SEQUENCES AND

SERIES
SEQUENCES
A sequence is a set of numbers in a particular order with each number in
the sequence being derived from a particular rule. For example, consider
the sequence
5, 10, 15, 20,
The first term is 5, the second term is 10 and the th term is given by 5.
If the th term is denoted by , then we write = 5 for , 1.
EXAMPLE 1
Write down the first four terms of the sequence whose th term is given
by
= 2 + 1 for , 1
EXAMPLE 2
Write down the th term of the sequence 4, 9, 14, 19, in terms of .
EXAMPLE 3
A sequence is defined by +1 = 3 1, where the first term is 1 = 4.
Write down the first four terms of the sequence.
CONVERGENT SEQUENCE
A sequence is said to be a convergent sequence, if the values of the
terms tend to a definite finite limit as the number of terms increases.
The definite limit is known as the limit of the convergent sequence.

In general, if is the th term of a sequence and lim exists, the

sequence is said to converge and the value of lim is called the limiting

value, or limit of the convergent sequence.
CONVERGENT SEQUENCE

If < 1, 0 as

If > 1, as
EXAMPLE 4
Evaluate each of the following.
(a) lim (4n 1)
n
(b) lim (3 n2 )
n
n1
(c) lim ( n2 )
n
n+3
(d) lim (n+1)
n
EXAMPLE 5
2
The th term of a sequence, , is given by = for , 1.
+1
Show that this sequence is convergent and find its limiting value.
DIVERGENT SEQUENCE
Not all sequences are convergent. Consider the sequence 3, 5, 7, 9, , 2 +
1, In this sequence, as the number of term increases, the values of the
terms increase and tend to infinity. This can be shown clearly on the
graph of = 2 + 1 against , for 1.
This sequence does not converge to a limit and is called a divergent
sequence.
EXAMPLE 6
Show that the sequence whose th term given by = 2 3 is
divergent.
SERIES
A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence.
Consider the sequence 1 , 2 , 3 , , , .
If we write as the sum of the first terms of the sequence, then we
have
= 1 + 2 + 3 + +
This is an example of a finite series since there is a finite number of
terms. If the number of terms increases and tends to infinity, then we
write
= 1 + 2 + 3 + + +
where is a symbol denoting the sum of the infinite number of terms.
ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

= + 1
where
= the th term
= the first term
= the common difference
EXAMPLE 7
The first four terms of an A.P. are 8, 11, 14 and 17. Find the 20th term.
EXAMPLE 8
The third term of an A.P. is 73 and the eighth term is 13. Find the first
term and the common difference.
EXAMPLE 9
The first, second and fourth terms of an A.P. are 11 , 2 + 1 and 3 + 1
respectively. Calculate the value of and find the third term of the
progression.
ARITHMETIC MEANS
In the finite A.P. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, the numbers 4, 6, 8 are the arithmetic
means between 2 and 10.
If , , are three consecutive terms of an A.P., then is known as the
arithmetic mean of and .
+
=
2
EXAMPLE 10
Insert two arithmetic means between 25 and 13.
EXAMPLE 11
1 1 1
Given , , ( ) are in A.P., prove that , , are also in
2 2
A.P.
SUM OF THE FIRST N TERMS OF
AN A.P.

1 1
= + = (2 + 1 )
2 2
EXAMPLE 12
Find the sum of each of the following arithmetic progressions.
(a) 62 + 60 + 58 + + 38
(b) 9.2 + 8.8 + 8.4 + + 3.6
(c) 1 + 3 + 5 + + (2n 1)
EXAMPLE 13
The eighth term of an arithmetic progression is 5 and the sum of the first
16 terms is 84. Calculate the sum of the first 10 terms.
EXAMPLE 14
(a) Find the sum of the integers from 1 to 200.
(b) Find the sum of the integers from 1 to 200 which are divisible by 5.
(c) Hence, find the sum of the integers from 1 to 200 which are not
divisible by 5.
EXAMPLE 15
Show that a sequence whose nth term is 8 1 , is an arithmetic
progression and write down its common difference.
EXAMPLE 16
The sum of the first terms of a series is ( + 1). Find the first term,
third term and ninth term.
EXAMPLE 17

The sum of the first terms of a series is ( + 8). Show that this series
2
is an arithmetic series and state its common difference.
GEOMETRIC PROGRESSIONS

= 1
where
= the nth term
= the first term
= the common ratio
EXAMPLE 18
Find the common ratio and write down the th term of each of the
following geometric progression. Find also the tenth term of each
progression.
(a) 12, 48, 192,
(b) 8, -4, 2,
(c) 6.75, -4.5, 3,
EXAMPLE 19
A G.P. has third term 75 and fourth term 375. Find the common ratio
and the first term.
EXAMPLE 20
The fourth term of a G.P. is 48 and the sixth term is 12. Find the possible
values of the common ratio and the corresponding values of the first
term.
GEOMETRIC MEANS
In the infinite G.P.,
1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625
The three geometric means between 1 and 0.0625 are the numbers 0.5,
0.25, 0.125.

If , , are the three consecutive terms of a G.P., then is known as the

geometric mean of and . Since

=

Hence,
2 = alternatively =
EXAMPLE 21
Insert three geometric means between 162 and 32.
EXAMPLE 22
Given the 4th, 5th and the 6th terms of a G.P. are + 1, 1 and 2 5.
Find the possible values of and write down the corresponding values of
the first three terms.
SUM OF THE FIRST N TERMS OF A
G.P.
(1 )
= , < 1
1

( 1)
= , > 1
1
EXAMPLE 23
Find the sum of each of the following geometric progressions.
(a) 2, 6, 18, , 1458
(b) 4, -12, 36, , -108
1
(c) 1, 0.5, 0.25, ,
2
(d) 5, -10, 20, , 5(2)1
EXAMPLE 24
A G.P. has the first term 1/11 and common ratio 2. Given that the sum of
the first terms is 93, calculate the value of .
EXAMPLE 25
A woman deposits RM 10 000 at the start of every year into her bank
account. The interest paid by the bank is 3% a year. Any interest she
received is kept in the bank. Find the sum of her savings in the bank at
the end of the 10th year (including interest received in the 10th year).
INFINITE GEOMETRIC
PROGRESSIONS

=
1

For an infinite G.P. to have a finite sum, the common ratio is absolutely
less than one, i.e. < 1.
EXAMPLE 26
The sum to infinity of a G.P. is 8/3 and the sum of the first two terms is
5/2. Show that the common ratio, , satisfies the equation 1 16 2 = 0.
Hence, find the first term of the G.P. with positive common ratio.
EXAMPLE 27
Write the recurring decimal 3. 525252 as the sum of a G.P. Hence,
express this recurring decimal as a rational number.
EXAMPLE 28
Find the set of values of for which the geometric series
2 2 2
=1+ +( ) + , 1
1+ 1+
converges to a limit value.
EXAMPLE 29
Find the least value for for which the sum of terms of the geometric
series 1 + 0.98 + 0.982 + 0.983 + is greater than half the sum to
infinity.
EXAMPLE 30
1
The sum of the first terms of a series is given by 2
. By finding an
2
expression for the nth term of the series, show that this is a geometric
series, and state the value of the common ratio.
SIGMA NOTATION ( NOTATION)
Consider the finite series 1 + 2 + + which consists of
finite number of terms. This finite series can be expressed
concisely using sigma notation, as follows:

1 + 2 + + =
=1
The symbol is called the index of summation.
EXAMPLE 31
Write down all the terms in each of the following series.
(a) 6r=1 r 2
(b) 7r=2 r
(c) 5r=1(2r 3 + r)
(d) 4r=1 r(r + 1)
(e) 10
r=1 r(2r 1)
EXAMPLE 31
Write down all the terms in each of the following series.
n 2
(a) r=1 r
n 1
(b) r=1 r(r+2)
(1) r1
(c) 7r=1 r
(d) 12
r=1 r!
EXAMPLE 32
Write each of these series in sigma notation.
(a) 13 + 23 + 33 + 43 + 53
(b)1 + 4 + 7 + 10 +
(c) 12 + 32 + 52 + 72 +
SUMMATION OF A FINITE SERIES

1
= ( + 1)
2
=1

1
2 = ( + 1)(2 + 1)
6
=1

1 2
= ( + 1)2
3
4
=1
EXAMPLE 33
Find the value of each of the following series.
(a) 4r=1 r
(b) 6r=1 2r 2
(c) 50
r=1(2r + 3)
(d) 20
r=1 (r 2 + 3r + 4)

(e) 15
r=1 r(r + 1)
EXAMPLE 33
Find the value of each of the following series.
(f) 10
=1 (2 1) 2

(g) 12
=3 3

(h) 100
=50 2
(i)= where 0 < <
EXAMPLE 34
Find the sum of each of the following series.
(a) 12 + 32 + 52 + + (2n 1)2
(b) 113 + 123 + 133 + + 203
EXAMPLE 35
1 1
Find the sum of the first terms of the series + +
3.5.7 5.7.9
1
+ Hence, deduce its sum to infinity.
7.9.11
EXAMPLE 36
If = !, find + 1 () and use your result to find the
sum of the first terms of the series 1.1! + 2.2! + 3.3! +
EXAMPLE 37
If = 1 , simplify + 1 () and use your result
to find=1 .
EXAMPLE 38
1
If = , simplify ( + 1) and hence find the sum
(+1)

1
=
( + 1)( + 2)
=1
Deduce the value lim .

BINOMIAL EXPANSION

!
=
! !

=

EXAMPLE 39
Evaluate
8
(a) 3
7
(b) 5
EXAMPLE 40
+1
Show that 1
+
=
.
BINOMIAL THEOREM WHEN N IS A
POSITIVE INTEGER

1 2 2
( + ) = + + + + 1 +
1 2 1
EXAMPLE 41
Use the binomial theorem to expand (2 3)4 .
EXAMPLE 42
5
Use the binomial theorem to expand (3 ) in ascending
2
powers of .
EXAMPLE 43
Use the binomial theorem to expand (2 + 1)4 in ascending
powers of .
EXAMPLE 44
Expand ( 3)9 in ascending powers of , up to and including
the fourth term.
EXAMPLE 45
Find the coefficient of the term indicated in brackets in the
expansion of each of the expressions below.
(a) (3 2x)8 ; [x 5 ]
1 6
(b) (1 2 x) ; [x 3 ]
1 7
(c) (x + x2 ) ; [x11 ]
3

2 5
(d) x x 4 ; [x10]
EXAMPLE 46
Expand ( + 2)3 ( 1)5 in ascending powers of up to and
including the term in 3 .
EXAMPLE 47
Expand (1 + 2 + 2 )4 in ascending powers of up to and
including the term in 3 .
EXAMPLE 48
Find the coefficient of the term indicated in brackets in the
expansion of each of these expressions.
(a) 3 5x 1 + 3x 4 ; x 3
(b) 1 + 2x x 2 4 + x 6 ; x 6
2 4
(c) x (x + x 3 )10 ; constant or independent of x
3 4 1
(d)(1 + x)( 2 5x) ; [ 2 ]
x x
BINOMIAL THEOREM WHEN N IS
NOT A POSITIVE INTEGER
( + )
1
( 1) 2 2 ( 1)( 2) 3 3
= + + +
2! 3!
+ , <
EXAMPLE 49
Expand the following in ascending powers of up to and
including the term in 3 . State the range of values of for
which the expansion is valid.
(a) (1 + x)2
1
(b) 2x
(c) 1 3x
1
(d) 4x
1+x
(e) 12x
EXAMPLE 50

Express () in partial fractions and hence give
(12)(13)
the first three terms in the expansion of () in ascending
powers of . State the range of values of for which the
expansion is valid.
EXAMPLE 51

() . If is large, obtain an expression of () in
(12)(13)
1 1
ascending powers of as far as the term in .
State the range
2
of values of for which the expansion is valid.
EXAMPLE 52
Obtain the first four non-zero terms of the binomial terms of
1

the binomial expansion in ascending powers of of (1 2 ) 2
given < 1.
1
1 3
(a) Show that when = , (1 2
) =2 2.
3 4
1
(b) Substitute = into your expansion and hence obtain an
3
approximation to 2, giving your answer correct to five
decimal places.
EXAMPLE 53
1+
Expand the expansion (1 and
+ ) in ascending powers
1+
of as far as the term in 3 . If these expansions are identical
as far as the term in 2 , express and in terms of .
2 1
By taking = and = , show that an approximation to the
3 8
212
cube root of 81 is .
49