KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY –WESTERN CAMPUS

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF BASIC SCIENCE

COURSE NAME:APPLIED MATHEMATICS

COURSE CODE:MPP 1106

TOPIC:SERIES

A sequence is a set of numbers stated in a definite order, such that each number can be obtained from
the previous number according to some rule.

Each number of the sequence is called a term

Consider the sequence below;

3, 5, 7, 9, 11,..

1, 2, 4, 8, 16,

The ‘…’ at the end of the end of the sequence show that each one could go on indefinitely, i.e., the
sequence is infinite.

However, if we wished to restrict our attention to a limited number of terms of a sequence. We could
write 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, …, 47.

The final single full stop shows that the sequence ends when the number 47 is reached. Such a sequence
is said to be finite.

An expression for the nth term (written ) of a sequence is useful since any specific term of the
sequence can be obtained from it

The nth term of the sequence

Thus for n=1 we obtain the first term, written = =1

n=2 we obtain the second term, written as

and so on

SERIES:

This is the sum of the terms of a sequence

Examples of series include;

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

Consider the series the first term of the series is and each subsequent term is
obtained by adding a constant, 2, to the previous term.

We say that the terms progress arithmetically and a series of this type is called an A rithmetic
progression or A.P

In general,

 The first term is denoted by

 The constant (called the common difference )is denoted by
The general arithmetic progression would be;
( ) ( ) ( ) [ ( ) ]
( ) is the expression for the term of the series
Note: the common difference may be negative, if the terms of the progression would
decrease. For example ,...., d=-1.5

Sum of the first n terms of an A.P

The sum of the first n terms of an A.P is denoted as Sn is given by;

[ ( ) ]

The term, [ ( ) ] is the last term involved in the sum to n terms

Let the last term be

It follows that [ ] where [ ( )]

Summary

For the A.P, ( ) ( ) ( )

The term is given by; ( )

 The sum to n terms is given by; [ ( ) ]

Examples

1. find and of
a. the A.P
b. the A.P in which the first term is 37 and common difference is -4
Solution
a)

( )

( )

[ ( ) ]

[ ( ) ( ) ]

b)

( )
( )( )

[ ( ) ]

[ ( ) ( )( )

2. find the sum of the arithmetic progression

in sufficient information about a progression is given, it is possible to determine the first term
and the common difference .
Solution
 [ ( ) ]

( )

( )( )

[ ( ) ( ) ]

Aternatively , using ( )

( )

3. The fifth term of an A.P is 23 and the twelfth term is 37. Find the first term, the common
difference and the sum of the first eleven terms.

Solution

( )

( )

( )

Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously gives;

[ ( ) ]

[ ( ) ( ) ]

The first term is 15, common difference is 2 and the sum of the first 11 terms is 275.
 4. In an A. P, and

Solution

( )

[ ( ) ]

[ ( ) ]

( )

Solving the equations simultaneously gives

Suppose =o

[ ( ) ]

[ ( )( )]

( ) Thus for (clearly not the required solution in this case)

Or

Thus for we require

The first term is 16.5, the common difference is -1.5 and the smallest value of n for which is negative
is 24.

Trial questions

1. In an A.P , and , find

 2. In an A.P, and , find
3. In an A.P, and , find
4. The sum of the first ten terms of an A.P is and the sum of the first twenty five terms
is 840. Find the sum of the first thirty terms.

GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
Consider the series each term of the series can be
obtained by multiplying the previous term by 3.
In general;
 The first term is denoted by
 The ratio of one term to the previous term is (common ratio)
The series can be written as;

It follows that term is

A series of this type is called a geometric series or geometric progression, abbreviated to G.P

Note: the common ratio may be positive, negative and / or fractional

Sum of the first n terms of a G. P

The formula for the sum to n terms of a G. P with the first term and common ratio is given by

( )
,
( )

If the common ratio is greater than , it is more convenient to use this result in the alternative form.

( )
( )
, for

Example:

1. Find and of
a. The G.P
b. The G.P in which and

Solution

a) ,

Using,
Using;

( )
( )

b)

Using

2. A geometric series has first term 27 and common ratio . Find the least number of terms the
series can have if its sum exceeds 550.
If sufficient information about a geometric progression is given, it is possible to determine the
first term and the common ratio of the progression.

3. In a G.P, and =4; find and the sum of the first eight terms of the G.P.

Trial questions
1. Find the value of the common ratio of the G.P that has second term equal to and fifth term
equal to-
2. In a G.P the fourth term equals and the eighth term equals , find the possible values of the
common ratio and the corresponding values of the first term
3. find the sum of the first ten terms of a G.P ; that has a sixth term of and a seventh term of

4. Find the sum of the first seven terms of a G.P, that has an eighth term of and a fifth term
of .