetic Sequences and Series

Uploaded by

russelaraniego.cdli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A r ith m e ti c S e q u e n c e s

and Series

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Information

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Arithmetic sequences

Describe the pattern of the following numbers:


2, 8, 14, 20, 26, 32, 38, 44, . . .

This sequence starts with 2 and progresses by adding 6 to each term.

A sequence that progresses by adding a common difference,


d, to each consecutive term is called an arithmetic sequence.

The formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence with first
term a1 and common difference d is:

nth term of an arithmetic sequence:


an = a1 + (n – 1)d
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nth term of an arithmetic sequence

Find the 9th term of a sequence where a1 is 3 and d is 7.


state the formula: an = a1 + (n – 1)d
substitute in known values: a9 = 3 + (9 – 1)7
= 59
Write the formula for the nth term of
the following arithmetic sequence:
–9, 2, 13, 24, 35, 46 …
find d and a1: d = 2 – (–9)
d = 11

a1 = –9

substitute into the formula: an = –9 + (n – 1)11

simplify: = 11n – 20

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Tile patterns

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Formula for an arithmetic series

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Arithmetic series

The formula for an arithmetic series


with n terms is:

sum of an arithmetic series with n terms:


n(a1 + an)
Sn = or Sn = n (2a1 + (n – 1)d)
2 2

The sum of an arithmetic series can also


be written in summation notation:

summation notation for an


arithmetic series:
n n

Sn = a k = a 1 + d(k – 1)
k =1 k =1

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Summation notation

What is the summation notation for the arithmetic series:


–3 + 4 + 11 + 18 + 25 + 32 + … + 515 + 522
find a1: –3 find d: 4 – (–3) = 7
use the formula for an arithmetic sequence: ak = a1 + (k – 1)d
substitute in a1 and d: = –3 + (k – 1)7
simplify: = 7k – 10
substitute an = 522 and k = n in to find the 522 = 7n – 10
upper limit: n = 76
76
complete the summation notation:  7k – 10
k =1

What is the sum to infinity of an arithmetic series?

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Using a graphing calculator

A graphing calculator can be used to find the sum of a series.


12
Find ∑4k + 3 using a graphing calculator.
k=1
● Press “2nd” than “STAT” to get the “LIST”
menu. Scroll to the “OPS” menu and
select “seq(”.
● Enter the sequence: 4x + 3. The variable
is “x”, start is 1 and end is 12 since
n = 12. Press “Paste”.
● Press “ENTER” to see a list of the terms.
● To sum the terms, press "LIST" then
select “sum(” on the “MATH” menu.
Press “ANS” to insert your series then
“ENTER” to see the sum.
● The sum is 348.
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Example problems

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Salary

Jake earns $30,000 a year in his first year at a company.


Every year his salary will increase by $2,500. What will his
salary be in the 6th year?
write the formula to find an: an = a1 + (n – 1)d
substitute: a6 = 30000 + (6 – 1)2500
= $42,500 in year 6

How much money total will he have earned in 6 years?


n(a1 + an)
write the formula to find Sn: Sn =
2
substitute: S6 = 6(30000 + 42500)
2
evaluate: = $217,500 total in 6 years

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