Math Preparatory Programme: 2015

Session 3: Progression
Apratim Guha
Phone: 4803; email: apratim@iimahd.ernet.in
Progression: A progression is an infinite sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , .

Arithmetic Progression

Definition: A progression is called an arithmetic progression if the n-th term of the

sequence is given by tn = a + (n 1)d for some a and some d, where n = 1, 2, .
Clearly, t1 = a.
Some obvious properties are:
Property 1: The n-th term tn = a + (n 1)d for n = 1, 2, 3, .
Property 2: The common difference d = tn+1 tn .
1
Problem 1.1: The first term of an A.P. series is 2 and the common difference is .
2
Find the 20th term.
Problem 1.2: The 5-th and the 12-th term of an A.P. series are 14 and 35 respectively. Find the first term and the common difference.
Problem 1.3: The sum of three numbers in A.P. is 15 and their product is 80; find
the numbers.
Pn
n
(a + l) =
Property 3: Sum of the first n-terms in A.P.: Sn =
i=1 ti is given by
2
n
[2a + (n 1)d] where l = last term = n-th termtn = a + (n 1)d.
2
Problem 1.4: Find the sum 72 + 70 + 68 + + 40.
Problem 1.5: How many terms of the series 93 + 90 + 87 + sum up to 975? Also
find the last term.
Problem 1.6: A company engaged in the production of computers produced 300
units in the third year and 700 units in the seventh year. Assuming that production increases uniformly by a fixed number every year, find
1

1. the production in the first year.

2. the total production in seven years
3. the production in the tenth year.
Problem 1.7: On 1st January every year, a man buys NSC(National Savings Certificate) of value exceeding that of his last years purchase by Rs.100. After 10
years he finds that the total value of the certificates held by him is Rs.54,500.
Find the value of the certificates purchased by him
1. in the first year.
2. in the eighth year.

Geometric Progression

Definition: A progression is called a geometric progression if the n-th term of the sequence
is given by tn = a rn1 for some positive a and r, where n = 1, 2, .
Clearly a is the first term and r is the common ratio of a G.P., which means
Property 1: the common ratio r =

tn+1
.
tn

Problem 2.1: Find the eighth and tenth terms of the G.P. series 2, 4, 8, 16,
Probelm 2.2: Which term of the following series is 576? 4.5, 9, 18,
Problem 2.3: FInd three numbers in G. P. whose sum is 26 and the product is 216.
Probelm 4: Find the value of k if k 3, 2k 3 and 4k + 3 are in G.P.
P
Property 2: Sum of the first n terms:Sn = ni=1 tn is given by

a(1 rn )

, for 1 < r < 1

1n r

a(r 1) , for r > 1 or r < 1

r1
Problem 2.5: Find the sum of the following series: 6 + 12 + 24 + + 1536
Problem 2.6: A man borrows Rs.19,682 without interest and agrees to repay in 9
monthly instalments, each instalment being thrice the preceding one. After the
seventh instalment, he wants to repay the balance in lump. How much he will
have to pay now?
a
Property 3: If 1 < r < 1 then a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + =
.
1r
Problem 2.7: Find the sum of the following infinite series:
2
3
2
3
2
3
+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6
5 5
5
5
5
5
.
2

Property 4: If 1 < r < 1 then a + 2ar + 3ar2 + =

a
.
(1 r)2

24
20
+ 32
+ .
Problem 2.8: Find the sum of the following infinite series: 4+4+3+2+ 16

Problem 2.9: Find the sum of the following infinite series: 2 + 3 2 12 + 4 2

1 2
1 3
+
5

.
2
2

Some Special Progressions and their sums

1. 1 + 2 + 3 + + n =

n
(n + 1)
2

1
2. 12 + 22 + 32 + + n2 = n(n + 1)(2n + 1)
6
nn
o2
3. 13 + 23 + 33 + + n3 =
(n + 1)
2
Problem 3.1: Find the sum of the given series to n terms:
1 2 4 + 2 3 7 + 3 4 10 +

Additional Problems
Problem A1: Find the sum of the first n terms of the following series:
1 + (1 + 2) + (1 + 2 + 3) +
Problem A2: Find the sum to n terms of the series
1 + (1 + 4) + (1 + 4 + 42 ) + (1 + 4 + 42 + 43 ) + .
Problem A3: Compound interest: suppose the bank gives a certain rate of interest, compounding monthly, on any fixed deposit. However, they deduct a tax deducted at
source (TDS) of 10% of whatever amount you are supposed to receive as interest.
Suppose that you have put Rs.1 lakh in the bank on January 1st, and you are expected
to receive a net amount of Rs.109434.18 back on December 31st after deduction of
TDS. What is the annual rate of interest paid by the bank? What is the annual
effective rate(AER) of interest?
Problem A4: You have taken a bank loan of Rs.1 lakh for a year, which you are to repay
in 12 equal monthly instalments. The bank charges an annual interest rate of 12% on
bank loans, compounding monthly on the remaining balance. What is your monthly
instalment amount? What is the annual effective rate of interest (AER)?