An arithmetic series is transforming an arithmetic sequence into an equation so that it shows the importance of its sum.
Arithmetic sequence: 1, 2, 3, 4, ...
Arithmetic series: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ...
Just like arithmetic sequences, arithmetic series have infinite arithmetic series.
Arithmetic series: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4
Infinite arithmetic series: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ...
Arithmetic Series, Sn
Sn = the sum of the first n terms, said as "sum of first n terms"
tn = general term (mostly the "imaginary" last term of the sequence), said as "nth term"
t₁ = first term
d = common difference
n = number of terms in the series
Finding the Sum of an Arithmetic Series
1. Determine the appropriate arithmetic series formula to use by considering the variables given. If the question provides information on Sn and tn, but the question asks for Sₐ, use the second formula to solve for Sₐ. If the question provides an arithmetic series with a known common difference, d, and a known first term, t₁, use the second formula to determine Sn. After determining the appropriate formula, set up this formula with respect to the sum needed to be found.
2. Find the common difference, d, using the arithmetic series and common difference formula, and find the first term, t₁, by using the initial term in the arithmetic series.
2.1 If the common difference, d, or the first term, t₁, are unable to be found, use the first arithmetic series formula with the given tn and Sn value to solve for t₁, or use the second arithmetic series formula to solve for the common difference, d.
3. With all variables found, substitute them into the arithmetic series formula and solve for the missing sum value.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (BOOKLET)
Page: 19
#4, 6, 7, 10
Given the following infinite arithmetic series:
-75 - 69 - 63 - 57 - 51 - 45 - ...
Determine S₆.
1. Determine the appropriate arithmetic series formula to use by considering the variables given. If the question provides information on Sn and tn, but the question asks for Sₐ, use the second formula to solve for Sₐ. If the question provides an arithmetic series with a known common difference, d, and a known first term, t₁, use the second formula to determine Sn. After determining the appropriate formula, set up this formula with respect to the sum needed to be found.
Since we are given an arithmetic series with a known common difference, d, and a known first term, t₁, we will use the second arithmetic series formula.
And, since the sum needed to be found is S₆, we will set up the formula with respect to S₆.
Setting up the formula, where Sn = S₆, n = 6:
2. Find the common difference, d, using the arithmetic series and common difference formula, and find the first term, t₁, by using the initial term in the arithmetic series.
Finding the common difference, d, where t₂ = -69, t₁ = -75:
d = t₂ - t₁
d = -69 - (-75)
d = -69 + 75
d = 6
Finding the first term, t₁, by looking at the arithmetic series and seeing the initial term:
t₁ = -75
3. With all variables found, substitute them into the arithmetic series formula and solve for the missing sum value.
Substituting values, where d = 6, t₁ = -75:
Therefore, the sum of the first 6 terms is -360, or S₆ = -360.
Given the following information:
S15 = 93.75, d = 0.75, and t15 = 11.5
Determine S₃.
1. Determine the appropriate arithmetic series formula to use by considering the variables given. If the question provides information on Sn and tn, but the question asks for Sₐ, use the second formula to solve for Sₐ. If the question provides an arithmetic series with a known common difference, d, and a known first term, t₁, use the second formula to determine Sn. After determining the appropriate formula, set up this formula with respect to the sum needed to be found.
Since S15 and t15 do not relate with S₃, we will use the second formula with respect to S₃.
Setting up the formula, where Sn = S₃, n = 3, d = 0.75:
2. Find the common difference, d, using the arithmetic series and common difference formula, and find the first term, t₁, by using the initial term in the arithmetic series.
There is no way of finding the first term, t₁, with the given information, so we skip to step 2.1.
2.1 If the common difference, d, or the first term, t₁, are unable to be found, use the first arithmetic series formula with the given tn and Sn value to solve for t₁, or use the second arithmetic series formula to solve for the common difference, d.
We will use the second arithmetic series formula to find the first term, t₁.
Setting up the formula, where Sn = S15 = 93.75, tn = t15 = 11.5, n = 15:
Solving for the first term, t₁:
3. With all variables found, substitute them into the arithmetic series formula and solve for the missing sum value.
Substituting values, where t₁ = 1:
Therefore, the sum of the first 3 terms is 5.25, or S₃ = 5.25.