SEQUENCE AND SERIES

SEQUENCE AND SERIES

(iii) The common difference can be zero, positive or
1. DEFINITION negative.
Sequence is a function whose domain is the set N of natural (iv) The sum of the two terms of an AP equidistant
numbers. from the beginning & end is constant and equal
to the sum of first & last terms.
Real Sequence : A sequence whose range is a subset of R
is called a real sequence. (v) Any term of an AP (except the first) is equal to
half the sum of terms which are equidistant from
Series : If a1, a2, a3, a4, ........., an, .......... is a sequence, it. an = 1/2 (an – k + an + k), k < n.
then the expression
For k = 1, an = (1/2) (an – 1 + an + 1) ;
a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 + a5 + ........ + ......... + an + ......... is a
series. For k = 2, an = (1/2) (an – 2 + an + 2) and so on.
A series if finite or infinite according as the number of (vi) tr = Sr – Sr – 1
terms in the corresponding sequence is finite or infinite. (vii) If a, b, c are in AP Ÿ 2 b = a + c.
Progressions : It is not necessary that the terms of a (viii) A sequence is an AP, iff its nth terms is of the form
sequence always follow a certain pattern or they are An + B i.e., a linear expression in n. The common
described by some explicit formula for the nth term. Those difference in such a case is A i.e., the coefficient of n.
sequences whose terms follow certain patterns are called
progressions. 1.2 Geometric Progression (GP)
1.1 An Arithmetic Progression (AP)
GP is a sequence of numbers whose first term is non zero
& each of the succeeding terms is equal to the proceeding
AP is a sequence whose terms increase or decrease by a
terms multiplied by a constant. Thus in a GP the ratio of
fixed number. This fixed number is called the common
successive terms is constant. This constant factor is called
difference. If a is the first term & d the common difference,
the COMMON RATIO of the series & obtained by dividing
then AP can be written as a nth term of this AP as
any term by that which immediately proceeds it. Therefore
tn = a + (n – 1) d, where d = an – an – 1.
a, ar, ar2, ar3, ar4, ........... is a GP with a as the first term &
The sum of the first n terms the AP is given by ; r as common ratio.
n n (i) nth term = a rn – 1
Sn 2a (n 1)d aA .
2 2
a rn 1
where A is the last term. (ii) Sum of the Ist n terms i.e. Sn = ,if r z 1.
r 1
(iii) Sum of an infinite GP when |r| < 1 when n o f
a
rn o 0 if |r| < 1 therefore, Sf = | r | 1 .
1 r
Properties of Arithmetic Progression
(iv) If each term of a GP be multiplied or divided by the
(i) If each term of an A.P. is increased, decreased, same non-zero quantity, the resulting sequence is
multiplied or divided by the same non zero also a GP.
number, then the resulting sequence is also an AP.
(v) Any 3 consecutive terms of a GP can be taken as
(ii) 3 numbers in AP are a – d, a, a + d; a/r, a, ar ; any 4 consecutive terms of a GP can be
4 numbers in AP are a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d ; taken as a/r3, a/r, ar ar3 & so on.
5 numbers in AP are a – 2d, a – d, a, a + d, a + 2d; (vi) If a, b, c are in GP Ÿ b2 = ac.
6 numbers in AP are a – 5d, a – 3d, a – d, a + d,
a + 3d; a + 5d.

Join us On Telegram For More Notes: @Jee_Mains_And_Advanced

SEQUENCE AND SERIES

Properties of Geometric Progressions

Sum of n AM’s inserted between a & b is equal to n
1. If all the terms of a GP be multiplied or divided
n
by the same non–zero constant, then it remains a times the single AM between a & b i.e. ¦ A r nA where
GP with the same common ratio. r 1

2. The reciprocals of the terms of a given GP forms A is the single AM between a & b.
a GP.
3. If each term of a GP be raised to the same power, 2.3 Geometric Mean
the resulting sequence also forms a G.P.
4. In a finite GP the product of the terms equidistant If a, b, c are in GP, b is the GM between a & c. b2 = ac,
form the beginning and the end is always same
therefore b = ac ; a > 0, c > 0.
and is equal to the product of the first and the last
term. 2.4 n­Geometric Means between a & b
5. Three non–zero numbers, a, b, c are in GP, if
b2 = ac. If a, b are two given numbers & a, G1, G2, ........, Gn, b are
6. If the terms of a given GP are chosen at regular in GP. Then G1, G2, G3, ............., Gn are n GMs between a
intervals, then the new sequence so formed also & b. G1 = a (b/a)1/n + 1 = ar, G2 = a (b/a)2/n + 1 = ar2, ............,
forms a GP. Gn a (b/a)n/n + 1 = arn where r = (b/a)1/ n + 1

7. If a1 , a2, a3, .... , an, .... is a GP of non–zero

non–negative terms, then log a 1 , log a 2 , ....
log an, .... is an AP and vice versa.

2. MEANS The product of n GMs between a & b is equal to the nth

n

2.1 Arithmetic Mean power of the single GM between a & b i.e. S G r (G) n
r 1

where G is the single GM between a & b.

If three terms are in AP then the middle term is called the
AM between the other two, so if a, b, c, are in AP, b is AM
of a & c. 2.5 Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic
AM for any n positive number a 1, a2, ........., a n is ;
means between two given numbers
a1 a 2 a 3 ................. a n Let A, G and H be arithmetic, geometric and harmonic
A
n means of two positive numbers a and b. Then,

2.2 n­Arithmetic Means between Two Numbers ab 2ab

A ,G ab and H
2 ab
If a, b are any two given numbers & a, A1, A2, ....., An, b are These three means possess the following properties
in AP then A1, A2, ..... An are n AM’s between a & b.
1. A>G>H
2. A, G, H form a GP i.e., G2 = AH.
ba 2(b a) n (b a)
A1 a , A2 a ,......,A n a 3. The equation having a and b as its roots is
n 1 n 1 n 1 x2 – 2Ax + G2 = 0
A1= a + d, A2 = a + 2d, ............, An = a + nd, where
4. If A, G, H are arithmetic, geometric and harmonic
ba means between three given numbers a, b and c, then
d
n 1 the equation having a, b, c as its roots is

3G 2
x 3 3Ax 2 x G3 0.
H

Join us On Telegram For More Notes: @Jee_Mains_And_Advanced

SEQUENCE AND SERIES

n
n
¦k
k 1
4

30
(n 1) (2n 1) (3n 2 3n 1)

4.4 Sum of first n odd numbers

Some important properties of Arithmetic & Geometric
Means between two quantities
n
1. If A and G are respectively arithmetic and ¦ 2 k 1 1 3 ... (2n 1) n2
geometric means between two positive quantities k 1

a and b, then the quadratic equation having a, b

as its roots is x2 – 2Ax + G2 = 0. 5. ARITHMETICO­GEOMETRIC SERIES
2. If A and G be the AM and GM between two
A series each term of which is formed by multiplying the
positive numbers, then the number are
corresponding term of an AP & GP is called the
A r A2 G2 . Arithmetico-Geometric Series. e.g.
1 + 3x + 5x2 + 7x3 +............... Here, 1, 3, 5, ........ are in
3. SIGMA NOTATIONS AP & 1, x, x2, x3 ......... are in GP.

5.1 Sum of n terms of an Arithmetico­

3.1 Theorems
Geometric Series
n n n
Let Sn = a + (a + d) r + (a + 2 d) r2 + ..... +
(i) ¦ a r r br ¦ a r r ¦ br
r 1 r 1 r 1 [a + (n – 1) d] rn – 1

dr (1 r n 1 ) a (n 1) d r
n n n

(ii) ¦ka
r 1
r k¦ a r
r 1
then Sn
a
1 r

(1 r) 2

1 r
, r z 1.

n
5.2 Sum to Infinity
(iii) ¦k
r 1
k k k........... n times = nk ; where k is a

constant. If |r| < 1 & n of

a dr
4. SUM TO n TERMS OF SOME then Limit r n 0. Sf
n of 1 r (1 r) 2
SPECIAL SEQUENCES
6. HARMONIC PROGRESSION (HP)
4.1 Sum of first n natural numbers
A sequence is said to HP if the reciprocals of its terms are
in AP.
n
n n 1
¦k 1 2 3 ..... n
2
. If the sequence a1, a2, a3, ..............., an is an HP then
k 1 1/a1, 1/a2, .........., 1/an is an AP & converse. Here we do
not have the formula for the sum of the n terms of an HP.
4.2 Sum of the squares of first n For HP whose first terms is a & second term is b, then nth
natural numbers ab
term is t n b (n 1)(a b)
n
n n 1 2n 1
¦k 2
12 2 2 ..... n 2
6
. 2ac a a b
k 1 If a, b, c are in HP Ÿ b or .
ac c bc
4.3 Sum of the higher powers of first n
7. HARMONIC MEAN
natural numbers
If a, b, c are in HP, b is the HM between a & c, then
2 2
n
§ n n 1 · §n
· b = 2ac/[a + c].]
¦k 3
13 23 ........ n 3 ¨
2
¸ ¨¦k¸
©k 1 ¹
k 1 © ¹

Join us On Telegram For More Notes: @Jee_Mains_And_Advanced