Arithmetic progression

(A) Characteristics of Arithmetic Progression

Example 1:
Determine whether the following number sequences is an arithmetic
progression (AP) or not.

(a) 5, 3, 1, 1,
(b) 10, 7, 4, 1, -2,
(c) 2, 8, 15, 23,
(d) 3, 6, 12, 24,

Smart TIPS: For an arithmetic progression, you always plus or minus a

fixed number

(B) The steps to prove whether a given number sequence is an

arithmetic progression
Example 2:
Prove whether the following number sequence is an arithmetic
progression

(a) 7, 10, 13,

(b) 20, 15, 9,

Solution:

(a) (b)
7, 10, 13 (Step 1: List down T1 , T2 , T3 ) 20, 15, 9
T3 T2 = 13 10 = 3 (Step 2: Find T3 T2 and T3
T2 T2
T1)= 9 (15) = 6
T2 T1 = 10 7 = 3 (Step 2: Find T3 T2 and T2
T2T1)
T1 = 15 (20) = 5
T3 T2 = T2 T1 T3 T2 T2 T1
Therefore, this is an arithmetic progression. Therefore, this is not an
arithmetic progression.
(D) The Number of Terms in an Arithmetic Progression

Smart TIPS: You can find the number of term in an arithmetic progression
if you know the last term

Example 1:
Find the number of terms for each of the following arithmetic
progressions.
(a) 5, 9, 13, 17... , 121
(b) 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75,..., 8

Solution:

(a) (b)
5, 9, 13, 17... , 121 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75,..., 8
AP, AP,
a = 5, d = 9 5 = 4 a = 1, d = 1.25 1 = 0.25
The last term, Tn = 121 Tn = 8
a + (n 1) d = 121 a + (n 1) d = 8
5 + (n 1) (4) = 121 1 + (n 1) (0.25) = 8
(n 1) (4) = 116 (n 1) (0.25) = 7
(n 1) = 116/4 = 29 (n 1) = 28
n = 30 n = 29

(E) The Consecutive Terms of an Arithmetic Progression

Example 2:
If x + 1, 2x + 3 and 6 are three consecutive terms of an arithmetic
progression, find the value of x and its common difference.

Solution:
x + 1, 2x + 3, 6
cb=ba
6 (2x + 3) = (2x + 3) (x + 1)
6 2x 3 = 2x + 3 x 1
3 2x = x + 2
x=1/3
1/3+1,
2(1/3)+3,6
4/3, 3(2/3), 6
d=3(2/3)4/3=2(1/3)
1.4 Sum of the First n Terms of an Arithmetic Progression

Example:
Calculate the sum of each of the following arithmetic progressions.
(a) -11, -8, -5, ... up to the first 15 terms.
(b) 8, 10, 13,... up to the first 13 terms.
(c) 5, 7, 9,....., 75

[Smart TIPS: The last term is given, you can find the number of term, n]

(b)
Solution:
8,101/2,13,.....Find S13
(a)
a=8
11,8,5,.....Find S15
d=101/28=5/2
a=11,
S13=13/2 [2a+12d]
d=8(11)=3
S13=13/2 [2(8)+12(5/2)]=299
15
S15= 2 [2a+14d]

15
S15= 2 [2(11)+14(3)]=150

(c)
5,7,9,.....,75(The last term l=75)
a=5
d=75=2
n
Sn= 2 (a+l)

36
S36= 2 (5+75)=1440

The last term l=75

Tn=75
a+(n1)d=75
5+(n1)(2)=75
(n1)(2)=70
n1=35
n=36