Arithmetic Sequences and Series

What is a Sequence?
A Sequence is a set of things (usually numbers) that are in order.

Infinite or Finite
If the sequence goes on forever it is called an infinite sequence,
otherwise it is a finite sequence
Examples:
{1, 2, 3, 4 ,...} is a very simple sequence (and it is an infinite
sequence)
{20, 25, 30, 35, ...} is also an infinite sequence
{1, 3, 5, 7} is the sequence of the first 4 odd numbers (and is a
finite sequence)

{4, 3, 2, 1} is 4 to 1 backwards
{1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ...} is an infinite sequence where every term
doubles
{a, b, c, d, e} is the sequence of the first 5 letters alphabetically
{f, r, e, d} is the sequence of letters in the name "fred"
{0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ...} is the sequence of alternating 0s and 1s (yes
they are in order, it is an alternating order in this case)
In Order
When we say the terms are "in order", we are free to define
what order that is! They could go forwards, backwards ... or
they could alternate ... or any type of order you want!
Like a Set
A Sequence is like a Set, except:
the terms are in order (with Sets the order does not matter)
the same value can appear many times (only once in Sets)
Example: {0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, ...} is the sequence of alternating 0s
and 1s.
The set would be just {0,1}
Notation
Sequences also use the same notation as
sets:

{3, 5, 7, ..}

list each element, separated by a comma,

and then put curly brackets around the
whole thing.
The curly brackets { } are sometimes called "set brackets" or
"braces".
A Rule
A Sequence usually has a Rule, which is a way to find the value
of each term.
Example: the sequence {3, 5, 7, 9, ...} starts at 3 and jumps 2
every time:

As a Formula
Saying "starts at 3 and jumps 2 every time" is fine, but it doesn't
help us calculate the:
10th term,
100th term, or
nth term, where n could be any term number we want.
So, we want a formula with "n" in it (where n is any term
number).
So, What Would A Rule For {3, 5, 7, 9, ...} Be?

Firstly, we can see the sequence goes up 2 every time, so we can

guess that a Rule will be something like "2 times n" (where "n"
is the term number). Let's test it out:
Test Rule: 2n
n
1
2
3

Term
3
5
7

Test Rule
2n = 21 = 2
2n = 22 = 4
2n = 23 = 6

That nearly worked ... but it is too low by 1 every time, so let us
try changing it to:
Test Rule: 2n+1
n Term
Test Rule
1 3
2n+1 = 21 + 1 = 3
2 5
2n+1 = 22 + 1 = 5
3 7
2n+1 = 23 + 1 = 7
That Works!
So instead of saying "starts at 3 and jumps 2 every time" we
write this:
2n+1
Now we can calculate, for example, the 100th term:
2 100 + 1 = 201
Many Rules

But mathematics is so powerful we can find more than one

Rule that works for any sequence.
Example: the sequence {3, 5, 7, 9, ...}
We have just shown a Rule for {3, 5, 7, 9, ...} is: 2n+1
And so we get: {3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ...}
But can we find another rule?
How about "odd numbers without a 1 in them":
And we would get: {3, 5, 7, 9, 23, 25, ...}
A completely different sequence!
And we could find more rules that match {3, 5, 7, 9, ...}. Really
we could.
So it is best to say "A Rule" rather than "The Rule" (unless you
know it is the right Rule).
Notation
To make it easier to use rules, we often use this special style:
xn is the term
n is the term number

Example: to mention the "5th term" you just write: x5

So a rule for {3, 5, 7, 9, ...} can be written as an equation like

this:
xn = 2n+1
And to calculate the 10th term we can write:
x10 = 2n+1 = 210+1 = 21
Can you calculate x50 (the 50th term) doing this?
Here is another example:
Example: Calculate the first 4 terms of this sequence:
{an} = { (-1/n)n }
Calculations:
a1 = (-1/1)1 = -1
a2 = (-1/2)2 = 1/4
a3 = (-1/3)3 = -1/27
a4 = (-1/4)4 = 1/256
Answer:
{an} = { -1, 1/4, -1/27, 1/256, ... }
Fibonacci Sequence
This is the Fibonacci Sequence
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...

The next number is found by adding the two numbers before

it together:
The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1)
The 21 is found by adding the two numbers before it
(8+13)
etc...
Rule is xn = xn-1 + xn-2
That rule is interesting because it depends on the values of the
previous two terms.
Rules like that are called recursive formulas.
The Fibonacci Sequence is numbered from 0 onwards like this:
n=

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ...
14 23 37
xn = 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89
...
4 3 7

Example: term "6" would be calculated like this:

x6 = x6-1 + x6-2 = x5 + x4 = 5 + 3 = 8

Arithmetic Sequences
In an Arithmetic Sequence the difference between one term
and the next is a constant.

In other words, you just add some value each time ... on to
infinity.
Example:
1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, ...
This sequence has a difference of 3 between each number.
Its Rule is xn = 3n-2
In General you could write an arithmetic sequence like this:
{a, a+d, a+2d, a+3d, ... } where:
a is the first term, and d is the difference between the terms
(called the "common difference") And you can make the rule
by: xn = a + d(n-1)
(We use "n-1" because d is not used in the 1st term
Exercise: Find the next term and the general formula for the
following:
A.{2, 5, 8, 11, 14, ...}

B.{0, 4, 8, 12, 16, ...}

C.{2, -1, -4, -7, -10, ...}
For each of these three sequences there is a common difference.
In the first sequence the common difference is d = 3, in the

second sequence the common difference is d = 4, and on the

third sequence the common difference is d = -3. We will call a
sequence an arithmetic sequence if there is a common difference.
The general formula for an arithmetic sequence is
an = a1 + (n - 1)d
Example
What is the difference between the fourth and the tenth terms of
{2,6,10,14,...) ,We have a10 - a4 = (10 - 4)d = 6(4) = 24

Arithmetic Series
First we see that
1+ 2 + 3 + ... + 100 = 101 + 101 + ... + 101 (50 times) =
101(50) In general
1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n =

n(n+1)
2

Example : What is S = 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + 13 +... + 46

Solution :S = 1 + (1 + 1(3)) + (1 + 2(3)) + (1 + 3(3)) + ... + (1
+ 15(3)) = (1 + 1 + ... + 1) + 3(1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 15)= 16 +
3(15)(16)/2 Or Alternatively
Sn = n/2(a1 + an)
Example

How much will I receive over my 35 year career if my starting

salary is $40,000, and I receive a 1,000 salary raise for each year
I work here?
Solution
We have the series:
40,000 + 41,000 + 42,000 + ... + 74,000
= 35/2 (40,000 + 74,000) = $1,995,500
An important result : if a,b,c are in A.P. then b a = c
b 2b = a+c , d =

ba
n+1

and nth term = Tn = Sn Sn-1

Arithmetic meam between two numbers a & b is

(a+b)/2 is denoted by A.M.

A.P.
Question:3 In an A.P., the first term is 2 and the sum of the first
five terms is one-fourth of the next five terms.Show that 20th
term is -112.
Answer: S5 = (S10 - S5) 5 S5 = S10 5.5/2 [2a+(n1)d] = 10/2[2a+(n-1)d] d = -6 a=2
a20 = a+19d = 2+19

(-6) = -112.

Question: 5 In an A.P., if pth term is 1/q and qth term is 1/p,

prove that the sum of first pq terms is
(pq+1), where pq.

Answer: pth term = a+(p-1)d = 1/q..(1)

qth term= a+(q-1)d = 1/p.(2)
By subtracting (1)&(2) , we get
d(p-1-q+1) =

1
q

1
p

d=

1
pq

by

putting the value of d

In (1) a =

1
pq

+(pq-1)

1
pq

1
pq

] =

Spq = pq/2 [ 2
(pq+1).

Question: 9 The sum of first n terms of two arithmetic

progressions are in the ratio

5 n+ 4
9 n+6

. Find the ratio of their 18th

term.
Answer:

of n termsof first A . P.
of n terms of second A . P .
n
[2 a 1+ ( n1 ) d 1]
2
n
[2 a 2+ ( n1 ) d 2]
2

[2 a1+ ( n1 ) d 1]
[2a 2+ ( n1 ) d 2]

18th term of first A . P .

18 thterm of second A . P .

5 n+ 4
9 n+6

=
5 n+ 4
9 n+6

(1)
a 1+17 d 1
a 2+17 d 2

5 n+ 4
9 n+6

By putting n=35 in (1)

179
321

351d 2
2a 2+
2 a 1+ ( 351 ) d 1

5 35+4
9 35+6

Question:11 Sum of first p, q, r terms of an A.P. are a,b,c

respectively. Prove that
a
p

Answer:

(q - r) +

b
q

(r - p) +

c
r

(p q) = 0.

Sp = p/2 [2a1 + (p 1)d] = a

Sq = q/2[2a1 + (q 1)d] = b
Sr = r/2[2a1 + (r 1)d ] = c

1/2 [2a1 + (p 1)d]

a

(r p) =

(r p)(ii)
1/2[2a1 + (r 1)d ]

c
r

(q r) =

(q - r)(i)
1/2[2a1 + (q 1)d]

b
q

(p q)(iii)

(i) + (ii) + (iii)

(p q) =

a
p

(q - r) +

b
q

(r - p) +

c
r

(p q) = {2a1 (q r + r

p + p - q) + d [ (p-1)(q-r) + (q-1)(r-p) + (r-1)(p-q) ]}

= { 0 + d [ pq q pr +r + qr r pq +p + rp p qr
+q]} = 0
Question:15 If

a +b
a +bn1

is the A.M. between a and b, then

n1

find the value of n.

[Hint :

a +b
n1
a +b
n1

a+b
2

(a +b )

2 = (a+b)(

an1 +b n1

2an +2 bn = an+abn-1+ban-1+bn
an-1(a-b) - bn-1(a-b) = 0 (a-b)(an-1 - bn-1) = 0 (a-b)=0 or
(an-1 - bn-1) =0 n=1 ab.
Question: 16 Between 1 and 31 , m numbers have been inserted
in such a way that the resulting sequence. In an A.P. and ratio of
7th and (m 1)th numbers is 5: 9.
Answer:
am+1, 31

Let a2, a3, a4,am+1 as 1, a2, a3, a4,

am+2 = a1+ (m+1) d = 31 and a1 = 1

31 = 1 + (m+1) d d = 30/(m+1) or d =(b a)/ (n+1)
According to statement
30
(m+ 1)
30
1+(m1)
(m+ 1)
1+7

5
9

a8
am

m = 14.

5
9

a1+7 d
a1+(m1)d

Geometric Sequences
In a Geometric Sequence each term is found by
multiplying the previous term by a constant.
Example:
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, ...
This sequence has a factor of 2 between each number.
Its Rule is xn = 2n
In General you could write a geometric sequence like this:
{a, ar, ar2, ar3, ... }
where:
a is the first term, and
r is the factor between the terms (called the
"common ratio")
r can be calculated by dividing any two consecutive
terms
in a geometric sequence. The formula for calculating
r is...

 ...where n is any positive integer greater than 1.

Note: r should not be 0.
When r=0, you get the sequence {a,0,0,...} which is not
geometric
And the rule is:
xn = ar(n-1)
(We use "n-1" because ar0 is the 1st term)

Finding the Sum of a Series

Given our generic arithmetic sequence a1, a2, a3, a4, ...,
an, we can look at it as a series: a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 + ... + an.
There exists a formula that can add a finite list of these
numbers and a formula for an infinite list of these
numbers. Here are the formulas...

and

...where Sn is the sum of the first n numbers, a1 is the

first number in the sequence, r is the common ratio of
the sequence, and -1 < r < 1 for infinite series.

***Introduction

The process of adding infinitely many numbers is at

the heart of the mathematical concept of a numerical series.

Let s denote the sum of the series just considered:

Let's multiply both sides by 1/2

and subtract the second line from the first. All terms
on the right
side except for the 1 will cancel out!

We have shown that

One also says that this series converges to 2.

Let's play the same game for a general q instead of

1/2:

multiply both sides by q

then, subtract the second line from the first:

The series

is called the geometric series. It is the most important

series you will encounter!
S =

a
1r

, a is first term , r is the common

ratio.
As n

rn 0 for |r|<1.

Geometric mean between two numbers a &

b is ab i.e.,

G2 = ab or G = ab

, Harmonic mean (H.M.)=

2 ab
a+b

If a , b, c are in G.P. then b/a = c/b b2

= ac. A G =

a+b
2

- ab

A GH(Harmonic mean)
R=

b
a

Special sequences:
+n =

(i)

1+2+3+..

n(n+1)
2

(ii)

12+22+32+..+ n2 =

(iii)

13+23+33++n3 =

n ( n+ 1 ) (2 n+1)
6

n(n+1)
2

)2

Example:
Find the sum of the series

First, factor out the 5 from upstairs and a 2 from downstairs:

.
The series in the parentheses is the geometric series with
but the first term, the "1" at the beginning is omitted.
Thus, the series sums up to

There is a slightly slicker way to do this. Do you see how?

Try it yourself!
Find the sum of the series

G.P.
Question: 21 Find four numbers forming a G.P. in which
the third term is greater than the first term by 9, and the

second term is greater than the 4th term by 18.

Answer: In G.P. a, ar, ar2, ar3 are first four terms.
ar2 a = 9 and ar3 - ar = 18 ,
dividing by above results , we get r =-2 and a=3, then terms
are 3, -6, 12 and -24.
Question:23 If the first and the nth term of a G.P. are a and b
resp.
and if P is the product of n terms , prove that P2 = (ab)n .
Answer: P = a.ar. ar2. ar3..arn-1 = an. r(1+2+3++n-1) =
n

a .

n (n1)
2

[+2+3=+n=n(n+1)/2]
n

= (a .

n (n1)
2

2n

) =a .

2 n(n1)
2

b = nth term = a rn-1

= [a.(a rn-1]n =(ab)n

Question:24 Show that the ratio of the sum of first n

terms of a G.P. to the sum of terms from (n+1)th to (2n)th Term
is

1
n
r

.
n

Answer:

Sn =

a(1r )
1r

.(i)

The sum of terms from (n+1)th to (2n)th =

ar n (1r n )
1r

(ii)

[ a,ar,ar2,.arn-1, arn,arn+1, ar2n-1]

Question:28 The sum of two numbers is 6 times their G.P.,
show that numbers are in the ratio (3+2
Answer:

a+b
2 ab

a+b+ 2 ab
a+b2 ab

3
1

2 :

3-2 2 ).

by c & d
=

3+1
31

a+ b
a b

2
1

, again

by c& d, we get
a
b

2+1
21

, then squaring on the both sides

,we get the answer.

(MISC.)
Question:4 Find the sum of all numbers between 200 and 400
which are divisible by 7.
Answer: 203, 210, 217, 224, . ,339.
399 = 203 + (n-1)7 196 = (n-1)7 n = 29, so Sn =
n/2 (a+l) = 29/2(203=399) =29 301 = 8729.
Question: 5 Find the sum of integers from 1 to 100 that are
divisible by 2 or 5.
Answer: Divisible by 2 are 2,4,6,..,94,96,98,100 or
divisible by 5 are 5,10,15.95,100.
nth term = 100 = 2+(n-1)

2 n = 50

10 terms as 10,20,30,100 of 5,10,15.95 are already

used in 2,4,6,.100 (100-40[50-10]=60)
The sum of remaining 60 terms is 60/2[2+100] = 3060.
Question:11 A G.P. consists of an even number of terms. If the
sum of all the terms is 5 times the sum
Of terms occupying odd places, then find the common ratio.
Answer: a, ar, ar2, ar3 ,arn-1 in G.P.
S2n = 5[ a+ ar2 +ar4+n terms]
2n

a(1r )
1r

= 5.

1=

5
1+r

r = 4.

Question: 18 If a and b are the roots of x2 3x +p = 0 and c, d

are the roots of x2 12x + q = 0,
where a,b,c,d form an G.P. Prove that (q+p) : (q-p) = 17:15.
Answer: a+b = 3, ab = p and c+d = 12, cd = q
a, b, c, d are in G.P. i.e., b=ar, c = ar2 d= ar3
a+b= a+ar=a(1+r) = 3 ..(i) and c+d=12 ar2 + ar3 = ar2(1+r)
= 12.(ii) , by dividing (i)&(ii)
1/r = r = 2 , then
2

=17:15.

q+ p
q p

cd +ab
cdab

a r (r +1)
a r (r 1)

Question:20 If a, b, c are in A.P. ; b, c, d are in G.P. and 1/c, 1/d,

1/e are in A.P. Prove that a, c, e are in G.P.
Answer: 2b =a+c..(i)
c2 =bd..(ii)
2/d = 1/c+1/e =

e+c
ce

d=

2ce
c+ e

........(iii)

We shall prove c2 = ae
From (i),(ii) &(iii) we get,
2

c =

a+c
2

)(

2ce

c+ e

ace+ c e
c +e

c2 (c+e) = ace+c2e c3 + c2e

= ace+c2e c2 = ae.
Question:23 Find the sum of 3+7+13+21+31+.........
Answer:

an = n(n+1)+1 ,n=1,2,3.
= n2+n+1
n

Sn = 1 k + 1 k +n =

n ( n+ 1 ) (2 n+1)
6

n(n+1)
2

+n.
Question:27 A farmer buys a used tractor for Rs. 12000. He pays
Rs. 6000 cash and agrees to pay the balance in annual
instalments of Rs. 500 plus 12% interest on the unpaid amount.
How much will the tractor cost him?

Answer: Total cost =Rs. 12000 , paid cash = 6000 then balance
= Rs. 6000
No. of instalments of Rs. 500 = 12
Interest on 1st instalment = Rs.

6000 121
100

=Rs.720

1st instalment = Rs.(500+720)=1220

Interest on 2nd instalment = Rs.

5500 12 1
100

=Rs.660

2nd instalment = Rs.(550+660)=1160 and so on

Total amount in instalments = (1220+1160+1100+to 12
terms)
S= 12/2[2 1220 + (12-1)(-60)] = 10680 , therefore total
paid by farmer = Rs. 6000+10680=16680.

Question: 32 150 workers were engaged to finish a job in a

certain number of days. 4 workers dropped
Out on second day, 4 more workers dropped out on third day
and so on.It took 8 more days to finish the work. Find the
number of days in which the work was completed.
Answer: First term is 150 common difference is -4 (4 workers
dropped every day)
n/2[2

150+(n-1)

-4] = n(152-2n)

Had the workers not dropped out , then the work would have
finished in (n-8) days with 150 workers working on each day .
The total no. of workers who would have worked all then days
are 150(n-8)
n(152-2n) = 150(n-8) n=25 n-24.

ASSIGNMENT OF SEQUENCE & SERIES

Question:1 Find k so that 2/3, k, 5k/8 are in A.P.
Question:2 If the roots of (b-c)x2+(c-a)x+(a-b) = 0 are equal,
then a,b,c are in A.P.
[Hint: take Discriminant D=0]
Question:3 There are n A.M.s between 7 and 85
such that (n-3)th mean : nth mean is 11 : 24.Find n.
[Hint: 7, a2, a3, a4,..an+1, 85 an+2 = 85
d=

78
n+1

same as in your ncert book problem, find

n=5]
Question:4 Prove that the sum of n terms of the series
11+103+1005+ ..is

10
9

10n

- 1) + n2

[HINT: Sn = (10+1)+(100+3)+ (1000+5)+.n terms

= (10+102+103+n term)+(1+3+5+n terms)

G.P.

A.P.

Question:5 How many terms of the series 2+2

amount to 30+14 2 .
[Hint: use Sn =

a(1r n)
1r

= 30+14

+4+..will

,a=2 & r =

, then

n=7]
Question:6 Find the sum of (1+

1
22

)+(

1
2

1
24

)+(

1 1
+
22 26

)+

.to
[Hint: (1 +
S =

a
1r

1
2

1
22

+..) + (

1 1
+ +
22 2 4

), answer is 7/3 ,use

, a is first term , r is the common

ratio.]
Question:7 Show that (x2+xy+y2) , (z2+zx+x2),
(y2+zy+z2) are consecutive terms of A.P. if x, y, z
are in A.P.
[Hint: let a = (x2+xy+y2) , b = (z2+zx+x2) ,c =
(y2+zy+z2) use b-a = c-b , then you will get
if (x+z)2 y2 = y(x+y+z) x+z = 2y]
Question:8 If a, b, c, d are in G.P. prove that a2-b2,
b2-c2, c2-d2 are also in G.P.
[HINT: take a, b= ar, c=ar2, d = ar3 , show (b2-c2)/
(a2-b2)= (c2-d2)/ (b2-c2) by putting values of a, b, c,
d]

Question:9 If one geometric mean G and two

arithmetic mean p and q be inserted between two
quantities
Show that G2 = (2p-q)(2q-p).
[Hint: G2 = ab, a, p, q, b are in A.P.
d(common difference)= (b-a)/3 .
p = a+d=

2 a+ b
3

, q = a+2d =

a+2 b
3

put these

values in R.H.S.]
Question:10 If the value of 1+2+3+.+n = 28,
then find the value of 12+22+32+..+n2 .
**Question:11 If g1, g2 be two G.M.s between a
and b and A is the A.M. between a & b, then prove
that
g 1
g2

g 2
g1

= 2A.

[Hint: 2A = a+b, b/g2 = g2/g1 = g1/a a = g12 /

g2 , b = g22 /g1.]
**Question:12 If a is the A.M. of b, c and two
geometric means between b , c and G1,G2, then
prove that G13 = g23 .

Answer: 2a = b+c , c = ar3 r =

c
b

, put in

G1= br & G2= br2 .

**Question:13 If x = 1+a+a2+a3+. and
1+b+b2+b3+.
Then prove that 1+ab+a b +.. =

xy
x + y1

Answer: x = 1+a+a +a +. =

1
1a

2 2

y = 1+b+b +b +. =
2

take R.H.S.

xy
x + y1

1
1ab

y=

1
1b

= (1-ab)-1 =

1+ab+a2b2+.. [ by binomial expansion (1-x)-1 =

(1+x+x2+x3+..)]

**Question:14 An A.P. consists of n(odd)terms and

its middle term is m. Prove that Sn = mn.
Answer: m = mid term = T(n+1)/2 = a+(

n+1
2

2m= 2a+(n-1)d , Sn = n/2[2a+(n-1)d]=mn.

**Question:15 Sum of infinity the series

- 1)d

1
2

1
2+ 4

1
2+ 4+ 6

+..

1
2+ 4+ 6+ . n terms

[Hint:
1
n(n+1)
2
2

1
n(n+1)

1
2(1+ 2+ 3+ n terms)
1
1.2

S=1 [

1
2.3

+...... =1 as

given short-cut method on blog)].

1
5

rd

**Question:16 Prove that 23 term of sequence 17, 16

2
5

, 14

3
5

, 15

,is the first negative term.

[Hint: a=17, d=-4/5 and let nth term be first negative term
17+(n-1)(-4/5) < 0 n > 89/4 n=23]
**Question:18 Prove that 1+

2
3

6
3

10
33

14
34

.. = 3.
Answer: we can write above series as 1 +

2
3

3
3

[1+

5
2
3

.],where a=1,d=2 and r= 1/3, then use formula of combined

A.P.& G.P(Arithmetic geometric series) [
you can do by another method S +

14
34

+ ..} {

..}

1
3

2
32

1
3

a
1r

S = {1+
+

6
33

dr
( 1r )

2
3

10
34

+
+

6
3
14
35

] or
+
+

10
33

2S
3

= 1+ (

2
3

1
3

)+

4
2
3

{1+

1
3

1
2
3

..} =2 S=3
a/(1-r)
**Question: 19 If there are distinct real numbers
a,b,c are in G.P. and a+b+c = bx , show that x
-1 or x 3.
[Hint: take D 0 , a+ar+ar2 = (ar)x r2+(1x)r+1=0]
**Question:20 (i) If first term of H.P. is 1/7 and 2nd
term is 1/9, prove that 12th term is 1/29.
[Hint: as 1/a,1/b,1/c are in H.P. a,b,c are in A.P.
therefore first and second terms are in A.P. will be
7,9
a=7, d= 2 , then find a12]
(ii) In an increasing G.P., the sum of first and last
term is 66, and product of the second and last but
one term is 128. If the sum of the series is 126, find
the number of terms in the series.
[Hint: a+arn-1 = 66 , (ar)( arn-2) = 128 and Sn = 126
r=2 and n = 6]

Terms
Arithmetic Sequence - A sequence in which each
term is a constant amount greater or less than the
previous term. In this type of sequence, a n+1 = a n +
d , where d is a constant.
Common Ratio - In a geometric sequence, the ratio
r between each term and the previous term.
Convergent Series - A series whose limit as n is
a real number.
Divergent Series - A series whose limit as n is
either or - .
Explicit Formula - A formula for the n th term of a
sequence of the form a n = some function of n .
Finite Sequence - A sequence which is defined only
for positive integers less than or equal to a certain
given integer.
Finite Series - A series which is defined only for
positive integers less than or equal to a certain given
integer.
Geometric Sequence - A sequence in which the
ratio between each term and the previous term is a
constant ratio.

Index of Summation - The variable in the subscript

of . For
a n , i is the index of summation.
Infinite Sequence - A sequence which is defined for
all positive integers.
Infinite Series - A series which is defined for all
positive integers.
Recursive Sequence - A sequence in which a
general term is defined as a function of one or more of
the preceding terms. A sequence is typically defined
recursively by giving the first term, and the formula for
any term a n+1 after the first term.
Sequence - A function which is defined for the
positive integers.
Series - A sequence in which the terms are
summed, not just listed.
Summation Notation an=a1+a2+a3+a4
+ ... + a n . The symbol and its subscript and
superscript are the components of summation
notation.
Term - An element in the range of a sequence. A
sequence is rarely represented by ordered pairs, but
instead by a list of its terms.