UPSC  >  CSAT Preparation  >  Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples - CSAT Preparation - UPSC

Sequence & Series

A set of numbers whose domain is a real number is called a SEQUENCE and sum of the sequence is called a
SERIES. If Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC is a sequence, then the expression Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC is
a series.
Those sequences whose terms follow certain patterns are called progressions.
 

For example

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC
Also if f (n) = n2 is a sequence, then Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC
f (10) = 102 = 100 and so on.
 

The nth term of a sequence is usually denoted by Tn
Thus T1 = first term, T2 = second term, T10 = tenth term and so on.

There are three different progressions

  1. Arithmetic Progression (A.P)
  2. Geometric Progression (G.P)
  3. Harmonic Progression (H.P)

 

Arithmetic Progression
It is a series in which any two consecutive terms have common difference and next term can be derived by
adding that common difference in the previous term.
Therefore Tn+1 - Tn = constant and called common difference (d) for all n ∈ N.

 

Examples:
 

1. 1, 4, 7, 10, ……. is an A. P. whose first term is 1 and the common difference is
d = (4 - 1) = (7 - 4) = (10 - 7) = 3.

2. 11, 7, 3, - 1 …… is an A. P. whose first term is 11 and the common difference
d = 7 - 11 = 3 - 7, = - 1 - 3 = - 4.

 

If in an A. P.

a = first term,
d = common difference = Tn - Tn-1
Tn = nth term


Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC


Then a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d,... are in A.P.
nth term of an A.P.


The nth term of an A.P is given by the formula


Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC


Note: If the last term of the A.P. consisting of n terms be l , then
l = a + (n - 1) d


Sum of n terms of an A.P
The sum of first n terms of an AP is usually denoted by Sn and is given by the following formula:

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC


Where ‘l ’ is the last term of the series.


 

Ex.1 Find the series whose nth term is  Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC . Is it an A. P. series? If yes, find 101st term.
 

Sol. Putting 1, 2, 3, 4…. We get T1, T2, T3, T4…………..
Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC
As the common differences are equal
∴The series is an A.P.
Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

 

Ex.2 Find 8th, 12th and 16th terms of the series; - 6, - 2, 2, 6, 10, 14, 18…

Sol.

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC                             

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

 

Properties of an AP
I. If each term of an AP is increased, decreased, multiplied or divided by the
same non-zero number, then the resulting sequence is also an AP.


For example: For A.P. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11…


Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC


II. In an AP, the sum of terms equidistant from the beginning and end is always same and equal to the sum
of first and last terms as shown in example below.

III. Three numbers in AP are taken as a - d, a, a + d.
For 4 numbers in AP are taken as a - 3d, a - d, a + d, a + 3d.
For 5 numbers in AP are taken as a - 2d, a - d, a, a + d, a + 2d.


IV. Three numbers a, b, c are in A.P. if and only if
2b = a + c.
Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC and b is called Arithmetic mean of a & c


Ex.3 The sum of three numbers in A.P. is - 3, and their product is 8. Find the numbers.

Sol. Let the numbers be (a - d), a, (a + d). Then,
Sum = - 3 ⇒ (a - d) + a + (a + d) = - 3 ⇒ 3a = - 3 ⇒ a = - 1
Product = 8
⇒ (a - d) (a) (a + d) = 8
⇒ a (a2 - d2) = 8
⇒ (-1) (1 - d2) = 8
⇒ d2 = 9
⇒ d = ± 3
If d = 3, the numbers are - 4, - 1, 2. If d = - 3, the numbers are 2, - 1, - 4.
Thus, the numbers are - 4, - 1, 2 or 2, - 1, - 4.


Ex.4 A student purchases a pen for Rs. 100. At the end of 8 years, it is valued at Rs. 20. Assuming
 that the yearly depreciation is constant. Find the annual depreciation.

Sol. Original cost of pen = Rs. 100
Let D be the annual depreciation.
∴ Price after one year = 100 - D = T1 = a (say)
∴ Price after eight years = T8 = a + 7 (- D) = a - 7D
= 100 - D - 7D = 100 - 8D
By the given condition 100 - 8D = 20
8D = 80

∴D = 10.
Hence annual depreciation = Rs. 10.

The document Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC is a part of the UPSC Course CSAT Preparation.
All you need of UPSC at this link: UPSC
197 videos|151 docs|200 tests

FAQs on Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples - CSAT Preparation - UPSC

1. What is an arithmetic progression?
An arithmetic progression is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. This difference is called the common difference, denoted by 'd'.
2. How can I find the nth term of an arithmetic progression?
To find the nth term of an arithmetic progression, you can use the formula: nth term = a + (n-1)d, where 'a' is the first term and 'd' is the common difference. Simply substitute the values of 'a', 'n', and 'd' into the formula to get the desired term.
3. Can an arithmetic progression have a negative common difference?
Yes, an arithmetic progression can have a negative common difference. The common difference can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the sequence. For example, an arithmetic progression with a common difference of -2 would be: 10, 8, 6, 4, ...
4. How can I find the sum of an arithmetic progression?
To find the sum of an arithmetic progression, you can use the formula: sum = (n/2)(2a + (n-1)d), where 'n' is the number of terms, 'a' is the first term, and 'd' is the common difference. Substitute the values of 'n', 'a', and 'd' into the formula to calculate the sum.
5. Is it possible for an arithmetic progression to have an infinite number of terms?
No, an arithmetic progression cannot have an infinite number of terms. Since the difference between consecutive terms is constant, the progression will eventually reach a point where it does not continue indefinitely. However, the number of terms can be very large depending on the context.
197 videos|151 docs|200 tests
Download as PDF
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

How to Prepare for UPSC

Read our guide to prepare for UPSC which is created by Toppers & the best Teachers
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Download free EduRev App
Track your progress, build streaks, highlight & save important lessons and more!
Related Searches

Semester Notes

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

Viva Questions

,

Summary

,

study material

,

pdf

,

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

,

ppt

,

video lectures

,

Free

,

mock tests for examination

,

practice quizzes

,

MCQs

,

Extra Questions

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

Objective type Questions

,

Important questions

,

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

,

Sample Paper

,

Exam

,

Arithmetic Progression: Solved Examples | CSAT Preparation - UPSC

,

past year papers

;