1. An Introduction to Sequences & Series
p. 651

2. Sequence: A list of ordered numbers separated by commas.
Each number in the list is called a term.
For Example:
Sequence Sequence 2
2,4,6,8, ,4,6,8,10,…
Term 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Term 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Domain – relative position of each term (1,2,3,4,5) Usually begins with position 1 unless otherwise stated.
Range – the actual terms of the sequence (2,4,6,8,10)

3. A sequence can be finite or infinite.
Sequence Sequence 2
2,4,6,8,10 2,4,6,8,10,…
A sequence can be finite or infinite.
The sequence has a last term or final term.
(such as seq. 1)
The sequence continues without stopping.
(such as seq. 2)
Both sequences have a general rule: an = 2n where n is the term # and an is the nth term.
The general rule can also be written in function notation: f(n) = 2n

4. Examples: Write the first 6 terms of an=5-n. a1=5-1=4
4,3,2,1,0,-1
Write the first 6 terms of an=2n.
a1=21=2
a2=22=4
a3=23=8
a4=24=16
a5=25=32
a6=26=64
2,4,8,16,32,64

5. Examples: Write a rule for the nth term.
The seq. can be written as:
2(1)+1, 2(2)+1, 2(3)+1, 2(4)+1,…
Or, an=2n+1
The seq. can be written as:
Or, an=2/(5n)

6. Example: write a rule for the nth term.
2,6,12,20,…
Can be written as:
1(2), 2(3), 3(4), 4(5),…
Or, an=n(n+1)

7. Graphing a Sequence
Think of a sequence as ordered pairs for graphing. (n , an)
For example: 3,6,9,12,15
would be the ordered pairs (1,3), (2,6), (3,9), (4,12), (5,15) graphed like points in a scatter plot
* Sometimes it helps to find the rule first when you are not given every term in a finite sequence.
Term #
Actual term

8. Series The sum of the terms in a sequence. Can be finite or infinite
For Example:
Finite Seq. Infinite Seq.
2,4,6,8, ,4,6,8,10,…
Finite Series Infinite Series …

9. Summation Notation Also called sigma notation
(sigma is a Greek letter Σ meaning “sum”)
The series can be written as:
i is called the index of summation
(it’s just like the n used earlier).
Sometimes you will see an n or k here instead of i.
The notation is read:
“the sum from i=1 to 5 of 2i”
i goes from 1
to 5.

10. Summation Notation for an Infinite Series
Summation notation for the infinite series:
… would be written as:
Because the series is infinite, you must use i from 1 to infinity (∞) instead of stopping at the 5th term like before.

11. Examples: Write each series in summation notation.
Notice the series can be written as:
4(1)+4(2)+4(3)+…+4(25)
Or 4(i) where i goes from 1 to 25.
Notice the series can be written as:

12. Example: Find the sum of the series.
k goes from 5 to 10.
(52+1)+(62+1)+(72+1)+(82+1)+(92+1)+(102+1) =
= 361

13. Special Formulas (shortcuts!)

14. Example: Find the sum.
Use the 3rd shortcut!

15. Arithmetic Sequences & Series

16. Arithmetic Sequence:
The difference between consecutive terms is constant (or the same).
The constant difference is also known as the common difference (d).
(It’s also that number that you are adding everytime!)

17. 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)

18. Rule for an Arithmetic Sequence
an=a1+(n-1)d

19. 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.
The 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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!

27. Geometric Sequences & Series

28. Geometric Sequence
The ratio of a term to it’s previous term is constant.
This means you multiply by the same number to get each term.
This number that you multiply by is called the common ratio (r).

29. Example: Decide whether each sequence is geometric.
4,-8,16,-32,…
-8/4=-2
16/-8=-2
-32/16=-2
Geometric (common ratio is -2)
3,9,-27,-81,243,…
9/3=3
-27/9=-3
-81/-27=3
243/-81=-3
Not geometric

30. Rule for a Geometric Sequence
an=a1rn-1
Example: Write a rule for the nth term of the sequence 5, 2, 0.8, 0.32,… . Then find a8.
First, find r.
r= 2/5 = .4
an=5(.4)n-1
a8=5(.4)8-1
a8=5(.4)7
a8=5( )
a8=

31. Example: One term of a geometric sequence is a4=3
Example: One term of a geometric sequence is a4=3. The common ratio is r=3. Write a rule for the nth term. Then graph the sequence.
If a4=3, then when n=4, an=3.
Use an=a1rn-1
3=a1(3)4-1
3=a1(3)3
3=a1(27)
1/9=a1
an=a1rn-1
an=(1/9)(3)n-1
To graph, graph the points of the form (n,an).
Such as, (1,1/9), (2,1/3), (3,1), (4,3),…

32. Example: Two terms of a geometric sequence are a2=-4 and a6=-1024
Example: Two terms of a geometric sequence are a2=-4 and a6= Write a rule for the nth term.
Write 2 equations, one for each given term.
a2=a1r2-1 OR -4=a1r
a6=a1r6-1 OR =a1r5
Use these 2 equations & substitution to solve for a1 & r.
-4/r=a1
-1024=(-4/r)r5
-1024=-4r4
256=r4
4=r & -4=r
If r=4, then a1=-1.
an=(-1)(4)n-1
If r=-4, then a1=1.
an=(1)(-4)n-1
an=(-4)n-1
Both Work!

33. Formula for the Sum of a Finite Geometric Series
n = # of terms
a1 = 1st term
r = common ratio

34. Example: Consider the geometric series 4+2+1+½+… .
Find the sum of the first 10 terms.
Find n such that Sn=31/4.

35. log232=n

36. Infinite Geometric Series
p.675

37. The sum of an infinite geometric series

38. Example: Find the sum of the infinite geometric series.
For this series, a1=2 & r=0.1

39. Example: Find the sum of the series:
So, a1=12 and r=1/3
S=18

40. Example: An infinite geom. Series has a1=4 & a sum of 10
Example: An infinite geom. Series has a1=4 & a sum of 10. What is the common ratio?
10(1-r)=4
1-r = 2/5
-r = -3/5

41. Example: Write 0.181818… as a fraction.
…=18(.01)+18(.01)2+18(.01)3+…
Now use the rule for the sum!