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SEQUENCE & PROGRESSION

1. INTRODUCTION :
A sequence is a set of terms which may be algebraic, real or complex numbers, written
according to definite rule and the series thus formed is called a progression.
e.g. 0, 1, 7, 26.............. (rule is n3 – 1)
2. SHORT STORY :
Leading to historical development and origin of the chapter - Fredric Karl Gauss.

3(a) ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION :

It is a sequence whose terms increase or decrease by a fixed number. Fixed number is
called the common difference. If 'a' is the first term and 'd' is the common difference,
then the standard appearance of an A.P. is
a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + ......... + (a + n 1 d )
and nth or last term is given by

r
Tn = a + (n – 1)d
Note : If d > 0  increasing A.P.
If d < 0  decreasing A.P. Si
If d = 0  all the terms remain same
3(b) Sum of n terms of an A.P.
.B
Sn = a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + .............. + (a + n 1 d )
Sn = (a + n 1 d ) + (a + n  2 d ) + (a + d) +.................+ a
——————————————————————————————
2Sn = n [2a + (n – 1)d], (Note that there are 4 variables)
G

n n
Sn = [2a + n 1 d] or (a + l) where l = a + n 1 d]
2 2
@

3(c) HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT AN A.P.

(i) If each term of an A.P. is increased, decreased, multiplied or divided by the same non
zero number, then the resulting sequence is also an AP.
(ii) Three numbers in AP can be taken as a – d , a , a + d ; four numbers in AP can be taken
as a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d ; five numbers in AP are a – 2d, a – d , a, a + d, a + 2d &
six terms in AP are a – 5d, a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d, a + 5d etc.
(iii) The common difference can be zero, positive or negative.
(iv) The sum of the two terms of an AP equidistant from the beginning & end is constant
and equal to the sum of first & last terms.
(v) If the number of terms in an A.P. is even then take it as 2n and if odd then take it as (2n+1)
(vi) For any series, Tn = Sn – Sn – 1. In a series if Sn is a quadratic function of n or Tn is a
linear function of n, then the series is an A.P.
[Hint: Sn = n2 + n + 1 then Tn = Sn – Sn – 1 = 2n but this is for n  2
T1 = S1 = 3, T2 = 4, T3 = 6 so in this way an A.P. is formed from T2 onwards.
If Sn = an2 + bn then T1 is also in A.P. and T1 = S1 because S0 = 0 ]

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n (n  1)
Remember that : (i) sum of first n natural number is and S100 = 5050
22
(ii) sum of first n odd natural number is n
(iii) sum of first n even natural number is n(n + 1)
3(d) ARITHMETIC MEAN :
Definition : When three quantities are in A.P. then the middle one is called the Arithmetic
Mean of the other two.
e.g. a, b, c are in A.P. then 'b' is the arithmetic mean between 'a' and 'c' and a + c = 2b.
It is to be noted that between two given quantities it is always possible to insert any
number of terms such that the whole series thus formed shall be in A.P. and the terms
thus inserted are called the arithmetic means.
To insert 'n' AM's between a and b.
Let A1, A2, A3 ........ An are the n means between a and b.
Hence a, A1A2, ........ Anb is an A.P. and b is the (n + 2)th terms.
ba
Hence b = a + (n + 1)d  d=
n 1

r
Now A1 = a + d
A2 = a + 2d

An = a + nd
—————
Si
n
n(n  1) n(n  1) b  a
.B
 Ai = na + (1 + 2 + 3 + .... + n)d = na + 2 d = na + 2 · n  1
i 1

n a b
= [2a  b  a] = n   = na
G

2  2 
4(a) GEOMETRICAL PROGRESSION :
Definition : In a sequence if each term (except the first non zero term) bears the same
@

constant ratio with its immediately preceding term the series is called a G.P. and the
constant ratio is called the common ratio.
Standard appearance of a G.P. is
a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ..........+ arn – 1 , where nth term is Tn = arn – 1 (r  0)
4(b) Sum of n terms of a G.P.
S = a + ar + ar2 + .......... + arn – 1
Sr= + ar + ar2 + ...................... + arn
subtract – – –
———————————————
S(1 – r) = a – arn = a (1 – rn)
a(1  r n )
S= , where r  1, (if r = 1 then S = na)
1 r
If | r | < 1 and n   then rn  0 and in this case geometric series will be summable
upto infinity and its sum is given by
a
S =
1 r
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4(c) IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

(i) If each term of a GP be multiplied or divided by the same non-zero quantity, the
resulting sequence is also a GP.
(ii) Any 3 consecutive terms of a GP can be taken as a/r, a, ar ; any 4 consecutive terms
of a GP can be taken as a/r3, a/r, ar, ar3 & so on.
(iii) If a, b, c are in GP  b2 = ac.

4(d) GEOMETRICAL MEAN

Definition : If a, b, c are three positive number in G.P. then b is called the geometrical
mean between a and c and b2 = ac. If a and b are two + ve real and G is the G.M.
between them, then
G2 = ab
To insert 'n' GM's between a and b
Let a and b are two positive numbers are G1, G2, .........Gn are 'n' GM's then
a G1 G2 ...........Gn b is a G.P. with 'b' as its (n+2)th term.
Hence b = arn + 1

r
1

r =  b 
n1


n
a
Now G1 = ar, G2 = ar2, ..........Gn = arn
Si n(n 1)  1 
n(n 1)
2
2 n  b  n1 
hence  G i = an · r1 + 2 + .... + n = an · r = a   
.B
i 1 a
 
n  b n 2 
= a · n/2 n/2
 an 2  = a · b =
  ab n = Gn
G

 
where G is the single GM between a and b.
Hence product of n GM's inserted between of a and b is equal to the nth power of a
@

single GM between them. It may be noted that between two positive numbers AM  GM

5 ARITHMETIC GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION (AGP):

Standard appearance of an AGP is
S = a + (a + d)r + (a + 2d)r2 + (a + 3d)r3 + ..........
Here each term is the product of corresponding terms in an arithmetic and geometric series.
Let
S = a + (a + d)r + (a + 2d)r2 + (a + 3d)r3 + .......... + a  n 1d rn – 1
 
Sr = + ar + (a + d)r2 + ...............................+ a  n  2d  rn – 1 + a  n 1d rn
—————————————————————————————————
Now subtract and get the expression for Sn and S as the case may be

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6. Miscellaneous sequences
(Type-1): Sequence dealing with  n ;  n 2 ;  n3
n(n  1)
(1) n  2 

*  n2 
n(n  1)(2n  1) 
 Proof to be done. Results to be remembered.
6 
2 
** 3 n(n  1)  2 
 n   2    n 
 
For proof :
* Consider the identity k3 – (k – 1)3 = 3k2 – 3k + 1
** Consider the identity k4 – (k – 1)4 = 4k3 – 6k2 + 4k – 1
n n n
Note : (i)  (a r  br ) =  a r   br ;
r1 r1 r1
n

r
n
(ii)  k ar = k ar

Important: (iii)
r1
n
k
r1
n
= k  = kn
r1
r 1
Si
(explain by taking Tn = n2 – n + 1 then computing the sum of n terms)
.B
TYPE-2 (Using method of difference) :
If T1, T2, T3, ....... are the terms of a sequence then the terms
G

T2 – T1, T3 – T2, T4 – T3 ..........

some times are in A.P. and some times in G.P. For such series we first compute their
nth term and then compute the sum to n terms, using sigma notation.
@

TYPE -3 (Splitting the nth term as a difference of two) :

(a) Here is a series in which each term is composed of the reciprocal of the product of r
factors in A.P., the first factor of the several terms being in the same A.P.
TYPE-4 :
Here is a series in which each terms is composed of r factor in A.P., the first factor of
the several terms being in the same A.P.
7(a) HARMONICAL PROGRESSION (HP):
Definition : A sequence is said to be in H.P. if the reciprocals of its terms are in A.P.
1 1 1
e.g. if a1, a2, a3, .... are in H.P. then a , a , a .... are in A.P.  for every
1 2 3
 HP  a
1  corresponding
1 1 1  H.P.
A standard H.P. is + + + ........ +
a ad a  2d a  n 1d

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For every HP  a corresponding HP

Terms of harmonic series are the outcomes of an A.P.
Note:
(i) If the term of an H.P. is  this means that the corresponding term of the A.P. is zero.
This also means that no term of HP can be zero.
(ii) There is no general formula for finding the sum to n terms of H.P.
1 1 1
(iii) If a, b, c are in H.P.  , , are in A.P
a b c
2 1 1 2ac
 = +  b=  a, b, c are in HP
b a c ac
1 1 1 1 a b bc a ab
also – = – i.e. = i.e. =  a, b, c are in A.P]
b a c b ab bc c bc

7(b) HARMONICAL MEAN :

r
If a, b, c are in H.P. then middle term is called the harmonic mean between them. Hence

and H =
2ab
ab
. (Recall that AM =
Si
if H is the harmonic mean (H.M.) between a and b then a, H, b are in H.P.
ab
and GM = ab if a > 0, b > 0)
.B
G
@

Relation between A.M, G.M. and H.M :

If a and b are two positive numbers then A  G  H and A, G, H are in G.P. i.e. G2=AH
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Exercise
1. The first term of an A.P. of consecutive integer is p2 1 1
+ 1. The sum of (2p + 1) terms of this series can be 8. If 3 + (3 + d) + 2 (3 + 2d) + ... + upto  = 8, then
expressed as 4 4
the value of d is
(A) (p + 1)2 (B) (2p + 1) (p + 1)2
(A) 9 (B) 5
(C) (p + 1)3 (D) p3 + (p + 1)3 (C) 1 (D) None of these
2. If a1, a2, a3,........ are in A.P. such that a1 + a5 + a10 + a15 9. The positive integer n for which 2 × 22 + 3 × 23 + 4 ×
+ a20 + a24 = 225, then a1 + a2 + a3 + ......+ a23 + a24 is 24 + ..... + n × 2n = 2n + 10 is
equal to (A) 510 (B) 511
(A) 909 (B) 75 (C) 512 (D) 513
(C) 750 (D) 900
10. If fourth term of an HP is 3/5 and its 8th term is 1/3,
3. The sum of the series then its first term is–
(A) 2/3 (B) 3/2
1 1 1 1
   .....  (C) 1/4 (D) None of these
log 2 4 log 4 4 log 8 4 log 2n 4 is
11. If a1, a2, ...., an are in HP, then the expression a1a2 +
1 1 a2a3 + ....+ an – 1 an is equal to
(A) n(n  1) (B) n(n  1)(2n  1) (A) (n – 1) (a1 – an) (B) na1an
2 12
(C) (n – 1)a1an (D) n(a1 – an)
1 1 
(C) n(n  1) (D) n(n  1) 1
4 12. The sum r
r 2
2
1
is equal to
4. If a and b are pth qth terms of an AP, then the sum of (A) 1 (B) 3/4
its (p + q) terms is (C) 4/3 (D) None of these

r
pq ab 1 1 1 2
(A)

(B)
a  b 
2 

pq
a  b 
2 

p  q

a b 
p q

Si 13. If 2

1 1 1
 2  2  ..... upto  
1 2 3

   ..... 
12 32 5 2
(A) 2/12 (B) 2/24
6
, then
.B
2
pq  ab (C)  /8 (D) None of these
(C) a  b  
2  p  q 14. The sum to n term of the series
(D) None of these 1(1!) + 2(2!) + 3(3!) + ....
(A) (n + 1) ! – 1 (B) (n – 1) ! – 1
G

an 1 1 (C) (n – 1) ! + 1 (D) (n + 1) ! + 1
5. For a sequence {an}, a1 = 2 and a  3
n 15. If x,y,z are AM, GM and HM of two positive num-
20 bers respectively, then correct statement is -
a (A) x < y < z (B) y < x < z
@

Then r is
r 1 (C) z < y < x (D) z < x < y
20  1  16. If A,G & 4 are A.M, G.M & H.M of two numbers
(A) [4  19  3] (B) 3 1  20  respectively and 2A + G2 = 27, then the numbers are-
2  3 
(A) 8,2 (B) 8,6
(C) 2(1 – 320) (D) None of these
(C) 6,3 (D) 6,4
6. If S is the sum of infinity of a G.P. whose first term is
‘a’, then the sum of the first n terms is 17. If A, G & H are respectively te A.M., G.M. & H.M. of
three positive numbers a, b, & c then the equation
 a
n   a n  whose roots are a, b & c is given by
(A) S 1   (B) S 1   1  S   (A) x3 – 3 Ax2 + 3 G3x – G3 = 0
 S    
(B) x3 – 3Ax2 + 3 (G3/H) x – G3 = 0
  a n  (C) x3 + 3 Ax2 + 3 (G3/H) x – G3 = 0
(C) a 1  1  S   (D) None of these (D) x3 – 3Ax2 – 3 (G3/H) x + G3 = 0
   
7.  be the roots of the equation x2 – 3x + a = 0 and  18. The sum of integers from 1 to 100 that are divisible
 the roots of x2 – 12x + b = 0 and numbers  by 2 or 5 is
(in this order) form an increasing G.P., then
(A) 2550 (B) 1050
(A) a = 3, b = 12 (B) a = 12, b = 3
(C) a = 2, b = 32 (D) a = 4, b = 16 (C) 3050 (D) None of these

1
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19. Cconsider an A.P. with first term ‘a’ and the common x y
difference ‘d’. Let Sk denote the sum of its first k (A) x – y (B)
bn
terms. If Skx/Sx is independent of x, then
(A) a = d/2 (B) a = d x y xy
(C) a = 2d (D) None of these (C) b (D) b
n n

20. The common difference d of the A.P. in which T7 = 9 27. If G1 and G2 and two geometric means and A is the
and T1T2T7 is least is arithmetic means inserted between two positive
(A) 33/2 (B) 5/4
(C) 33/20 (D) None of these G12 G22
numbers then the value of  is
G2 G1
21. If a1, a2....an are in A.P. with common difference d 
0, then the sum of the series (sin d) [cosec a1 cosec (A) A/2 (B) A
a2 + cosec a2 cosec a3 +...........+ cosec an – 1 cosec an] (C) 2A (D) None of these
(A) sec a1 – sec an (B) cosec a1 – cosec an 28. One side of an equilateral triangle is 24 cm. The
(C) cot a1 – cot an (D) tan a1 – tan an mid–points of its sides are joined to form another
triangle whose mid–points are in turn joined to form
22. If p is positive, then the sum to infinity of the series, still another triangle. This process continues indefi-
1 1 p (1  p ) 2 nitely. Then the sum of the perimeters of all the
 2
 –....... is trianlges is
1  p (1  p ) (1  p ) 3
(A) 144 cm (B) 212 cm
(A) 1/2 (B) 3/4 (C) 288 cm (D) None of these

r
(C) 1 (D) None of these
29. In a geometric progression consisting of positive

23.

(A) 2/9
(C) –2/9
3 5 7
The sum of infinite series 1 –    .... is -
2 4 8
(B) 2/3
(D) 9/2
Si terms, each term equals the sum of the next two
terms. Then the common ratio of this progression
equals-

(A)
1
(1  5) (B)
[AIEEE- 2007]
1
5
2 2
.B
1 1 1
24. If Hn = 1 +   ......  , then value of
2 3 n 1 1
(C)  5 (D) ( 5  1)
2 2
3 5 2n  1
1   ......  is
2 3 n 30. If p and q are positive real number such that p2 + q2
G

= 1, then the maximum value of (p + q) is

(A) 2n – Hn (B) 2n + Hn
[AIEEE 2007]
(C) Hn – 2n (D) Hn + n
(A) 2 (B) 1/2
@

25. The sum of all possible products of first n natural 1

numbers taken two by two is (C) (D) 2
2
1
(A) n(n  1)(n  1)(3n  2) 31. The sum to infinity of the series
24
n(n  1)(2n  1) 2 6 10 14
1     ...... [AIEEE - 2009]
(B) 3 32 33 34
6
(A) 2 (B) 3
n(n  1)(2n  1)(n  3) (C) 4 (D) 6
(C)
24
(D) None these 32. A person is to count 4500 currency notes. Let an
denote the number of notes he counts in the n th
26. {a n} and {bn} are two sequences given by minute. If a1 = a2 = .... = a10 = 150 and a10, a11 .... are in
n n n n an AP with common diferencec –2, then the time
an  (x)1/ 2  ( y)1/ 2 and bn  (x)1/ 2  ( y)1/2 for all
taken by him to count all notes is - [AIEEE 2010]
n  N. The value of a1a2a3 .....an is equal to (A) 24 minutes (B) 34 minutes
(C) 125 minutes (D) 135 minutes

2
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41. The maximum value of the sum of the A.P. 50, 48, 46,
33. The sum of first 20 terms of the sequence 0.7, 0.77,
44, .................... is -
0.777, .... is : [JEE Main - 2013]
(A) 325 (B) 648
7 7 (C) 650 (D) 652
(A) (179  10 20 ) (B) (99  1020 )
81 9
42 Let Tr be the rth term of an A.P. for r = 1, 2, 3, ...........
7 7
(C) (179  10 20 ) (D) (99  10 20 ) If for some positive integers m, n we
81 9

34. Let α and β be the roots of equation 1 1

have Tm  & Tn  , then Tmn equals -
px2 + qx + r = 0, p  0. If p, q, r are in A.P. and n m

1 1 1 1 1
  4 , then the value of | – | is (A) (B) 
  mn m n

[JEE Main 2014] (C) 1 (D) 0

61 2 17 43. The interior angles of a convex polygon are in

(A) (B) AP . The smallest angle is 120° & the common
9 9 difference is 5°. Find the number of sides of the
polygon -
34 2 13
(C) (D)
9 9 (A) 9 (B) 16

r
35. If (10)9 + 2(11)1 (10)8 + 3(11)2 (10)7 +..... ... + 10(11)9 = (C) 12 (D) none of these

36.
k(10)9, then k is equal to
(A) 121/10
(C) 100 (D) 110
[JEE Main 2014]
(B) 100 /441

If m is the A.M. of two distinct real numbers l and

Si 44 The quadratic equation whose roots are the A.M.
and H.M. between the roots of the equation,
2x2 – 3x + 5 = 0 is -
(A) 4x2 – 25x + 10 = 0 (B) 12x2 – 49x + 30 = 0
n(l, n > 1) and G1, G2 and G3 are three geometric
.B
means between l and n, then G14  2G24  G34 equals. (C) 14x2 – 12x + 35 = 0 (D) 2x2 + 3x + 5 = 0
[JEE Main 2015] (A) 4 45. Suppose p is the first of n(n > 1) AM's between
lmn 2
(B) 4 l 2m2n2 two positive numbers a and b, then value of p is
G

(C) 4 l 2mn (D) 4 lm2n na  b na  b

(A) (B)
37. If the sum of the first ten terms of the series n 1 n 1
2 2 2 2
 3  2  1  4 nb  a nb  a
@

2
 1    2    3   4   4   ....., is (C) (D)
n 1
 5  5  5  5 n 1
16 1 1 1 1
5
m, then m is equal to [JEE Main 2016] 46. If     0 and a, b, c are not
a a  2b c c  2b
(A) 101 (B) 100 in A.P., then -
(C) 99 (D) 102
b
38. Let a1, a2, a3, ......a11 be real numbers satisfying a1 = (A) a, b, c are in G.P. (B) a, , c are in A.P..
2
15, 27 – 2a2 > 0 and ak = 2ak–1 –ak–2 for K = 3, 4, ...., 11
b
a 2  a22  ...  a112 (C) a, , c are in H.P.. (D) a, 2b, c are in H.P.
If 1  90 , then the value of 2
11
47. The sum to n terms of the series
a1  a2  .....  a11
is equal to [JEE 2010] 3 5 7
11    ......... is -
39. The minimum value of the sum of real numbers 12 12  2 2 1 2  2 2  3 2
a–5,a–4,3a–3,1, a8 and a10 with a > 0 is [JEE 2011]
3n 6n
40. Let a1, a2, a3, ..... be in harmonic progression with a1 (A) (B)
n 1 n 1
= 5 and a20 = 25. The least positive integer n for
which a n < 0 is [JEE 2012] 9n 12n
(C) (D)
(A) 22 (B) 23 n 1 n 1
(C) 24 (D) 25

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