Grade 11 Sequences and Series

A sequence is an arrangement of numbers in definite order according to some

rule. Also, we define a sequence as a function whose domain is the set of natural
numbers or some subset of the type {1, 2, 3,, k}. A sequence containing finite
number of terms is called a finite sequence, whereas a sequence containing infinite
number of terms is called an infinite sequence.

A general sequence can be written as

a1, a2, a3, an 1 , an, Here, a1, a2 etc. are called the terms of the
sequence. The nth term of the sequence, an, is called the general term of the
sequence.

An arrangement of numbers such as 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, has no visible pattern.

However, the sequence is generated by the recurrence relation given by
a1 1, a2 an an
2

2, an 1 ,

a3

n 3

This sequence is called the Fibonacci sequence.

Let a1 , a2 ,...an , be a given sequence. Accordingly, the sum of this sequence

is
given by the expression a1 a2 ... an ... This is called the series associated with
the given sequence. The series is finite or infinite according as the given
sequence. A series is usually represented in a compact form using sigma notation
( ). This means the series a1 a2
... an
1

an can be written as

ak
k 1

The sequence a1 , a2 ,...an , is called an arithmetic sequence or an arithmetic

progression (A.P.) if an 1 an d , n N . Where, a1 is called the first term and d is
called the common difference of the A.P. In standard form, the A.P. is written as
a, a + d, a+ 2d,

The nth or the general term of an A.P. is given by an = a +( n 1)d. If a is

the first term, d is the common difference, l is the last term and n is the
number of terms, then l = a + (n 1) d.

The sum of n terms of an A.P. (denoted by Sn) is given by

Sn

n [2a (n 1)d ] 2 n Also, Sn (a l ) 2

Properties of an A.P.
i. ii. If a constant is added or subtracted or multiplied to each term of an A.P.,
then the resulting sequence is also an A.P. If each term of an A.P. is divided by a
non-zero constant, then the resulting sequence is also an A.P.

For any two numbers a and b, we can insert a number A between them such that
a, A, b is an A.P. Such a number i.e., A is called the arithmetic mean (A.M) of
numbers a and b and it is given by A
a b . 2

Let A1, A2, , An be n numbers between a and b such that a, A1, A2,, An, b is
an A.P. Accordingly, common difference (d) is given by terms including a and b, b =
a + (n + 2
b a n 1 2(b a) a n 1

[Since the general term of an A.P. is an = a + (n 1) d and there are (n + 2) 1) d

d= The numbers A1, A2,, An are given as follows:
A1 A2 . . . An a nd a n(b a ) n 1 a d a 2d a

b a . n 1

b a ] n 1

Example 1 Insect three numbers between 2 and 18 such that the resulting sequence
is an A.P. Solution: Let A1, A2, and A3 be three numbers between 2 and 18 such
that 2, A1, A2, A3, 18 are in an A.P. Here, a = 2, b = 18, n = 5 18 = 2 + (5
1) d
20 = 4 d d=5 Thus, A1 = a + d = 2 + 5 = 3 A2 = a + 2d = 2 + 10 = 8 A3 = a + 3d =
2 + 15 = 13 Hence, the required three numbers between 2 and 18 are 3, 8, and 13.

A sequence is said to be a geometric progression (G.P.) if the ratio of any term

to its preceding term is the same throughout. This constant factor is called the
common ratio and it is denoted by r.

In standard form, the G.P. is written as

a, ar , ar 2 , where, a is the first term and r is the common ratio.

The nth term (or general term) of a G.P. is given by an = ar n 1 The sum of n
terms (Sn) of a G.P. is given by
Sn a (1 r n ) a(r n 1) or , if r 1 r r 1 na, if r 1 1

For any two positive numbers a and b, we can insert a number G between them
such that a, G, b is a G.P. Such a number i.e., G is called a geometric mean (G.M.)
and is given by G = ab In general, if G1, G2, ,Gn be n numbers between positive
numbers a and b such that a, G1, G2, , Gn, b is a G.P., then G1, G2, , Gn are
given by G1= ar, G2 = ar2,, Gn = arn Where, r is calculated from the relation b =
ar
n+1

that is r

b a

1 n 1

Let A and G be the respective A.M. and G.M. of two given positive real numbers
a and b. Accordingly, A =
a b and G 2 ab .

Then, we will always have the following relationship between the A.M. and G.M.: A G

Sum of n-terms of some special series:

i. ii. Sum of first n natural numbers
1 2 3 ... n n(n 1) 2

Sum of squares of the first n natural numbers

12 22 32 ... n2

iii.

Sum of cubes of the first n natural numbers

1
3

n(n 1)(2n 1) 6
n(n 1) 2
2

... n

Example 2 Find the sum of n terms of the series whose nth term is n(n + 1)(n 2).
Solution: It is given that an

n(n 1)(n 2)

n(n 2 n 2n 2) n(n 2 n 2) n 3 n 2 2n

Thus, the sum of n terms is given by

n n n n

Sn
k 1

ak
k 1

k3
k 1 2

k2 2
k 1

k 2n(n 1) 2

n(n 1) 2

n(n 1)(2n 1) 6 2n 1 2 3

n(n 1) n(n 1) 2 2

n(n 1) 3n(n 1) 2(2n 1) 12 2 6 n(n 1) 3n 2 3n 4n 2 12 2 6 n(n 1) 3n 2 n 14 2 6 n(n

1)(3n 2 n 14) 12 n(n 1)(3n 2 7n 6n 14) 12 n(n 1)[n(3n 7) 2(3n 7)] 12 n(n 1)(n 2)(3n
7) 12

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