ARITHMETIC SERIES

RECAP:
 A sequence is a list of number in a logical order.
 An arithmetic sequence is a list of number in a logical order such that a common difference call
is added to the succeeding terms.
 A series is the total sum in a sequence.
 In an arithmetic sequence, we can find any missing term by using the formula an = a1 + (n-1) d.

We say that S5 is a series, such that {a1, a2, a3, a4, a5} is
S5 = a1 +a2 +a3 +a4 +a5  (eq.1)

By commutative property of addition, we can say that Sn is also

S5 = a5 +a4 +a3 +a2 +a1  (eq.2)

Such that when we combine the two equations, we can have the following results
S5 = a1 +a2 +a3 +a4 +a5
+ S5 = a5 +a4 +a3 +a2 +a1
2 S5 = a1 +a5 +a2 +a4 +a3 +a3 +a4 +a2 +a5 +a1

However, using the associative property of addition, we can say that

S5 = a1 +a2 +a3 +a4 +a5 *Notice that the first and last
+ S5 = a5 +a4 +a3 +a2 +a1 terms are the same so as the
2 S5 = (a1 +a5) + (a2 +a4) + (a3 +a3) + (a4 +a2) + (a5 +a1) second and the fourth terms.

Now, using the formula of an arithmetic sequence an = a1 + (n-1) d, we can write that
a2 = a1 + d a3 = a1 + 2d a4 = a1 + 3d
also a3 = a5 - 2d also, a4 = a5 – d
Substituting further, we can have that
(a2 +a4) = (a1 + d) + (a5 – d) (a3 +a3) = (a1 + 2d) + (a5 - 2d) (a4 +a2) = (a5 - d) + (a1 + d)
= a1 + a5 + d – d = a1 + a5 + 2d – 2d = a1 + a5 - d + d
(a2 +a4) = a1 + a5 (a3 +a3) = a1 + a5 (a4 +a2) = a1 + a5
Using the above results, we can say that
2 S5 = (a1 +a5) + (a1 +a5) + (a1 +a5) + (a1 +a5) + (a1 +a5) or since there are 5s a1+a5,
2 S5 = 5 (a1 + a5) and by dividing 2 for both sides we can simplify the formula into
5
S5 = (a1 + a5) suppose that 5 is an nth term, therefore
2

𝒏
Sn = 𝟐 (a1 + an) -> formula for Arithmetic Series that can be used if the only given is the first term and the last term.
However, using again our formula with arithmetic sequence an = a1 + (n-1) d, we can have the following:

𝑛 𝒏
Sn = 2 {a1 + [a1 + (n-1] d} or Sn = 𝟐 (2a1 + (n-1) d]

Therefore, the following are the formula for Arithmetic Series:

𝒏
Sn = 𝟐 (a1 + an) , if the values of the first, last terms and the number of terms are present.
𝒏
Sn = 𝟐 (2a1 + (n-1) d], if the first term, the common difference and the number of terms are present.

GRADE 10 Page 1 of 3
 ARITHMETIC SERIES
Exercises:
1. In the arithmetic sequence –3, 4, 11, 18, …, find the sum of the first 20 terms.

Evaluate: a1 = -3 ; d = 4 –(-3) = 7; n = 20
*note that the first term, the common difference and the number of terms are present.

So, we will be using the 2nd formula

𝒏 20
Sn = 𝟐 (2a1 + (n-1) d] = 2
[2(-3) + (20-1) 7]
= 10 [-6 + (19) 7]
= 10 (-6 + 133)
= 10 (127)
S20 = 1,270

2. An auditorium has 40 seats in the first row. Every row afterwards has two more seats than the
previous. If there are twenty rows to the auditorium, how many total seats does the auditorium
have?

Evaluate:
1. There are 40 seats in the first row – the first term is 40.
2. Every row afterwards has two more seats than the previous – the common difference is 2
3. There are twenty rows – number of terms.
4. Look for the total seats – Arithmetic Series.

*note that the first term, the common difference and the number of terms are present.

So, we will be using the 2nd formula

𝒏 20
Sn = (2a1 + (n-1) d] = [2 (40) + (20-1) 2]
𝟐 2
= 10 [80 + (19) 2]
= 10 (80 + 38)
= 10 (118)
S20 = 1,180

GRADE 10 Page 2 of 3
 ARITHMETIC SERIES
Assignment #1:

Instruction: Answer the following problems in a whole sheet of paper. Please enclose your final answer in
a box. Have it signed by any of your parents or guardian at the bottom of your final answer in the last
item.

1. Find the sum of the multiples of 3 between 28 and 112.

2. What is the sum of the first 25 terms of an arithmetic sequence, whose first and last terms are 3
and 75, respectively?

10
3. Find the sum of the first 15 terms if the arithmetic sequence with 15 as the first term and 7
as
the last term.

4. Find the sum of the first 56 terms of the sequence 11,30,49,68,87,…

5. Find the sum of all even integers between 37 and 1345.

GRADE 10 Page 3 of 3