Graph of an Arithmetic Sequence

Arithmetic Progressions
Have common first difference


Are linear in nature


Represented by straight line graphs
Constant first differences
Complete the pattern
Example 1:
Determine the 28
th
term of an arithmetic
number pattern, if the first term is 2, the
second term is 6 and the third term is 10.

2 , 6 , 10 . T
n


i.e. a = 2; n = 28 and d = 6 2 = 4

T
n
= a + (n 1)d
T
n
= 2 + (28 1)(4)
= 110
Example 2:
How many terms are there if the first term of an
arithmetic number pattern is 16, the last term is
-40 and the common difference is -4.

16 , . -40
i.e. a = 16; T
n
= -40 and d = -4

T
n
= a + (n 1)d
-40 = 16 + (n-1)(-4)
-40 = -4n + 4
-44 = -4n
n = 11
Example 3:
Determine the arithmetic progression if the
third term equals ten and the fifteenth term
equals forty-six.

T
3
= 10 T
15
= 46
10 = a + (3 1)d 46 = a + (15 1)d
10 = a + 2d 46 = a + 14d

Two unknowns, so solve SIMULTANEOUSLY!

10 2d = a Eq. 1 46 -14 d = a Eq. 2

Challenge! Solving
Arithmetic
Sequences
Sum of an Arithmetic Sequence
Write out the Sum of an AP, using the general term
notation (i.e. T
1
, T
2
, T
3
T
n
) call it Equation (1):

S
n
= a + (a+d) + (a+2d) + + [a+(n-2)d} + [a+(n-1)d] (1)

Rewrite the Sum of n terms of an AP, but in reverse
call it Equation 2:

S
n
= [a+(n-1)d] + [a+(n-2)d} + + (a+2d) + (a+d) + a (2)

Proof of an
Arithmetic Series
S
n
= sum of n terms
a = first term
n = number of terms
l = last term

If they ask you to derive the formula, using the last term,
where l = [a + (n-1)d]:

Write out the Sum of an AP, using the general term
notation (i.e. T
1
, T
2
, T
3
T
n
) call it Equation (1):

S
n
= a + (a+d) + (a+2d) + + (l d) + l (1)

Rewrite the Sum of n terms of an AP, but in reverse
call it Equation 2:

S
n
= l + (l d) + + (a+2d) + (a+d) + a . (2)

Working with Arithmetic
Progressions
Working with
Sigma Notation
Sigma
Notation
Geometric Progressions
Have common ratios


Are exponential in nature


Represented by exponential graphs
Geometric
Sequences and
Bungee-Jumping
Graph of a Geometric Sequence
Geometric Sequence
Example of
Consecutive Terms
Graphical Representation of a Geometric Sum
Sum of a Geometric
Sequence
Proof of a Geometric
Series
Working with
Geometric
Progressions
Geometric Series Example
on Investing
In an Arithmetic Progression, the sum to
infinity will result in a DIVERGING series
i.e. the sum will be infinitely big or infinitely
small

In a Geometric Progression, the sum to infinity
will result in a CONVERGING series
i.e. the sum will be get closer and closer
(converge) to a particular number
Sum to Infinity
Sum to infinity example
Complex Sum to
Infinity Problem
Arithmetic or Geometric Sequence?
Linear, Quadratic & Exponential Models