AP GP and HP

AP (Arithmetic Progression) and GP (Geometric Progression)

In an AP or GP, the first term of the sequence is denoted by a, the nth term by Tn and the sum to
n terms by Sn. Sn may also be referred to as sum up-to n terms or sum of first n terms.

AP
An AP is a sequence in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is a constant.
This constant difference is called the Common Difference denoted by d.
Sequence of A.P a, (a+d), (a+2d), (a+3d),
Common Difference d
nth term, Tn = a + (n-1) d
Sum of the terms, Sn =

Properties of AP
1. Equidistant terms of an AP are also in AP.
2. (1) implies that (Tn Tn - k) = (Tn + k Tn).
3. The sum of any two terms equidistant from either end is a constant and the constant is equal to
twice the middle term.
4. The average of terms in an AP is always the middle term.
5. The sum to n terms = n * middle term.
6. The average of any two terms of an AP = the term exactly in the middle of the two terms.
i.e. (Tn + Tm)/2 = T(n+m)/2.
7. The difference between any two terms of an AP is the product of the number of in-between
terms and the common difference. i.e. (Tn Tm) = (n m)d.
8. If a, b and c are in AP, b = (a + c)/2.
9. It is convenient to take:three numbers in AP as (a d), a, (a + d)
four numbers in AP as (a 3d), (a d), (a + d), (a + 3d)

GP
A GP is a sequence in which the ratio of any two consecutive terms is a constant. This constant
ratio is called the Common Ratio denoted by r.
Sequence of G.P a, ar, ar, ar,
Common ration r
nth term, Tn = ar
n-1

Sum of the terms, Sn = [a(1-r
n
)]/(1-r) when r<1
Sn = [a(r
n
-1)]/(r-1) when r>1

Computational Tips
1. In problems involving 3 terms of an AP., take the terms as (a d), a and (a + d).
2. In problems involving 4 terms of an AP., take the terms as (a 3d), (a - d), (a + d) and (a +3d).
In this case the common difference is not d, but 2d.
3. In problems involving 3 terms of a GP., take the terms as (a/r), a and (ar).
4. In problems involving 4 terms of a GP., take the terms as (a/r
3
), (a/r), (ar) and (ar
3
). In this
case the common ratio is not r, but r
2
.
5. These simple tips greatly reduce calculation efforts.
Harmonic Progression (HP)
The progression a1, a2, a3 is called an HP if ... is an HP.
If a, b, c are in HP, then b is the harmonic mean between a and c.
In this case, b = 2ac/ a+c

Solved Problems

1. What is the 27th term of an AP: 7, 10, 13, 16, . ?

2. In an AP with 4 as the common difference, the 100th term is 403. What is the sum to 100
terms of this sequence?

3. The 5th and the 25th term of an AP are 115 and 250. What is the sum of the 17
th
term
and the 13
th
term?

4. The average of 27 consecutive odd integers is 39. What is the average of the next 27
consecutive odd integers?

5. Find the 9th term of the GP: 4, 12. 36,..

6. The 7th term and the 10th term of a GP are 192 and 1536. What is the sum to 11 terms of
the GP?

7. If a, b and c are in GP, what can be inferred about the sequence {log a, log b, log c}?

8. A ball dropped from a height of 24 metres rebounds of the distance it falls.How much
distance will it travel before coming to rest?

9. The sum of three terms of an AP is 351 and the difference between the largest and the
smallest terms is 80. Identify the AP.

10. Sum and product of three terms of a GP are respectively 438 and 110592.Identify the
GP.