Sequences and Series

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A sequence is an ordered list of numbers following a specific rule. Each

number in a sequence is called a “term.” The order in which terms are
arranged is crucial, as each term has a specific position, often denoted as an,
where n indicates the position in the sequence.

For example:

2, 5, 8, 11, 14, . . . [Here, each term is 3 more than the previous term.]

3, 6, 12, 24, 48, . . . [Here, each term is 2 times of the preceding term]

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, . . . [Here, each term is sum of two preceding

terms]

A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence. If we have a sequence a1,

a2, a3, . . . the series associated with it is:

S = a1 + a2 + a3 + . . .

There are many sequences in mathematics, but mainly three are

asked in school exams, these
are arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic:
Arithmetic Sequence
An arithmetic sequence (or arithmetic progression) is a sequence
of numbers in which the difference between consecutive terms is
constant. This difference is called the common
difference (denoted as d).
For example:
 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, . . . (first term = 2 and common difference =
3)
 10, 7, 4, 1, −2, . . . (first term = 10 and common difference
= -3)
 1, 2.5, 4, 5.5, 7, . . . (first term = 1 and common difference
= 1.5)
The sequence in which each consecutive term has a common
difference, and this difference could be positive, negative, and
even zero, is known as an arithmetic sequence.
Geometric Sequence
A geometric sequence (or geometric progression) is a sequence
of numbers in which the ratio between consecutive terms is
constant. This ratio is known as the common ratio (denoted as r).
For example:
 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, . . . (first term = 3 and common ratio = 2)
 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, . . . (first term = 1 and common ratio = 3)
 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, . . . (first term = 16 and common ratio = 1/2)
 5, −10, 20, −40, 80, . . . (first term = 5 and common ratio
= -2)
Sequences vs Series
Sequence and series are often used interchangeably by many, but
there is a very clear difference between them. These differences
are listed in the following table:
Aspect Sequence Series

An ordered list of
The sum of the terms of a
Definition numbers, following a
sequence.
specific rule or pattern.

Typically denoted Typically denoted

Notation
as an or {an}. as Sn or ∑an.

1, 2, 3, 4, 1+2+3+4+5
Example 5, . . . (Arithmetic + . . . (Sum of the
sequence) sequence)

Focuses on the terms Focuses on the sum of the

Main Focus
themselves. terms.

Representat Written as a list or a Written using summation

 Aspect Sequence Series

ion formula for the nth term. notation (∑).

Used to calculate totals,

Used to define patterns
Use Cases averages, or in calculus
or behaviors in data sets.
for convergence.

Geometric Series
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In a Geometric Series, every next term is the multiplication of its
Previous term by a certain constant, and depending upon the value
of the constant, the Series may increase or decrease.
Geometric Sequence is given as:
 a, ar, ar2, ar3, ar4,..... {Infinite Sequence}
 a, ar, ar2, ar3, ar4, ....... arn {Finite Sequence}
Geometric Series for the above is written as:
 a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 + . . . OR ∑k=1∞ak∑k=1∞
ak {Infinite Series}
 a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 + . . . arn OR ∑k=1nak∑k=1nak
{Finite Series}
Where,
 a = First term, and r = Common Factor.
Convergence of Geometric Series
The convergence of a geometric series (infinite) depends solely on
the value of the common ratio r:

value of the common ratio is less than 1: ∣r∣ < 1

 Convergent Series: The series converges if the absolute
 of the common ratio is equal to or greater than 1: ∣r∣ ≥ 1
 Divergent Series: The series diverges if the absolute value

Geometric Series Formula

The Geometric Series formula for the Finite series is given as,
Sn=a(1−rn)1−rSn=1−ra(1−rn)
Where
 Sn = sum up to nth term,
 a = First term, and
 r = common factor.
Derivation for Geometric Series Formula
Suppose a Geometric Series for n terms:
Sn = a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + .... + arn-1 . . . (1)
Multiplying both sides by the common factor (r):
r Sn = ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 + ... + arn . . . (2)
Subtracting Equation (1) from Equation (2):
(r Sn - Sn) = (ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 +. . . arn) - (a + ar + ar2 +

⇒ Sn (r-1) = arn - a
ar3 + . . . + arn-1)

⇒ Sn (1 - r) = a (1-rn)
⇒ Sn=a(1−rn)1−rSn=1−ra(1−rn)
Note: When the value of k starts from 'm', the formula will change.
∑k=mnark=a(rm−rn+11−r∑k=mnark=1−ra(rm−rn+1, when r≠0
For Infinite Geometric Series
n will tend to Infinity, n ⇢ ∞, Putting this in the generalized formula:
S∞=∑n=1∞arn−1=a1−r;−1<r<1S∞=∑n=1∞arn−1=1−ra;
−1<r<1
nth term for the G.P. : an = arn-1
Geometric Sequence Vs Geometric Series
Some of the common differences between Geometric Sequences
and Series are listed in the following table:
Geometric
Aspect Geometric Sequence Series

Definitio A sequence of numbers where each The sum of terms

n term is obtained by multiplying the in a geometric
previous term by a fixed, non-zero
 Geometric
Aspect Geometric Sequence Series

number (common ratio). sequence.

General a + ar + ar2 +
a, ar, ar2, ar3, ar4, . . .
Form ar3 + ar4 + . . .

2 + 6 + 18 + 54
Example 2, 6, 18, 54, . . .
+...

Practice Problems on Geometric Series

Question 1: What is the Geometric mean 2, 4, 8?

Solution:
According to the formula,
=(2)(4)(8)3=4=3(2)(4)(8)=4
Question 2: Find the first term and common factor in the
following Geometric Progression:
4, 8, 16, 32, 64, . . .
Solution:
Here, It is clear that the first term is 4, a=4
We obtain common Ratio by dividing 1st term from 2nd:
r = 8/4 = 2
Question 3: Find the 8th and the nth term for the G.P: 3, 9,
27, 81, . . .
Solution:
Put n=8 for 8th term in the formula: ar n-1
For the G.P : 3, 9, 27, 81 . . .
First term (a) = 3
Common Ratio (r) = 9/3 = 3
8th term = 3(3)8-1 = 3(3)7 = 6561
Nth = 3(3)n-1 = 3(3)n(3)-1
= 3n
Question 4: For the G.P. : 2, 8, 32, . . . which term will give
the value 131073?
Solution:
Assume that the value 131073 is the N th term,
a = 2, r = 8/2 = 4
Nth term (an) = 2(4)n-1 = 131073
4n-1 = 131073/2 = 65536
4n-1 = 65536 = 48
Equating the Powers since the base is same:
n-1 = 8
n=9
Question 5: Find the sum up to 5 th and Nth term of the
series: 1,12,14,18...1,21,41,81...
Solution:
a= 1, r = 1/2
Sum of N terms for the G.P, Sn=a(1−rn)1−r Sn
=1−ra(1−rn)
=1(1−(12)n)1−12=1−211(1−(21)n)
=2(1−(12)n)=2(1−(21)n)
Sum of first 5 terms ⇒ a5 = 2(1−(12)5)2(1−(21)5)
= 2(1−(132))2(1−(321))
= (3116)(1631)
Arithmetic Series

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An arithmetic series is the sum of the terms of an arithmetic
sequence, where an arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers
in which the difference between consecutive terms is constant.
Or we can say that an arithmetic progression can be defined as a
sequence of numbers in which for every pair of consecutive terms,
the second number is found by adding a constant number to the
previous one.
Some examples includes:
 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + . . . + 2n
 10 + 7 + 4 + 1−2−5 + . . . + (13 -3n)
 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + 13 + . . . + (3n − 2)
Note: If a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, . . . is arithmetic sequence then a
+ (a + d) + (a + 2d) + (a + 3d) + . . . is arithmetic series.
There are two major formulas related to the terms of Arithmetic
Series:
 nth term, and
 Sum of first n Terms.
nth term of Arithmetic Series
The formula for nth term is,
an = a + (n−1)d
where,
 a is the first term
 d is the common difference
 n is the number of terms
 an is the nth term
Sum of First n Terms
The sum of first “n” terms of the series can be easily found is we
know the first term of the series and total terms. The formula for
finding the sum of first "n" terms is:
Sn = n/2 [2a + (n−1)d]
where,
 a is the first term
 d is the common difference
 n is the number of terms.
Note: The terms of an arithmetic sequence look like this: a, a + d, a
+ 2d, a + 3d, . . . , a + (n − 1)d
The sum of the first n terms of this sequence, S n, can be written as:

⇒ Sn = [a+(n−1)d] + [a+(n−2)d] + . . . + a
Sn = a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) + (a + 3d) + . . . +[a + (n − 1)d]

Now, add these two expressions for Sn term by term:

2Sn = (a+[a+(n−1)d]) + ((a+d)+[a+(n−2)d]) + . . . + ([a+(n−1)d]
+a)
Each pair of terms in parentheses sums to the same value i.e., a+

Thus, 2Sn = n ⋅ [2a + (n − 1)d]

[a+(n−1)d] = 2a+(n−1)d

Sn = (n/2) ⋅ [2a + (n − 1)d]

Sigma Notation for Arithmetic Series
Using sigma notation, the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic
series can be expressed as:
Sn=∑k=0n−1(a+kd)Sn=∑k=0n−1(a+kd)
Where,
 ∑ indicates that we are summing terms.
 k is the index of summation, starting from 0 and going up
to n−1.
 a + kd is the general term of the arithmetic series, where k
increments with each term.
For Example: Σ10n=1 (3n+7)
Here the value of n starts with ‘1’ and ends at ’10’. When we start
putting the value of n we get the arithmetic series just like below:
 10 + 13 + 16 + 19 + . . . + 37
Recursive Formula
Recursive Formula gives to two information:
 First term of the sequence
  Pattern rule to find any term from the term that comes
before it

Suppose, we have the series 3, 5, 7..... then here the first term of
the series is a1 = 3 Now, from above the series we see that the
formula for an Will be as below:
If a1 = 3 than an = a(n-1) + 2
Therefore, we have to add '2' to the previous term to get to next
term of the series. Hence, finding the rest of the term below:
 a1 = 3
 a2 = a1+2 = 3 + 2 = 5
 a3 = a2 + 2 = 5 + 2 = 7
 a4 = a3 + 2 = 7 + 2 = 9
 a5 = a4 + 2 = 11... and so on.
Applications of Arithmetic Series
Arithmetic series have many practical applications across different
fields, as they involve the sum of terms that increase or decrease
by a constant amount. Here are some common applications:
 If someone saves or invests a fixed amount of money at
regular intervals (e.g., monthly deposits), the total savings
or investment over time can be calculated using an
arithmetic series.
 Many loan repayments are based on regular, fixed
payments, which can be represented by an arithmetic
series to calculate the total amount paid over time.
 Businesses often replenish stock at a constant rate. Using
an arithmetic series, they can calculate total inventory over
time or assess total purchasing costs.

Practice Problems on Arithmetic Series and Sequence

Question 1: Find the common difference of the sequence 12, 27, 42, 57, 72,
...

Solution:

Given sequence is 12, 27, 42, 57, 72, . . .

Formula Used: Common difference (d) = Difference between any two

consecutive terms
So, d = 27 – 12 = 42 – 27 = 57 – 42 = 72 – 57 = 15

Required common difference is 15.

Question 2: Find the 12th term of the sequence 8, 12, 16, 20, . . .

Solution:

Given series is 8, 12, 16, 20, . . .

Formula used: nth term (Tn) = a + (n – 1) × d

Here, a = 8

D = 12 – 8 = 4

And, n = 12

We know that, nth term (Tn) = a + (n – 1) × d

So, T12 = 8 + (12 – 1)3 = 8 + 33 = 41

∴ Required value is 41

Question 7: Find the sum of the series using 20 terms from

sequence 20, 38, 56, 74, . . .
Given:
Given series is 20, 38, 56, 74, . . .till 20 terms.
Formula used: Sn = (n/2){2a + (n - 1)d}
In the given series, a = 20
d = 38 - 20 = 18
n = 20
Then according to the formula, we have
Sum of the series = (20/2){(2 × 20 + (20 - 1) × 18} = 10(40 +

∴ Sum of the series is 3820

342) = 3820

Question: 8 Find the sum of the series -5, -10, -15, -20, . . . ,
-855
Solution:
Given: series is -5, -10, -15, -20, . . . , -855
Here a = -5
Last term = -855
Here d = -10 + 5 = -5
Let the number of terms in the series be n
Then, last term = -5 + (n - 1)(-5)
So, -855 = -5 - (n - 1)5
Then, n = 171
We know that, sum of the series = (n/2)(first term + last term) =

∴ Required value is -73530

(171/2)(-5 - 855) = 171 × -430 = -73530

Question: 9 Find the sum of the first 1000 odd numbers.

Solution:
Given:
Required series is 1, 3, 5, 7, . . .
Formula used: Sn = (n/2){2a + (n - 1)d}
Here, a = 1
d=3-1=2
And, n = 1000
So, sum of the series = (1000/2){2 + (1000 - 1)2} = 500 × 2000 =

∴ Required value is 1000000.

10, 00, 000.

Question: 10 Find the sum of the first 30 multiples of 5.

Solution:
Formula used: Sn = (n/2)[2a + (n − 1) × d]
Calculation:
Required series is 5, 10, 15, 20, . . .
Here, a = 5
d=5
So, Sn = (n/2)[2a + (n − 1) × d]

∴ Required value is 2325

= (30/2) (10 + 29 × 5) = 15 × 155 = 2325