Arithmetic & Geometric Sequences and Series —

Revision Notes

Contents
1 What is a sequence? What is a series? 2

2 Arithmetic Sequences and Series 3

3 Geometric Sequences and Series 4

4 Applications: Growth, Decay, Finance 5

5 Solving the most common problem types (with attempts) 6

6 Extra material and intuition 8

7 Worked examples (clearly separated) 9

8 Practice questions 10

9 Answer key 11

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1 What is a sequence? What is a series?
Definition — Sequence

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers (u1 , u2 , u3 , . . . ) following a rule. Index n ∈ N

labels the position (the nth term).

Example — Quick sequence examples

• Even numbers: un = 2n ⇒ 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, . . .

• Squares: un = n2 ⇒ 1, 4, 9, 16, . . .

Definition — Series

A series is the sum of terms of a sequence. The partial sum of the first n terms is
n
Sn = u1 + u2 + · · · + un =
X
uk .
k=1

Example — Quick series examples

• For the Series 2, 5, 8, 11, . . . S4 = 2 + 5 + 8 + 11 = 26.

• For the Series 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, . . . S5 = 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + 48 = 93.

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2 Arithmetic Sequences and Series
Definition — Arithmetic sequence

A sequence (un ) is arithmetic if the common difference d is constant:

un+1 − un = d for all n ≥ 1.

Example — Spotting arithmetic

7, 4, 1, −2, −5, . . . has constant difference d = −3 (each term is 3 less than the previous).

Formula — Arithmetic nth term

If u1 is the first term and d the common difference, then

un = u1 + (n − 1)d

Variables: un (term n), u1 (first term), d (difference), n (position).

Example — Using the nth term

If u1 = 7 and d = −3, then u5 = 7 + 4(−3) = −5 and the first six terms are
7, 4, 1, −2, −5, −8.

Formula — Sum of first n arithmetic terms

n n
Sn = 2u1 + (n − 1)d = (u1 + un )


2 2
Variables: Sn (sum of first n terms), others as above.

Remark — Why (n − 1)?

From u1 to un there are n − 1 steps of size d (like n fence posts making n − 1 gaps).

Example — Find d, u1 , un , Sn

Given u2 = 8 and u6 = 32:

u2 = u1 + d = 8, u6 = u1 + 5d = 32 ⇒ d = 6, u1 = 2.

So un = 2 + (n − 1)6 = −4 + 6n, and Sn = n2 (4 + 6n − 6) = n(3n − 1).

Common Pitfall — n must be a positive integer

Reject non-integer or non-positive roots when solving for n in term-count questions.

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3 Geometric Sequences and Series
Definition — Geometric sequence

A sequence (un ) is geometric if the common ratio r is constant:

un+1
=r (un ̸= 0) for all n ≥ 1.
un

Example — Spotting geometric

5, −10, 20, −40, . . . has constant ratio r = −2 (each term is −2 times the previous).

Formula — Geometric nth term

If u1 is the first term and r the common ratio, then

un = u1 r n−1

Variables: un (term n), u1 (first term), r (ratio), n (position).

Formula — Sum of first n geometric terms

For r ̸= 1,
u1 (1 − r n ) u1 (r n − 1)
Sn = =
1−r r−1
Choose the form that keeps signs tidy (first form is handy when |r| < 1).

Formula — Sum to infinity (convergence)

If |r| < 1, then

u1
S∞ = (otherwise it does not converge).
1−r

Example — Find r and u1

Given u2 = 6 and u5 = 48, divide to get r3 = 8 ⇒ r = 2, then u1 = 3. So un = 3 · 2n−1

and Sn = 3(2n − 1).

Example — Negative ratio (alternating signs)

5 10
With u1 = 5 and r = − 21 , terms alternate signs. Since |r| < 1, S∞ = = .
1 − (−1/2) 3

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4 Applications: Growth, Decay, Finance
Concept — Compound growth

If an amount grows by r% per period, each period multiplies by 1 + 100 .

r
With k com-
pounding periods/year over n years:
kn
r

Future Value = PV 1 + .
100k

Concept — Depreciation (decay)

p
If an item loses p% of its value each year, multiply by (1 − 100 ) each year.

Example — Finance

Deposit £500 at 4% per year, compounded yearly.

(a) After 10 years: 500 · 1.0410 ≈ £740.12.
(b) Years to double: 1.04n = 2 ⇒ n ≈ 17.67 (so 18 complete years).

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5 Solving the most common problem types (with attempts)
A. Given two terms, find u1 and d (or r)

Worked Example — Arithmetic from two terms

Problem. Given u4 = 17 and u10 = 41 for an arithmetic sequence, find u1 , d, and S20 .

Solution. Use un = u1 + (n − 1)d:

u4 = u1 + 3d = 17, u10 = u1 + 9d = 41
⇒ 6d = 24 =⇒ d = 4, u1 = 17 − 3 · 4 = 5.
20  
S20 = 2 · 5 + 19 · 4 = 10(10 + 76) = 860 .
2

Common Pitfall — Don’t divide to get d

In arithmetic sequences you work with differences, not ratios. Dividing 41/17 to guess d is
incorrect.

Worked Example — Geometric from two terms

Problem. Given u3 = 45 and u7 = 5 for a geometric sequence, find u1 and r.

Solution. Geometric means use ratios. Divide the terms:

u7 5 1 1 1
= r4 = = =⇒ r = ±√ = ±√ .
u3 45 9 4
9 3
Then
u3 45
u1 = = = 135 (same u1 for either sign).
r 2 (1/3)

B. Solve for n from un or Sn

Worked Example — Arithmetic Sn leading to a quadratic

Problem. For an arithmetic sequence with u1 = 1 and d = 5, find n such that Sn = 12145.

Solution.
n 
Sn = 2 + (n − 1) · 5 = 12145 =⇒ 5n2 − 3n − 24290 = 0.
2

Solve the quadratic to get n = 70 (discard the negative root).

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 Worked Example — Geometric infinite sum: converge or not?

Problem. Does 9 − 6 + 4 − 8
3 + . . . converge? If so, find the sum.

Solution. This is geometric with u1 = 9 and r = − 32 . Since |r| < 1,

u1 9 9
S∞ = = = = 27
= 5.4 .
1−r 1 − (−2/3) 5/3 5

C. Quick guide
Arithmetic: un linear in n, Sn quadratic in n.
Geometric: un exponential in n, Sn exponential in n.

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6 Extra material and intuition
Remark — Graph shapes

Arithmetic sequences plot as points on a straight line (y = un vs. n) with slope d. Geometric
sequences grow/decay exponentially, curving upward if r > 1 or toward 0 if |r| < 1, and
may alternate if r < 0.

Remark — Recovering terms from partial sums

For any sequence, differences of sums give terms: un = Sn − Sn−1 .

Remark — Arithmetic and geometric means

u+v √
Between u and v: A = , G= uv (u, v > 0), A ≥ G.
2

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7 Worked examples (clearly separated)

Worked Example — Arithmetic modeling

Problem. Measured masses (kg) at months n = 1, 2, 3, 5: 0.47, 1.51, 2.52, 4.48. Make a
simple arithmetic model and estimate m4 and m7 .

Solution. Rounded data 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 4.5 suggests d ≈ 1, u1 ≈ 0.5. Model: mn ≈ 0.5 + (n −
1) · 1 = n − 0.5. Thus m4 ≈ 3.5 and m7 ≈ 6.5 .

Worked Example — Geometric: sign ambiguity in r

Problem. A geometric sequence has u2 = 5 and u4 = 45. Find u5 .

Solution.
u4 45
= r2 = = 9 ⇒ r = ±3. ⇒ u5 = u4 · r = 45(±3) = 135 or − 135 .
u2 5

Worked Example — Sum to infinity

Problem. Find the sum of 1 − 1

2 + 1
4 − 1
8 + . . . (if it exists).

Solution. Geometric with u1 = 1, r = − 21 and |r| < 1:

1
S∞ = = 2
.
1 − (−1/2) 3

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8 Practice questions
A. Conceptual and reasoning
n
1. True/False: If Sn = (u1 + un ), then the sequence must be arithmetic.
2
2. If un+1 − un is linear in n (e.g. = 3n + 1), what kind of formula do you expect for un ?

3. In a geometric sequence with u1 > 0 and r < 0, explain the alternating signs. What must
be true for S∞ to exist?

4. Show that in an arithmetic sequence, u1 + un = u2 + un−1 = . . . (pairing trick).

5. A sequence has Sn = 5n2 − 3n. Prove it is arithmetic and find u1 and d.

B. Core skills (arithmetic)

6. Given u7 = 25 and u15 = 57, find u1 , d, u30 , and S30 .

7. For u1 = 4, d = −3, find the smallest n with un ≤ −50, then compute Sn for that n.

8. If Sn = 2n(3n − 1), find un and identify u1 and d.

C. Core skills (geometric)

9. Given u3 = 48 and u6 = 384, find u1 , r, and S6 .

10. A geometric sequence has u1 = 162 and r = 3.

1
Find S∞ and the smallest n so that
Sn > 240.

11. If S∞ is three times the first term, find r and state the convergence condition.

D. Applications
12. You deposit $1000 at 10% nominal annual interest, compounded monthly. Find the bal-
ance after one year and the effective annual rate (%).

13. A car costs $15,000 and depreciates by 4% per year. A bike costs $8,000 and appreciates
by 3% per year. After how many complete years will the bike be worth at least as much
as the car?

14. A machine loses 12% of output per year. Starting at 10,000 units, how many full years
until annual output first drops below 5,000?

E. Mixed challenge
15. With Sn = 4 · 3 n − 1, show un = Sn − Sn−1 is geometric and find u1 , r.

16. The pth term of an arithmetic sequence equals the qth term of a geometric sequence
(p ̸= q). Write an equation linking u1 , d to u′1 , r and discuss when both can be integers.

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9 Answer key
A. Conceptual and reasoning

1. True (that Sn formula characterizes arithmetic sequences).

2. Quadratic (since differences are linear in n).
3. Signs alternate; need |r| < 1 for S∞ .
4. All equal by pairing terms equidistant from ends.
5. un = Sn − Sn−1 = 10n − 8; hence u1 = 2, d = 10.

B. Core skills (arithmetic)

57 − 25 30
6. d = = 4; u1 = 25−6·4 = 1; u30 = 1+29·4 = 117; S30 = (1+117) = 1770.
15 − 7 2
19
7. 4 − 3(n − 1) ≤ −50 ⇒ n ≥ 19; S19 = 8 − 54 = −418.


2
8. un = Sn − Sn−1 = 10; so u1 = 10, d = 0 (constant sequence).

C. Core skills (geometric)

26 − 1
9. r3 = 8 ⇒ r = 2; u1 = 48/4 = 12; S6 = 12 = 756.
2−1
162
10. S∞ = = 243; need Sn > 240 ⇒ (1/3)n < 1/81 ⇒ n ≥ 4.
1 − 1/3
u1
11. = 3u1 ⇒ r = 2
(requires |r| < 1).
1−r 3

D. Applications
0.10
 12
12. 1000 1 + ≈ 1104.71; effective rate ≈ 10.471%.
12
13. Solve 15000(0.96)n ≤ 8000(1.03)n ⇒ n ≈ 8.93; answer: 9 complete years.
14. 10000(0.88)n < 5000 ⇒ (0.88)n < 0.5 ⇒ n > 5.38; answer: 6 full years.

E. Mixed

15. un = 4 · 3 n − 1 − (4 · 3 n−1 − 1) = 8 · 3 n−1 ; geometric with u1 = 8, r = 3.

16. u1 + (p − 1)d = u′1 r q−1 (integrality depends on r being a suitable rational power).

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