Definition.

(AS and GS)

A sequence {xn } is called an arithmetic sequence if
xn 1 xn d ( n 1, 2, 3,K ),
where d is a constant. Arithmetic sequence is abbreviated to A.S..
A sequence {xn } is called a geometric sequence if
xn 1 rxn ( n 1, 2, 3,K ),
where r is a constant. Geometric sequence is abbreviated to G.S..

d is called common difference and r is called common ratio.

General Term and Partial Sum.

The general term of an A.S. {xn } with common difference d is
xn x1 (n 1)d .
th
The n partial sum is
n( x1 xn ) n
x1 L xn
[2 x1 (n 1)d ] .
2
2
The general term of a G.S. { yn } with common ratio r is
yn y1 r n 1 .
The nth partial sum is
y1 L yn

y1 (1 r n )
.
1 r

If 1 r 1 , the sum to infinity is

y1 y2 L

Form 5 Mathematics (Core)

Series
Waygen T.

y1
.
1 r

Interesting Example.
Let ABC be an equilateral triangle with area 1 cm 2 and A , B ,
C are respectively the midpoints of BC, CA, AB. The midpoints
are joined to form AB C as shown in the figure.

C'

B'

(a) Find the area of AB C .

B

In each of the remaining triangles AC B , C BA , B AC .

We draw their medial triangles (which are shaded in the figure).

(b) Find the area of each shaded smaller triangle.

C'

(c) Repeat the process indefinitely. Find the total area of

shaded triangles.

B'

A'

Solution.
(a) Since AB C is similar to ABC ,
2

AB
AB C
ABC
AB
1
ABC
4
1
cm 2
4

(b) By similarity again, the area of each shaded smaller triangle is

1 3
9
L
(c) Total area is
4 16 64

Form 5 Mathematics (Core)

Series
Waygen T.

1
4

3
1
4

1 cm 2 .

A'

1 1 1

cm 2 .
4 4 16

Additional Example. (Out of Syllabus)

A sequence {xn } is defined recursively by
x1 1

xn 1 2 xn 1 (n 1, 2,K )
Find the general term of this sequence.

We write down the first few terms:

n
xn

15

31

63

127

Appendix: why 0.9&= 1 ?

What is the value of 0.999L ? May be somebody told you before the answer is 1. This
surprising result can be proved as follows:
The number 0.9& is, by definition, the sum of the series
0.9 0.09 0.009 L

This is a geometric series with common ratio 0.1, the sum is

0.9
1.
1 0.1

This example shows that the decimal representationof a number is

not unique in general.

Form 5 Mathematics (Core)

Series
Waygen T.

Form 5 Mathematics (Core)

Series
Waygen T.

Form 5 Mathematics (Core)

Series
Waygen T.