Arithmetic and Geometric

1 Sequences
Contents

1.1 Sequences

1.2 Arithmetic Sequence and Geometric

Sequence

1.3 Summing a Sequence

 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.1 Sequences

A sequence is a number pattern in a definite order. Each number in a sequence

is called a term. For example, in the sequence of triangular numbers,

1, 3, 6, 10, 15,…,

The first term is 1, which is usually denoted by T(1). Similarly, the other terms
can be denoted by T(2), T(3), …etc. the (…) at the end means that the
sequence continues infinitely.

In the sequence of triangular numbers, the nth is given by the formula

n(n + 1)
T ( n) = .
2
Content
General term can be
This is called the general term of the sequence regarded as the formula
generator of the
sequence.

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.1 Sequences

This sequence with a common ratio between consecutive terms is called

a geometric sequence ( or geometric progression, G.P.)

Apart from geometric sequence, there is another well-know sequence. This

kind of sequence have a common difference between consecutive terms,
and is called arithmetic sequence ( or arithmetic progression, A.P).

The term ‘Geometric

Progression’ and ‘Arithmetic
Progression’ can be found in the
Content past HKCEE questions on or
before 1996.

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.2 Arithmetic Sequence and Geometric Sequence
A. Arithmetic Sequence

Consider the sequence: 1, 4, 7, 11, 15,….

In this sequence, every term after the first term is larger than its preceding
term by 3, therefore, the difference 3 is called the common difference of the
sequence and this kind of sequence is called an arithmetic sequence.

Let the common difference be d and the first term be a. We have:

T(1) = a, T(2) = a + d, T(3) = a + 2d, … , T(n) = a + (n – 1)d, … .

For an arithmetic sequence, the nth term is

Content T (n) = a + ( n − 1)d
where a is the first term, d is the common difference and n is a positive integer.
This is also the general term of the sequence.

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.2 Arithmetic Sequence and Geometric Sequence
B. Geometric Sequence

If each term of a sequence differs from the preceding term by the same
multiplying factor, this is called a geometric sequence. Moreover, the same
multiplying factor is called the common ratio, usually denoted by r.

If the first term of a geometric sequence is denoted by a, we have

T (1) = a, T (2) = a ⋅ r , T (3) = a ⋅ r 2 , ⋅ ⋅⋅, T (n) = a ⋅ r n −1 , ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ .

The nth term of a geometric sequence is

T (n) = ar n −1 ,
Content where a is the first term, r is the common ratio and n is a positive integer.
T(n) is also called the general term of the sequence.

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.3 Summing a Sequence

The sum of the terms of a sequence is called a series. Consider the

sequence:
T(1), T(2), T(3), … , T(n)
Let S(n) = T(1) + T(2) + T(3) + … + T(n). S(n) is called a series of n terms

In other words, S(n) is the sum of the first n terms of sequence. For example, in
the sequence specified by the general term T(n) = (–1)n n2,

S (3) = (−1)112 + (−1) 2 2 2 + (−1)3 32

= −1 + 4 − 9
= −6

S (4) = (−1)112 + (−1) 2 2 2 + (−1)3 32 + (−1) 4 4 2

Content = −1 + 4 − 9 + 16
= 10

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.3 Summing a Sequence
A. Summing an Arithmetic Sequence

The formula for finding the sum of an arithmetic series with n terms is
given by
n
S (n) = (a + l ).
2

When we do not know the last term l, we may substitute l = a + (n – 1)d into
the formula of the sum of an arithmetic series.
n
S (n) = (a + a + (n – 1)d)
2

Content Another formula for finding the sum of an arithmetic series with n terms is
n
S (n) = (2a + (n − 1)d ).
2

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.3 Summing a Sequence
B. Summing a Geometric Sequence

For a geometric series whose first term is a and the common ratio is r,
the sum to n terms is given by
a (r n − 1)
S (n) = where r ≠ 1
r −1

This formula works best when r > 1 so that the denominator will not be
negative.

If r < 1, we may use the equivalent formula:

Content
a (1 − r n )
S (n) = where r ≠ 1
1− r

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 1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
1.3 Summing a Sequence

B. Summing to infinity

A concept which makes mathematics so fascinating is the concept of infinity.

infinite sum is one of the problems explored through generations.

To find the sum to infinity S(∞) of a geometric series with –1 > r < 1, we
have a simple formula
a
S (∞) = .
1− r

Content
“∞ “ stands for infinity.

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