Arithmetic

Sequences

An Arithmetic Sequence is
defined as a sequence in
which there is a common
difference between
consecutive terms.

Which of the following sequences are

arithmetic? Identify the common
difference.
3, 1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, . . .

YES

15.5, 14, 12.5, 11, 9.5, 8, . . .

d 2

YES d 1.5

84, 80, 74, 66, 56, 44, . . . NO

8, 6, 4, 2, 0, . . .

NO

50, 44, 38, 32, 26, . . . YES d 6

The common
s
y
a
w
l
a
s
i
e
c
differen
n
e
e
w
t
e
b
e
c
the differen
m
r
e
t
e
h
t
d
n
a
any term
t
a
h
t
s
d
e
e
c
o
r
p
that
term.
Com

mo n
Differ
ence
=

26, 21, 16, 11, 6, . . .

The general form of an ARITHMETIC sequence.

First Term:

a1

Second Term:

a2 a1 d

Third Term:

a3 a1 2d

Fourth Term:

a4 a1 3d

Fifth Term:

a5 a1 4d

nth Term:

an a1 n 1 d

Formula for the nth term of an ARITHMETIC

sequence.

an a1 n 1 d
I
f we
an The nth term
know
three
an y
o
a1 The 1st term
ough f these
we
t to b
to fin
e ab
n The term number
le
d th e
fourt
h
.
d The common difference

Given: 79, 75, 71, 67, 63, . . .

Find: a32
IDENTIFY

a1 79
d 4
n 32

SOLVE

an a1 n 1 d

a32 79 32 1 4
a32 45

Given: 79, 75, 71, 67, 63, . . .

Find: What term number is -169?
IDENTIFY

a1 79
d 4
an 169

SOLVE

an a1 n 1 d

169 79 n 1 4
n 63

Given:

a10 3.25

Find: a1

a12 4.25

Whats the real question?

IDENTIFY

a1 3.25
a3 4.25
n3

The Difference

SOLVE

an a1 n 1 d

4.25 3.25 3 1 d
d 0.5

Given:

a10 3.25

Find: a1

a12 4.25

IDENTIFY

a10 3.25
d 0.5
n 10

SOLVE

an a1 n 1 d

3.25 a1 10 1 0.5
a1 1.25

Arithmetic
Series

Write the
first thre
e terms
last two
and the
terms of
the follow
arithmet
ing
ic series
.
50

73 2 p 71 69 67 . . . 25 27
p 1

f
o
m
u
s
e
h
t
s
i
t
a
h
W
?
s
e
i
r
e
this s

71 69 67 . . . 25 27

27 25 . . . 67 69 71
44 44 44 . . . 44 44 44
50 Terms

50 71 27
2

1100

71 + (-27) Each sum

is the same.

a1 a1 d a1 2d . . . a1 n 1 d

a n 1 d . . . a
1

a a n 1 d a
1

n a1 an

2d a1 d a1

a1 n 1 d

. . . a
1

a1 n 1 d

S Sum
n Number of Terms
a1 First Term
an Last Term

Find the sum of the terms of this

arithmetic series. 35
29 3k

n a1 an
k 1

n 35
a1 26
a35 76

35 26 76
S
2
S 875

Find the sum of the terms of this arithmetic

151 147 143 139 . . . 5
series.

n a1 an
S
2

n 40
a1 151
a40 5

What term is -5?

an a1 n 1 d

5 151 n 1 4
n 40

40 151 5
S
2
S 2920

f
o
m
u
s
e
th
r
fo
la
u
m
r
fo
Alternate
.
s
ie
r
e
S
c
ti
e
m
h
it
r
A
n
a
Substitute an a1 n 1 d

n a1 an
S
2
S
S

n a1 a1 n 1 d
2
n 2a1 n 1 d
2

n # of Terms

a1 1st Term
d Difference

36

Find the sum of this series

2.25 0.75 j
j 0

2.25 3 3.73 4.5 . . .

S

n 2a1 n 1 d

n 37

It is not con
venient to fi
nd
the last term
.

37 2 2.25 37 1 0.75

a1 2.25

d 0.75

S 582.75

35

45 5i
n a1 an
S
2
n 35 a1 40 an 130

35 40 130
S
2
S 1575

i 1

n 2a1 n 1 d
2

n 35 a1 40 d 5

35 2 40 35 1 3

S 1575