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MCR3U-C

18
Lesson

Arithmetic and Geometric Series

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Introduction
In Lesson 17, you learned about number sequences. In this lesson, you will learn about number
series, such as 8 + 6 + 4 + 2. In everyday language, the words sequence and series are usually
used interchangeably. In mathematics, however, the word series has a specific meaning. A
series is a list of the numbers in a sequence with addition signs between them; in other words, it
is the sum of the terms in a sequence. In this lesson, you will learn to solve problems involving
arithmetic and geometric series. You will see several methods for finding the sum of these
series and develop general formulas to find the sum of both arithmetic and geometric series.
These formulas will be applied to real-world situations.
Suggested Timing for This Lesson (hours)
Part A: Finding the Sum of a Series

Part B: Developing a Formula for an Arithmetic Series

Part C: Finding the Sum of a Geometric Series

Part D: Developing a Formula for a Geometric Series

Key Questions

What You Will Learn


After completing this lesson, you will be able to

determine the formula for the sum of an arithmetic or geometric series

apply the formula to calculate the sum of a given number of consecutive terms in an
arithmetic or geometric series

solve problems involving arithmetic and geometric series, including those arising from
real-world applications

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Part A: Finding the Sum of a Series


There are some situations in which knowing the 10th term of a sequence is not as useful as
knowing the sum of the 1st term through the 10th term. For instance, if you are estimating the
cost of an environmentally friendly 10-year highway project through the North Woods, you
need to plan for the ever-increasing costs each year. After estimating each years cost, you total
all the costs up to and including the 10th year. If you do not take into account the inflation of
material and labour, your highway will run out of money and terminate prematurelya dead
end. When you list each years cost, with plus signs between them, you have a number series.
In this situation, and similar ones, it is helpful to have a formula to add a number series of any
length quickly.

Determining the Formula for the Sum of a Series


Now look at a smaller, more manageable example. If you had to build a staircase with cubes,
as shown in the following diagrams, how many cubes would you need for 6 steps? How many
cubes would you need for 20 steps?
1 step

2 steps

3 steps

4 steps

5 steps

Examine the number of cubes needed for each set of steps in the following table:
Number of Steps

Number of Cubes, Expanded

Total Number of Cubes

1+2

1+2+3

1+2+3+4

10

1+2+3+4+5

15

1+2+3+4++n

What expression would determine the number of cubes required to build n steps? First,
consider a set of 3 steps:

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Now put another set of 3 steps inverted on top of that set.

The result is a rectangle that has an area of 3 4 = 12 cubes. The actual set of 3 steps is only
half of that, so the number of cubes in 3 steps is (3 4) 2 = 6.
You can do the same for 4 steps:

When two sets of 4 steps are combined, you get a rectangle that is 4 5. So the number of cubes
in one set of 4 steps is (4 5) 2 = 10.
Follow this pattern to determine a formula to find the number of cubes needed for
n steps:
Number of Steps

Calculating Number of Cubes

Number of Cubes

(1 2) 2

(2 3) 2

(3 4) 2

(4 5) 2

10

(5 6) 2

15

(n (n + 1)) 2

n(n + 1)
2

n(n + 1)
.
2
You could now use this formula to determine how many cubes you would need to make 20
steps.

The formula to determine the number of cubes to make n steps is

n(n + 1)
2
20(20 + 1)
=
2
20(21)
=
2
= 210
=

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Gausss Method
In the problem you just did, you added 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 +. If you look at the terms of this
equation without the addition signs, you have an arithmetic sequence: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
. When you include the addition signs, you have an arithmetic series: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5
+ . Thus, a sequence is a list of terms in which the terms follow a pattern. A series is the
addition of terms where the terms follow a pattern.
Carl Friedrich Gauss was a young student in the late 1700s. When he was seven years old, his
teacher posed a problem similar to the one you just investigated. The teacher asked the class to
add the numbers 1 to 100. The teacher was surprised when Gauss had an answer quite quickly.
Here is the method that Gauss used.
He began by writing out the series forward and then again backwards. He then added the two
series together:
1
100

+
+

2
99

101

+ 101

+
+

3
98

+
+

4
97

+
+

5
96

+
+

6
95

+
+

+
+

99 + 100
2 +
1

+ 101

101

101

101

+ 101 + 101

All 100 of these columns are equal.


He noticed that each column added to 101. There was a total of one hundred 101s when the two
series were added together, so the sum of both series is (100 101), and the sum of one of the
series is
(100)(101)

2

= 5050

In the next example, the number of terms in the given series is an odd number rather than an
even number.

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Example
Use Gausss method to find the sum of 30 + 31 + 32 + 33 + 34 + + 50.

Solution
Write out all 21 terms of the series forward and in reverse. Then add up each column:
30
50

+
+

31
49

+
+

32
48

+
+

33
47

+
+

+
+

47
33

+
+

48 +
32 +

49 +
31 +

50
30

80

80

80

80

80

80 +

80 +

80

21 terms

You end up with 80 + 80 + 80 + + 80, 21 times. The sum of both series is 21 80 = 1680, but
you need only half that amount.
The sum of one series is

21 80
= 840 .
2

Support Questions
Be sure to try the Support Questions on your own before looking at
the suggested answers provided.
23.

If you build a staircase (like those shown earlier in this lesson) with 52 steps, how many
Suggested answer
cubes would you need?

24. Use Gausss method to find the sum of the first 500 consecutive numbers.

Suggested answer

25. How could you use Gausss method to add the numbers from 50 to 95? Explain.
Suggested answer


Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Part B: Developing a Formula for an Arithmetic


Series
In Part A, you saw two different methods for finding the sum of the arithmetic series
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 . In Part B, you will look at a more general method for finding the sum of
any arithmetic series.
An arithmetic series is the addition of terms from an arithmetic sequence. Consider the
arithmetic sequence 3, 5, 7, 9, . You can see there is a common difference of 2 because adding
2 to each term gives the next term. In this sequence, t3 = 7. That is, the 3rd term of the sequence
is 7.
Consider the arithmetic series 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + . There is a notation to signify the sum of the
first three terms in the series. In this series, S3 = 3 + 5 + 7 = 15. In mathematics, Sn is the
notation used to indicate the sum of the first n terms of a series.
To develop the general formula for the sum of an arithmetic series, you will use a method
similar to Gausss method.
Consider an arithmetic sequence with n terms, a first term of a, and a common difference of d.
The sequence would begin with a, followed by a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, a + 4d,
a + (n 2)d, a + (n 1)d.
Putting addition signs between terms gives the arithmetic series
Sn = [a] + [a + d] + [a + 2d] + [a + 3d] + + [a + (n 2)d] + [a + (n 1)d] where Sn represents
the sum of n terms of a series.
Using Gausss method, you write the series twice, once forward and once in reverse, and then
add the columns together to get 2Sn:
Sn

[a]

[a + d]

[a + 2d]

[a + (n 3)d]

[a + (n 2)d]

[a + (n 1)d]

Sn

[a + (n 1)d]

[a + (n 2)d]

[a + (n 3)d]

[a + 2d]

[a + d]

[a]

2 Sn

[2a + (n 1)d]

[2a + (n 1)d]

[2a + (n 1)d]

[2a + (n 1)d]

[2a + (n 1)d]

[2a + (n 1)d]

n terms
After doubling the series, each term is 2a + (n 1)d. There are n of these terms, so multiply by
n. Thus, 2Sn = n[2a + (n 1)d]. Finally, divide both sides by 2.

The general formula for the sum of an arithmetic series is S = n2 [2a + (n 1)d] .
n

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Example
A theatre has 15 seats in the 1st row, 18 seats in the 2nd row, 21 seats in the 3rd row, and so on.
How many seats does the theatre have if there are 25 rows?

Solution
The number of seats can be written as a series:

15 + 18 + 21 + + t25

You can calculate the constant difference of a series in exactly the same way that you calculate
the constant difference of a sequence. Since 18 15 = 3 and 21 18 = 3, the series is arithmetic
with a constant difference of d = 3 and a first term of a = 15. You can find the total number of
seats by substituting a and d into the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series:
n[2a + (n 1)d]
Sn = n[2a + (n 1)d]
Sn =
2
2
25[2(15) + (25 1)(3)]
= 25[2(15) + (25 1)(3)]
=
2
2
25(30 + 72)
= 25(30 + 72)
=
2
2
25 102
= 25 102
=
2
2
= 1275
= 1275

The theatre has 1275 seats.


Now try a longer, more difficult series.

Example
Find the sum of the series 8 + 12 + 16 + 20 + 24 + + 144.

Solution
The series has a starting term of 8, so a = 8. You can determine the constant difference by
subtracting consecutive terms: 12 8 = 4, 16 12 = 4, 20 16 = 4, and so on. The constant
difference for the series is 4, so d = 4.
n

In order to use the formula Sn = [2a + (n 1)d] , you need to know the number of terms, n. The
2
value of n can be determined by using the last term, 144, and the formula for the general term
of an arithmetic sequence, which is tn = a + (n 1)d.

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

tn = a + (n 1)d

144 = 8 + (n 1)(4)

144 8 = (n 1)4

136 = (n 1)4

34 = n 1

35 = n

There are 35 terms in this series.


To find the sum, substitute the values of a, d, and n into the formula for the sum of an
arithmetic series:
n[2a + (n 1)d]
2
35[2(8) + (35 1)(4)]
=
2
35[16 + 136]
=
2
35[152]
=
2
= 2660

Sn =
S35
S35
S35
S35

The sum of the first 35 terms in this series is 2660.

Support Questions
26. Explain the different purposes of the following two formulas:
tn = a + (n 1)d and Sn = n [2a + (n 1)d] .
2
27. Calculate the sum of each series:

a) 4 + 7 + 10 + + 34

b) 101 + 97 + 93 + 89 + + 9

Suggested answer

Suggested answer

28. Calculate the sum of 50 terms of this series:


1.3 + 0.8 + 0.3 + 

Suggested answer

29. The manager of a bookstore is planning a window display using rows of the latest
bestseller. Her plan starts with 1 book on the top row, 3 books on the second row, and 5
on the third row. Continuing this pattern, how many books will the manager need if she
Suggested answer
wants 20 rows?

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Part C: Finding the Sum of a Geometric Series


In Lesson 17, you learned about the geometric sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and so on. Just as
there are geometric sequences, there are also geometric series. A geometric series increases or
decreases by a common factor or ratio, as you will see in the following examples.

Good Pay or Bad Pay?


You have been offered a job and are paid in cash every workday, but the pay arrangement is
unusual. Would you accept a job with the following rate of pay? You are paid 1 cent on your
first day of work, 2 cents the next day, 4 cents the next day, and so on. Each days pay is double
the previous days pay. Does this sound like a good deal?
The chart shows how much you are paid each day:
Day

Amount Paid That Day


tn

1 = 20

2 = 21

4 = 22

8 = 23

16 = 24

32 = 25

2n1

The amount you are paid each day forms the geometric sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, . What if
you wanted to examine how much you have been paid in total after working a certain number
of days. For example, after 2 days of work, you have been paid 1 cent + 2 cents = 3 cents.
The following table shows the amount you are paid each day and how much you have been paid
in total up to that day:
Day

Amount Paid
That Day, tn

Total Amount Paid

Total Written Using


Powers of 2, Sn

1 = 20

21 1

2 = 21

1+2=3

22 1

4 = 22

1+2+4=7

23 1

8 = 23

1 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 15

24 1

16 = 24

1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 = 31

25 1

32 = 25

1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 = 63

26 1

2n1

1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + + 2n1

2n 1

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

In this example, the amount paid each day forms the geometric sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, .
The common ratio is 2, since 2 1 = 2, 4 2 = 2, and so on, while tn tells the amount paid on
the nth day. The amount paid in total on the nth day forms the geometric series
1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + . Sn tells the total amount paid in the first n days.

Example
In the good pay or bad pay situation youve just looked at:
a)

How much would you be paid on the 20th day of work?

b)

How much in total would you have earned by the 20th day of work?

Solution
a) To determine the amount made on the 20th day of work, you need to find t20:
tn = 2n1
t20 = 2201
t20 = 219

t20 = 524 288

You would be paid 524 288 cents on the 20th day of work, or $5242.88.

b) To determine the total amount made in the first 20 days, find S20 using the formula from the
last column:
Sn = 2n 1
S20 = 220 1
S20 = 1 048 576 1
S20= 1 048 575

In the first 20 days, you would be paid a total of 1 048 575 cents, or $10 485.75.

10

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Support Questions
30. In the good pay or bad pay situation provided:
a) How much would you be paid on the 12th day?
b) How much in total would you be paid after 12 days?
c) How much in total would you be paid after 30 days?

11

Suggested answer

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Part D: Developing a Formula for a Geometric


Series
In Part C, you examined the geometric sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and the geometric series
1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + . In this section, you will develop a formula to find the sum of any
geometric series.
Consider the general geometric sequence with a starting term of a and a common ratio
of r.
The geometric sequence would be a, ar1, ar2, ar3, ar4,
The corresponding geometric series would be a + ar1 + ar2 + ar3 +
To develop a formula for a geometric series, you will use a method similar to the one Gauss
used for an arithmetic series. Use the general expansion of a geometric series:
Sn = a + ar1 + ar2 + + arn3 + arn2 + arn1
You will also use the same expansion that has had all terms (both sides) multiplied by a factor
of r:
rSn = ar1 + ar2 + ar3 + + arn2 + arn1 + arn
Now, line up these two expansions so that the terms that are the same are in the same column.
Then subtract the two lines:
Sn =
a
+ ar1
rSn = ar1

Sn rSn =

+
+

ar2
ar2

+ + arn2 + arn1
+ + arn2 + arn1 + arn

+ 0 + 0 + + 0 + 0

Sn rSn = a arn
Sn(1 r) = a arn

Factor out the Sn.

Sn(1 r) = a(1 rn)

Factor out the a.

Sn =

a(1 r n )
1r

Isolate the Sn.

The formula for the sum of a geometric series is S

12

a(1 r n )
.
1r

+ arn

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Example
Find the sum of the series 2 6 + 18 + + 13 122.

Solution
You are given the first three terms and the final term of the series. From the first three terms,
you can see that this series is geometric. To determine the constant ratio, divide consecutive
terms, as follows:
18
6
= 3
= 3 and
6
2
So the constant ratio, r = 3.
The first term, a = 2.
You need to find n in order to use the formula Sn =

a(1 r n )
.
1r

Use the last term (that is, 13 122) to determine the value of n. Recall that tn = arn1 is the general
term of a geometric sequence, which means that it is also the general term of a geometric series.
Substituting tn = 13 122 into tn = arn1 lets you calculate n:

tn = arn1

13 122 = 2(3)n1 Substitute.


6561 = (3)n1 Hint: Try even powers of 3, such as (3)6 or (3)8, using a calculator.
(Note: Odd powers would give a negative number, so are not worth trying.)
(3)8 = (3)n1 Divide both sides by 3.
8 = n 1

Isolate n.

9 = n
You can now use this value of n to calculate the sum of the series, Sn.
a(1 r n )

1r
Substitute
a = 2, r = 3, and n = 9.
2(1 (3)9 )
S9 =
1 (3)
2(19684)
S9 =
4
= 9842
Sn =

The sum of the first 9 terms is 9842.

13

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Support Questions
31. Use the formula that was developed to find the sum of a geometric series to find the total
amount paid after n days in the good pay or bad pay problem presented in Part C. Do
Suggested answer
you end up with the same formula?
32. Find the sum of each geometric series:
a) S10 in the series $2500 + $2562.50 + $2626.56 +
b) 5 + 10 + 20 + 40 + + 640
c) S12 in the series 60, 12, 2.4, 

Suggested answer

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Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Key Questions
Now work on your Key Questions in the online submission tool. You may continue towork
at this task over several sessions, but be sure to save your work each time. When you
haveanswered all the units Key Questions, submit your work to the ILC.
(24 marks)
Show all steps clearly, to receive full marks for your solutions.
58. Identify each series as arithmetic, geometric, or neither. Give reasons for your answer.
(8 marks)

6 + 9 + 12 +

6 + 12 + 24 +

8 + 16 32 +

5+21+

59.

Consider the following description of a theatre. A theatre has 11 seats in the 1st row.
Each row has 3 more seats than the row in front of it. If the theatre has 35 rows, how
many seats in total are in the theatre? (6 marks)

60. You may have heard the fable about the tortoise and the hare. Suppose the tortoise and
the hare are running a 2000 m race. The tortoise proceeds very slowly, never changing its
speed. The hare runs very quickly at the start. The tortoise travels 20 m every minute. The
hare travels 1000 m in the 1st minute but, in each minute after that, travels only half of the
remaining distance (in the 2nd minute, the hare travels half of the remaining 1000 m, and
so on).

Write the series for the distance the tortoise travels for the first few minutes of the
race. Each term of the series will represent the distance the tortoise travels in that
minute. (1 mark)

Write the series for the distance the hare travels for the first few minutes of the race.
Each term of the series represents the distance the hare travels in that minute.
(1 mark)

Analyze and compare the two series. Find a formula for Sn for both the tortoise and
the hare where Sn represents the total distance travelled after n minutes. (4 marks)

Graph each function using the GeoGebra General Graphing Applet. (2 marks)

Who will win the race, according to your graphs? (2 marks)

15

Lesson 18

Functions MCR3U-C

Save your answers to the Key Questions in the online submission tool. Youll
be able to submit them when youve finished all of the Key Questions for this
unit. Now go on to Lesson 19!

16

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