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Perez, H. III
July 2, 2019
Definition
A sequence is an ordered set of numbers. The numbers in the
sequence are called terms.
The last sequence is different from the first sequence though the
same numbers appear in the sequences.
Example
Given the sequence 3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9, 2, 9, 5, we have a1 = 3,
a2 = 1, a3 = 4, etc.
Example
Given the sequence 3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9, 2, 9, 5, we have a1 = 3,
a2 = 1, a3 = 4, etc.
The terms in the sequence with an = 2n + 3 for n ≥ 1 are
5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ...
Questions:
What is the nth term for each sequence below?
3, 5, 7, 9, 11,...
2, 4, 8, 16, 32,...
-1, 1, -1, 1, -1,...
1, 21 , 13 , 14 , 15 ,...
Example
10, 12, 14, 16, 18, ...,, where d = 2
10, 6, 2, −2, −6, ...,, where d = −4
a2 = a1 + d
a3 = a2 + d = (a1 + d) + d = a1 + 2d
a4 = a3 + d = (a1 + 2d) + d = a1 + 3d
a5 = a4 + d = (a1 + 3d) + d = a1 + 4d
..
.
a2 = a1 + d
a3 = a2 + d = (a1 + d) + d = a1 + 2d
a4 = a3 + d = (a1 + 2d) + d = a1 + 3d
a5 = a4 + d = (a1 + 3d) + d = a1 + 4d
..
.
Definition
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is given by
an = a1 + (n − 1)d
Solution
Since a1 = 2 and d = 3,
Solution
We use the nth term formula for the sixth term given by
a6 = 52 = a1 + (6 − 1)10
52 = a1 + (5)(10)
52 = a1 + 50
52 − 50 = a1
a1 = 2
Solution
Now that we know the first term and the common difference, we
use the nth term formula to find the fifteenh term as follows.
Solution
Smallest multiple of 6 greater than 100: 102.
Largest multiple of 6 less than 500: 498.
We form a sequence given by 102, 108, ..., 498. We need to find
the number of terms in this sequence. Given a1 = 102, d = 6, and
an = 498, we have
Solution
Solving for n, we have
Solution
Since we are required to insert 4 terms, then there will be 6 terms
in all.
Let a1 = 5 and a6 = 25. We will insert a2 , a3 , a4 , a5 as shown
below:
5, a2 , a3 , a4 , a5 , 25
We need to find the common difference.
Solution
Note that a6 = a1 + 5d. Solving for d, we have
25 = 5 + 5d
5d = 20
d =4
Solution
Thus, we have the following:
a2 = 5 + 4(1) = 9
a3 = 5 + 4(2) = 13
a4 = 5 + 4(3) = 17
a4 = 5 + 4(4) = 21
Solution
Using the fact that an+1 − an = d, we have
a2 − a1 = a3 − a2
3a + 9 − (a + 3) = a + 7 − (3a + 9)
2a + 6 = −2a − 2
4a = −8
a = −2
S100 = 1 + 2 + · · · + 99 + 100
S100 = 100 + 99 + · · · + 2 + 1
S100 = 1 + 2 + · · · + 99 + 100
S100 = 100 + 99 + · · · + 2 + 1
S100 = 1 + 2 + · · · + 99 + 100
S100 = 100 + 99 + · · · + 2 + 1
Thus,
(100)(101)
S100 = = 5050
2
Therefore,
Therefore,
Definition
The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence is
n n
Sn = [2a1 + (n − 1)d] = (a1 + an )
2 2
Solution
Given a1 = 1,a1000 = 1000 and n = 1000, we have
1000(1 + 1000) (1000)(1001)
S1000 = = = 500500
2 2
Solution#1
To find the sum, we will use the formula Sn = n2 (a1 + an ). We
know that a1 = 8,d = 5 and n = 30, but we need to find an in
order to use the sum formula.
We have
an = a1 + (n − 1)d
a30 = 8 + (30 − 1)5
a30 = 8 + (29)
a30 = 153
Solution#1
Now, we can use the sum formula.
n
Sn = (a1 + an )
2
30
S30 = (8 + 153)
2
S30 = 15(161)
S30 = 2415
Solution#2
Another solution is using the alternate sum formula. Given a1 = 8,
d = 5 and n = 30, we have
n
Sn = (2a1 + (n − 1)d)
2
30
S30 = (2(8) + (30 − 1)5)
2
S30 = 15(16 + (29)5)
S30 = 15(16 + 145)
S30 = 15(161)
S30 = 2415
Example
1, 3, 9, 27, 81, where r = 3.
1 1 2 4 2
, − , , − , where r = −
2 3 9 27 3
a2 = a1 r
a3 = a2 r = (a1 r )r = a1 r 2
a4 = a3 r = (a1 r 2 )r = a1 r 3
a5 = a4 r = (a1 r 3 )r = a1 r 4
..
.
a2 = a1 r
a3 = a2 r = (a1 r )r = a1 r 2
a4 = a3 r = (a1 r 2 )r = a1 r 3
a5 = a4 r = (a1 r 3 )r = a1 r 4
..
.
Definition
The nth term of a geometric sequence is given by
an = a1 r n−1
Solution
We have a1 = 3, r = 2, and n = 12. Using the formula for the
geometric sequence,
an = a1 r n−1
a12 = 3 · 212−1
a12 = 3 · 211
a12 = 6144
Solution
Suppose a1 = 5 and a5 = 3125. We will insert a2 , a3 , and a4 .
Using the formula for the nth term of a geometric sequence, we
have
an = a1 r n−1
Given a1 ,a5 , we have
a5 = a1 r 4
3125 = 5r 4
Solution
Solving for the value of r , we get
5r 4 = 3125
r 4 = 625
r = ±5
Solution
If r = 5, the geometric means are
a2 = 5(5) = 25
a3 = 5(52 ) = 125
a4 = 5(53 ) = 625
Solution
If r = −5, the geometric means are
a2 = 5(−5) = −25
a3 = 5((−5)2 ) = 125
a4 = 5((−5)3 ) = −625
Solution
an+1
Using the fact that = r , then we have
an
a2 a3
=
a1 a2
−k k −2
=
k +1 −k
2
k = (k + 1)(k − 2)
k2 = k2 − k − 2
k = −2
Sn = a1 + a1 r + · · · + a1 r n−1
rSn = a1 r + a1 r 2 + · · · + a1 r n−1 + a1 r n
Sn = a1 + a1 r + · · · + a1 r n−1
rSn = a1 r + a1 r 2 + · · · + a1 r n−1 + a1 r n
Sn − rSn = a1 − a1 r n
(1 − r )Sn = a1 (1 − r n )
a1 (1 − r n )
Sn = , r 6= 1
1−r
If r = 1, then Sn = a1 + a1 + · · · + a1 = na1 .
| {z }
n addends
If r = 1, then Sn = a1 + a1 + · · · + a1 = na1 .
| {z }
n addends
Definition
The sum of the first n terms of a geometric sequence is
n
a1 (1 − r ) if r 6= 1
Sn = 1−r (1)
na if r = 1.
1
Solution
Given a1 = 3 and r = 2, we have
3(1 − 25 )
S5 =
1−2
S5 = 3(31)
S5 = 93
a1 (1 − r n )
Sn =
1−r
a1 a1 r n
= −
1−r 1−r
a1 (1 − r n )
Sn =
1−r
a1 a1 r n
= −
1−r 1−r
Example
1 1 1
What is the sum to infinity of , , , ...?
2 4 8
Example
1 1 1
What is the sum to infinity of , , , ...?
2 4 8
Solution
1
Since a1 = 2 and r = 12 , then using the formula, we have
1
2
S= 1
=1
1− 2
Example
1 1 1
1, , , , ... since 1,2,3,4,... form an arithmetic sequence
2 3 4
2 1 2 1 3 5
, , , , ... since , 1, , 3, ... form an arithmetic sequence
3 2 5 3 2 2
Example
Given the Fibonacci sequence 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ..., find the next 6
terms.