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Progressions
A sequence or a series is an ordered collection of numbers. For example 3, 5,
7, 9, 11.. form a sequence.
(1) Arithmetic Progression (AP):
a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, .are said to form an Arithmetic progression.
a = first term
d = common difference
n th term of the A.P = tn = a + (n 1)d
Sum to n terms of the A.P =
(Or) =

n
[2a (n 1)d]
2
n
[t1 tn] , Where t1 = First term = a
2
tn = nth term = a + (n 1)d.

(2) Geometric Progression (G.P)

a, ar, ar2, ar3 are said to form a G.P.
a First term
r common ratio
n th term of a G.P. = arn-1
Sum to n terms of a G.P. =
Sum to of a G.P. =

a(r n 1)
if n > 1
r 1

a
if r < 1
1r

(3) Harmonic Progression (H.P)

a, b, c, d are in H.P., then their reciprocals viz.,

1 1 1 1
, , , are in A.P.
a b c d
Example:
If a, b, c are in H.P. then
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1 1 1
, , are in A.P.
a b c
1 1 2

a c b

ac 2

ac
b

1. Find the 20th term of the series 5 + 9 + 13 + 17 + 21 + ..

The given series in A.P.
a = 5
d = 4
nth term = t n

= a + (n 1)d

20th term = t 20 = 5 + (20 1)4 = 5 + 19 4 = 81

2. Find the sum up to 30 terms of the A.P.

2 + 9 + 16 + 23 + .
Here a = 2 n = 30
d = 7

Sn
S 30

n
[2a (n 1)d]
2
30
[4 (30 1)7] = 15 (4 + 7 29)
2

15 207 = 3105
3. Find the 8th term of the G.P 2, 6, 18, 54,
Here a = 2 ; r = 3
nth term = t n = arn-1
8th term = t 8 = 2 37 = 4374

4. Find the sum of the first 9 terms of the G.P.

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1 + 3 + 9 + 27 + 81 + ..
Here a = 1; r = 3
Sum of n terms = Sn

a(r n 1)
r 1

Sum to 9 terms = S9

1(39 1) 1 9
(3 1) 9841
31
2

5. The 4th and 9th terms of a G.P are 1/3 and 81 respectively. Find the first term.

t4 = ar3 =

1
------------ (1)
3

t9 = ar8 = 81 ------------ (2)

(2)
ar8
81
gives 3
81 3 243
(1)
1
/3
ar
i.e., r5 = 243, Hence r = 3

3
Since, ar

1
3

27 a =

1
3

1
1

27 3 81

Hence a =

1
;r=3
81

6. Show that the sum of n consecutive odd numbers beginning with unity is a
square number.
Consider the series of odd numbers 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 +
a = 1 ; d = 2

Sn

n
n
n
[2a (n 1)d] [2 (n 1)2] [2n] n2
2
2
2

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7. How many terms of the series 1 + 5 + 9 + . must be taken in order that the
sum may be 190?
Sn = 190, n = ? : a = 1, d = 4

n
[2 (n 1)4] 190
2
n
(4n 2) 190
2
n(4n 2) = 380
4n2 2n 380 = 0
2n2 n 190 = 0
2n2 20n + 19n 190 = 0
2n (n 10) + 19(n 10) = 0
(n 10) (2n + 19) = 0
n = 10 or

19
is invalid . n = 10
2

8. If a man can save Rs.5 more every year than he did the year before and if he
saves 25 rupees in the first year after how many years will his savings be more than
1000 rupees altogether and what will be the exact sum with him?
a = 25
d = 5

n
[2a (n 1)d] 1000
2
n
[50 (n 1)5] 1000
2
n
(5n 45) 1000
2

5n2 45n 2000

n2 9n 400
n2 + 9n 400 0
n2 + 25n 16n 400 0
n(n + 25) 16 (n + 25) 0
(n 16)(n + 25) 0
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n 16
After 16 years, the man will have savings of Rs.1000/- with him.
9. How many terms of the series 5 + 7 + 9 + must be taken in order that the
sum may be 480?

480

n
n
[10 (n 1)2] (2n 8) n(n 4)
2
2

n2 + 4n 480 = 0
(n + 24) (n 20) = 0
n = 20 ; n = -24 is invalid
10. Find the sum to infinity of the terms 9 6 + 4 - .
Here a = 9 ; r =

1r

9
2
1
3

2
3

r < 1

9 27

5
5
3

11. Find the G.P. whose sum to is

9
and whose 2nd term is 2.
2

Let a be the first term and r the common ratio

Given ar = -2 and

a
9

1r
2

2
2
9
a and r
r
1r 2
2
9

r(r 1)
2
9r 2 9r = 4
9r 2 9r 4 = 0
9r 2 12r + 3r 4 = 0
3r (3r 4) + 1(3r 4) = 0
(3r 4) (3r + 1) = 0
r = 4/3 or 1/3

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6
3
or a = 6
4
2

3
4
1
;r
is invalid, Hence a = 6, r =
2
3
3

The series will be 6, -2,

2
2
,
3
9

12. If A be the sum of n terms of the series 1

2n terms of the series 1

(i) 1

1
1

.... and B is the sum of

4 16

1 1
A
..... find the value of
B
2 4

1
1

.......
4 16

a = 1, r =

1
4

1 n

1 1
4

Sn A
1

(ii) 1

1 1
.....
2 4

a = 1 ; r =

S 2n

1

2

2n

1
1
2

1

4

1
1
2

1

2

2n

1
2

1
1
4
1
1
4

4
n

3
3
2
4
2

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13. The interior angles of a polygon are in A.P. The smallest angle is 114 and the
common difference is 6. How many sides are there in the polygon?

Here a = 114, d = 6

Sn

n
[2a (n 1)d] (2n 4) 90
2

n
[228 (n 1)6] (2n 4) 90
2
(6n 222)

n
(2n 4) 90
2

n(3n + 111) = (2n 4) 90

3n2 + 111n = 180n 360
3n2 69n + 360 = 0
n2 23n + 120 = 0
n(n 15) 8(n 15) = 0
(n 15)(n 8) = 0
n = 8 or 15
The minimum number of sides of the polygon = 8
Note: Sum of the interior angle of a polygon = (2n 4) 90

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