Lecture Notes in

Math 123e (Advance College Algebra) Engr. KISSA P. BANAWIS

CHAPTER 11: PROGRESSIONS

SEQUENCES
1. Find the last term an, and the sum Sn of the arithmetic
Sequences are succession of numbers in which progression.
one number is designated as the first, another as the a) 10, -2, -14, , to 17 terms
second, another as the third, and so on. b) 2x y, 3x, 4x + y, to 11 terms

Term each number of the sequence
a1 , a2 , a3 , , an
where a1 = first term of a sequence
a2 = second term of a sequence
a3 = third term of a sequence
an = nth term or called the general term
2. Find the sum of the integers between 2 and 10 which
are divisible by 3.
3. A body dropped from a height falls 16 feet during the
1st second, 48 feet the 2nd second, 80 feet the 3rd
second, and so on. Find how far the body falls
during the 7th second and how far it falls during the
first 7 seconds.

Examples: GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

1. an = n2 It is a sequence in which each term after the first

is a fixed number, called the Common Ratio (r), times
n the preceding term.
2. an = 2
n +1
Elements of a Geometric Progression:
a1 , an , r , n and Sn
3. an = 3an-1 + 2 if any three (3) elements are given, the remaining two
(2) may be found.
4. let a1 = 3; an = 2an-1 + 4, Find the first four (4) terms
Geometric Extremes first and last terms of a finite
1 geometric progression
5. let a1= 4; an = an1
Geometric Means terms in between the first and the
last terms of a finite geometric progression

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSIONS a1 , a1 r , a1 r2 , a1 r3, , a1 rn 1

It is a sequence of numbers so related that each an = a1 rn 1

term after the first can be obtained from the preceding by
adding a fixed quantity called common difference. a1a 1 r n a1r an
Sn = 1r = 1r where r 1
a1 , a1 + d , a1 + 2d , a1 + 3d , , a1 + (n 1)d

an = a1 + (n 1)d Examples:

Arithmetic Extremes first and last terms of a finite 1. A certain geometric progression has a1 = 3, an = 768
arithmetic progression and Sn = 513. Find r, n and the terms of the
progression.
Arithmetic Means terms in between the first and the
last terms of a finite arithmetic progression 2. If at the end of each year the value of a car is of its
value at the beginning of the year, find the value of a
n $3300 car after 4 years.
Sn = 2 ( a1 + an ) or
3. The number of bacteria in a certain culture doubles
every 3 hours. If there are N bacteria to start with,
n find the number in 24 hours.
Sn = 2 [ 2a1 + (n 1)d ]
4. A certain ball when dropped from a height rebounds
of the distance from which it fell. Find the total
Elements of an Arithmetic Progression: distance traveled by the ball from the time it is
a1 , an , d , n and Sn dropped from a height of 60 feet until it strikes the
if any three (3) elements are given, the remaining two ground the 5th time.
(2) may be found.

Examples: INFINITE GEOMETRIC PROGRESSIONS

Lecture Notes in
Math 123e (Advance College Algebra) Engr. KISSA P. BANAWIS
It is a sequence of numbers whose reciprocals
a1 form an arithmetic progression.
S= where: |r| < 1
1r
Examples:

Examples: 1
1. Find the 8th term of the harmonic progression 2 ,
1. Find the sum of the infinite geometric progressions
3 2 4 1 1
2 , -1, 3 ,- 9 , 5 , 8 ,

2. Express the repeating of decimal 4.767676... as a 1 1

fraction. 2. Insert four harmonic means between 9 and 5

HARMONIC PROGRESSION