1. 7.2 Analyze Arithmetic Sequences & Series
p.442
What is an arithmetic sequence?
What is the rule for an arithmetic sequence?
How do you find the rule when given two terms?

2. Arithmetic Sequence:
The difference between consecutive terms is constant (or the same).
The constant difference is also known as the common difference (d).
Find the common difference by subtracting the term on the left from the next term on the right.

3. Example: Decide whether each sequence is arithmetic.
5,11,17,23,29,…
11-5=6
17-11=6
23-17=6
29-23=6
Arithmetic (common difference is 6)
-10,-6,-2,0,2,6,10,…
-6--10=4
-2--6=4
0--2=2
2-0=2
6-2=4
10-6=4
Not arithmetic (because the differences are not the same)

4. Rule for an Arithmetic Sequence

5. Example: Write a rule for the nth term of the sequence 32,47,62,77,…
Example: Write a rule for the nth term of the sequence 32,47,62,77,… . Then, find a12.
There is a common difference where d=15, therefore the sequence is arithmetic.
Use an=a1+(n-1)d
an=32+(n-1)(15)
an=32+15n-15
an=17+15n
a12=17+15(12)=197

6. a. Write a rule for the nth term.
One term of an arithmetic sequence is a19 = 48. The common difference is d = 3.
a. Write a rule for the nth term.
SOLUTION
a. Use the general rule to find the first term.
an = a1 + (n – 1) d
Write general rule.
a19 = a1 + (19 – 1) d
Substitute 19 for n
48 = a1 + 18(3)
Substitute 48 for a19 and 3 for d.
Solve for a1.
– 6 = a1
So, a rule for the nth term is:
an = a1 + (n – 1) d
Write general rule.
= – 6 + (n – 1) 3
Substitute – 6 for a1 and 3 for d.
Simplify.

7. b. Graph the sequence. One term of an arithmetic sequence is a19 = 48
b. Graph the sequence. One term of an arithmetic sequence is a19 = 48. The common difference is d =3.
Create a table of values for the sequence. The graph of the first 6 terms of the sequence is shown. Notice that the points lie on a line. This is true for any arithmetic sequence. b.

8. Example: One term of an arithmetic sequence is a8=50
Example: One term of an arithmetic sequence is a8=50. The common difference is Write a rule for the nth term.
Use an=a1+(n-1)d to find the 1st term!
a8=a1+(8-1)(.25)
50=a1+(7)(.25)
50=a1+1.75
48.25=a1
* Now, use an=a1+(n-1)d to find the rule.
an=48.25+(n-1)(.25)
an= n-.25
an=48+.25n

9. Now graph an=48+.25n.
Just like yesterday, remember to graph the ordered pairs of the form (n,an)
So, graph the points (1,48.25), (2,48.5), (3,48.75), (4,49), etc.

10. an=a1+(n-1)d an=-6+(n-1)(4) OR an=-10+4n
Example: Two terms of an arithmetic sequence are a5=10 and a30=110. Write a rule for the nth term.
Begin by writing 2 equations; one for each term given.
a5=a1+(5-1)d OR 10=a1+4d
And
a30=a1+(30-1)d OR 110=a1+29d
Now use the 2 equations to solve for a1 & d.
10=a1+4d
110=a1+29d (subtract the equations to cancel a1)
-100= -25d
So, d=4 and a1=-6 (now find the rule)
an=a1+(n-1)d
an=-6+(n-1)(4) OR an=-10+4n

11. Example (part 2): using the rule an=-10+4n, write the value of n for which an=-2.

12. Two terms of an arithmetic sequence are a8 = 21 and a27 = 97
Two terms of an arithmetic sequence are a8 = 21 and a27 = 97. Find a rule for the nth term.
SOLUTION
STEP 1
Write a system of equations using an = a1 + (n – 1)d and substituting 27 for n (Eq 1) and then 8 for n (Eq 2).
a27 = a1 + (27 – 1)d
97 = a1 + 26d
Equation 1
a8 = a1 + (8 – 1)d
21 = a d
Equation 2
Subtract.
STEP 2
Solve the system.
76 = 19d
Solve for d.
4 = d
Substitute for d in Eq 1.
97 = a1 + 26(4)
27 = a1
Solve for a1.
STEP 3
Find a rule for an.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
Write general rule.
Substitute for a1 and d.
= – 7 + (n – 1)4
= – n
Simplify.

13. What is an arithmetic sequence?
The difference between consecutive terms is a constant
What is the rule for an arithmetic sequence?
an=a1+(n-1)d
How do you find the rule when given two terms?
Write two equations with two unknowns and use linear combination to solve for the variables.

14. 7.2 Assignment
p. 446, 3-35 odd

15. Analyze Arithmetic Sequences and Series day 2
What is the formula for find the sum of a finite arithmetic series?

16. Arithmetic Series The sum of the terms in an arithmetic sequence
The formula to find the sum of a finite arithmetic series is:
Last Term
1st Term
# of terms

17. Example: Consider the arithmetic series 20+18+16+14+… .
Find the sum of the 1st 25 terms.
First find the rule for the nth term.
an=22-2n
So, a25 = -28 (last term)
Find n such that Sn=-760

18. Always choose the positive solution!
-1520=n( n)
-1520=-2n2+42n
2n2-42n-1520=0
n2-21n-760=0
(n-40)(n+19)=0
n=40 or n=-19
Always choose the positive solution!

19. SOLUTION
a1 = 3 + 5(1) = 8
Identify first term.
a20 = 3 + 5(20) =103
Identify last term.
S20 = 20
( ) 2
Write rule for S20, substituting 8 for a1 and 103 for a20.
= 1110
Simplify.
ANSWER
The correct answer is C.

20. House Of Cards
You are making a house of cards similar to the one shown
Write a rule for the number of cards in the nth row if the top row is row 1. a.
SOLUTION
Starting with the top row, the numbers of cards in the rows are 3, 6, 9, 12, These numbers form an arithmetic sequence with a first term of 3 and a common difference of 3. So, a rule for the sequence is: a.
an = a1 + (n– 1) = d
Write general rule.
Substitute 3 for a1 and 3 for d.
= 3 + (n – 1)3
Simplify.
= 3n

21. You are making a house of cards similar to the one shown
What is the total number of cards if the house of cards has 14 rows? b.
SOLUTION b.
Find the sum of an arithmetic series with first term a1 = 3 and last term a14 = 3(14) = 42.
Total number of cards = S14

22. S12 = 570 5. Find the sum of the arithmetic series (2 + 7i). i = 1
SOLUTION
a1 = 2 + 7(1) = 9
a12 = 2 + (7)(12) =
= 86
( )
Sn = n
a1 + an 2
S12 = 570
ANSWER
S12 = 570

23. What is the formula for find the sum of a finite arithmetic series?

24. 7.2 Assignment:
p. 446
40-48 all, 63-64