Section 9.

2 • Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums 157

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Section 9.2 Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums

Objective: In this lesson you learned how to recognize, write, and

manipulate arithmetic sequences.

Important Vocabulary Define each term or concept.

Arithmetic sequence A sequence in which the differences between consecutive terms

are the same.
Common difference The difference d between consecutive terms of an arithmetic
sequence. That is, d = a2 – a1 = a3 – a2 = a4 – a3 = …

I. Arithmetic Sequences (Pages 653−655) What you should learn

How to recognize, write,
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence has the form and find the nth terms of
an = dn + c , where d is the common difference arithmetic sequences
between consecutive terms of the sequence, and c = a1 − d.
Therefore, an arithmetic sequence may be thought of as a(n)
linear function whose domain is the set of natural
numbers.

Example 1: Determine whether or not the following sequence

is arithmetic. If it is, find the common difference.
7, 3, − 1, − 5, − 9, . . .

Yes; − 4

Example 2: Find a formula for the nth term of the arithmetic

sequence whose common difference is 2 and
whose first term is 7.

an = 2n + 5

The nth term of an arithmetic sequence has the alternative

recursion formula an = a1 + (n − 1)d .

Example 3: Find the sixth term of the arithmetic sequence that

begins with 15 and 12.

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

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158 Chapter 9 • Sequences, Series, and Probability

II. The Sum of a Finite Arithmetic Sequence

(Pages 656−657) What you should learn
How to find nth partial
The sum of a finite arithmetic sequence with n terms is sum of an arithmetic
sequence
Sn = n/2(a1 + an) .

The sum of the first n terms of an infinite sequence is the

nth partial sum . The nth partial sum
can be found by suing the formula for the sum of a finite
arithmetic sequence .

Example 4: Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the sequence

with nth term a n = 28 − 5n .

− 490

III. Applications of Arithmetic Sequences (Pages 657−658) What you should learn
How to use arithmetic
Describe a real-life problem that could be solved by finding the sequences to model and
sum of a finite arithmetic sequence. solve real-life problems
Answers will vary.

Homework Assignment

Page(s)

Exercises

Larson/Hostetler Precalculus/Precalculus with Limits Notetaking Guide IAE

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.