7.

2 Analyze Arithmetic
Sequences & Series
p.442
What is an arithmetic sequence?
What is the rule for an arithmetic sequence?
How do you find the rule when given two terms?

Arithmetic Sequence:
The difference between consecutive
terms is constant (or the same).
The constant difference is also known
as the common difference (d).

Find the common difference by subtracting the

term on the left from the next term on the right.

Example: Decide whether each

sequence is arithmetic.

-10,-6,-2,0,2,6,10,
-6--10=4
-2--6=4
0--2=2
2-0=2
6-2=4
10-6=4

Not arithmetic (because

the differences are
not the same)

5,11,17,23,29,
11-5=6
17-11=6
23-17=6
29-23=6

Arithmetic (common
difference is 6)

Rule for an Arithmetic Sequence

Example: Write a rule for the nth

term of the sequence 32,47,62,77, .
Then, find a12.
There is a common difference where d=15,
therefore the sequence is arithmetic.
Use an=a1+(n-1)d
an=32+(n-1)(15)
an=32+15n-15
an=17+15n
a12=17+15(12)=197

a.

One term of an arithmetic sequence is a19 = 48. The

common difference is d = 3.
a. Write a rule for the nth term.

SOLUTION
a. Use the general rule to find the first term.
an = a1 + (n 1)
Write general rule.
d
a19 = a1 + (19 1) d
Substitute 19 for n
Substitute 48 for a19 and 3 for d.
48 = a1 + 18(3)
Solve for a1.
6 = a1
So, a rule for the nth term is:
an = a1 + (n 1) d
= 6 + (n 1) 3

Write general rule.

Substitute 6 for a1 and 3 for d.
Simplify.

b. Graph the sequence. One term of an arithmetic

sequence is a19 = 48. The common difference is d =3.
b. Create a table of values for
the sequence. The graph of
the first 6 terms of the
sequence is shown. Notice
that the points lie on a line.
This is true for any
arithmetic sequence.

Example: One term of an arithmetic sequence

is a8=50. The common difference is 0.25.
Write a rule for the nth term.
Use an=a1+(n-1)d to find the 1st term!
a8=a1+(8-1)(.25)
50=a1+(7)(.25)
50=a1+1.75
48.25=a1
* Now, use an=a1+(n-1)d to find the rule.
an=48.25+(n-1)(.25)
an=48.25+.25n-.25
an=48+.25n

Now graph an=48+.25n.

Just like yesterday, remember to graph the
ordered pairs of the form (n,an)
So, graph the points (1,48.25), (2,48.5),
(3,48.75), (4,49), etc.

Example: Two terms of an arithmetic sequence are

a5=10 and a30=110. Write a rule for the nth term.
Begin by writing 2 equations; one for each term
given.
a5=a1+(5-1)d OR 10=a1+4d
And
a30=a1+(30-1)d OR 110=a1+29d
Now use the 2 equations to solve for a1 & d.
10=a1+4d
110=a1+29d (subtract the equations to cancel a1)
-100= -25d
So, d=4 and a1=-6 (now find the rule)

an=a1+(n-1)d
an=-6+(n-1)(4) OR an=-10+4n

Example (part 2): using the rule an=-10+4n,

write the value of n for which a n=-2.

-2=-10+4n
8=4n
2=n

Two terms of an arithmetic sequence are a8 = 21 and

a27 = 97. Find a rule for the nth term.
SOLUTION

STEP 1
Write a system of equations using an = a1 + (n 1)d
and substituting 27 for n (Eq 1) and then 8 for n (Eq 2).
a27 = a1 + (27 1)d
Equation 1
97 = a1 + 26d
Equation 2
21 = a1 + 7d
a8 = a1 + (8 1)d
Subtract.
STEP 2 Solve the system. 76 = 19d
Solve for d.
4=d
Substitute for d
in Eq 1.
97 = a1 + 26(4)
27 = a1
Solve for a1.
STEP 3 Find a rule for an. an = a1 + (n 1)d Write general rule.
Substitute for
= 7 + (n 1)4
a1 and d.
= 11 + 4n
Simplify.

 What is an arithmetic sequence?

The difference between consecutive terms
is a constant
What is the rule for an arithmetic
sequence?
an=a1+(n-1)d
How do you find the rule when given two
terms?

Write two equations with two unknowns and

use linear combination to solve for the
variables.

7.2 Assignment
p. 446, 3-35 odd

Analyze Arithmetic
Sequences and Series day 2
What is the formula for find the sum of a
finite arithmetic series?

Arithmetic Series
The sum of the
terms in an
arithmetic sequence
1st Term
The formula to find
the sum of a finite
arithmetic series is:

Last
Term

a1 an
S n n

# of terms

Example: Consider the arithmetic

series 20+18+16+14+ .
Find the sum of the 1st Find n such that Sn=-760
25 terms.
a1 an
S n n
First find the rule for

the nth term.

an=22-2n
20 (22 2n)
760 n

So, a25 = -28 (last term)

a1 an
S n n

20 28
S 25 25

S 25 25(4) 100

 20 (22 2n)
760 n

-1520=n(20+22-2n)
-1520=-2n2+42n
2n2-42n-1520=0
n2-21n-760=0
(n-40)(n+19)=0
n=40 or n=-19
Always choose the positive solution!

SOLUTION
a1 = 3 + 5(1) = 8
a20 = 3 + 5(20) =103
( 8 +) 103
S20 = 20
2
= 1110

Identify first term.

Identify last term.
Write rule for S20, substituting 8
for a1 and 103 for a20.
Simplify.

ANSWER The correct answer is C.

House Of Cards
You are making a house of cards
similar to the one shown
a. Write a rule for the number of
cards in the nth row if the top row
is row 1.
SOLUTION

a.

Starting with the top row, the numbers of cards in

the rows are 3, 6, 9, 12, . . . . These numbers form
an arithmetic sequence with a first term of 3 and a
common difference of 3. So, a rule for the
sequence is:
an = a1 + (n 1) = d
Write general rule.
Substitute 3 for a1 and 3 for d.
= 3 + (n 1)3
Simplify.
= 3n

House Of Cards
You are making a house of
cards similar to the one
shown
b. What is the total number of cards
if the house of cards has 14 rows?
SOLUTION

b. Find the sum of an arithmetic series with first

term a1 = 3 and last term a14 = 3(14) = 42.
Total number of cards = S14

5.

Find the sum of the arithmetic series

(2 + 7i).
i=1
SOLUTION
a1 = 2 + 7(1) = 9
a12 = 2 + (7)(12) = 2 + 84
= 86
( a1 )+ an
Sn = n
2

S12 = 570
ANSWER

S12 = 570

What is the formula for find the sum of a finite

arithmetic series?

a1 an
S n n

7.2 Assignment:
p. 446
40-48 all, 63-64