Someone treats the word "progression" with caution, as a very complex term from sections higher mathematics. Meanwhile, the simplest arithmetic progression is the work of the taxi counter (where they still remain). And get the gist (and there is nothing more important in mathematics than "getting the gist") arithmetic sequence It's not that hard once you understand a few basic concepts.
Mathematical number sequence
It is customary to call a numerical sequence a series of numbers, each of which has its own number.
and 1 is the first member of the sequence;
and 2 is the second member of the sequence;
and 7 is the seventh member of the sequence;
and n is the nth member of the sequence;
However, not any arbitrary set of figures and numbers interests us. We will focus our attention on a numerical sequence in which the value of the nth member is related to its ordinal number by a dependence that can be clearly formulated mathematically. In other words: numerical value The nth number is some function of n.
a - value of a member of the numerical sequence;
n - his serial number;
f(n) is a function where the ordinal in the numeric sequence n is the argument.
Definition
An arithmetic progression is usually called a numerical sequence in which each subsequent term is greater (less) than the previous one by the same number. The formula for the nth member of an arithmetic sequence is as follows:
a n - the value of the current member arithmetic progression;
a n+1 - the formula of the next number;
d - difference (a certain number).
It is easy to determine that if the difference is positive (d>0), then each subsequent member of the series under consideration will be greater than the previous one, and such an arithmetic progression will be increasing.
In the graph below, it is easy to see why numerical sequence called "increasing".
In cases where the difference is negative (d<0), каждый последующий член по понятным причинам будет меньше предыдущего, график прогрессии станет «уходить» вниз, арифметическая прогрессия, соответственно, будет именоваться убывающей.
The value of the specified member
Sometimes it is necessary to determine the value of some arbitrary term a n of an arithmetic progression. You can do this by calculating successively the values of all members of the arithmetic progression, from the first to the desired one. However, this way is not always acceptable if, for example, it is necessary to find the value of the five thousandth or eight millionth term. The traditional calculation will take a long time. However, a specific arithmetic progression can be investigated using certain formulas. There is also a formula for the nth term: the value of any member of an arithmetic progression can be determined as the sum of the first member of the progression with the difference of the progression, multiplied by the number of the desired member, minus one.
The formula is universal for increasing and decreasing progression.
An example of calculating the value of a given member
Let's solve the following problem of finding the value of the n-th member of an arithmetic progression.
Condition: there is an arithmetic progression with parameters:
The first member of the sequence is 3;
The difference in the number series is 1.2.
Task: it is necessary to find the value of 214 terms
Solution: to determine the value of a given member, we use the formula:
a(n) = a1 + d(n-1)
Substituting the data from the problem statement into the expression, we have:
a(214) = a1 + d(n-1)
a(214) = 3 + 1.2 (214-1) = 258.6
Answer: The 214th member of the sequence is equal to 258.6.
The advantages of this calculation method are obvious - the entire solution takes no more than 2 lines.
Sum of a given number of terms
Very often, in a given arithmetic series, it is required to determine the sum of the values of some of its segments. It also doesn't need to calculate the values of each term and then sum them up. This method is applicable if the number of terms whose sum must be found is small. In other cases, it is more convenient to use the following formula.
The sum of the members of an arithmetic progression from 1 to n is equal to the sum of the first and nth members, multiplied by the member number n and divided by two. If in the formula the value of the n-th member is replaced by the expression from the previous paragraph of the article, we get:
Calculation example
For example, let's solve a problem with the following conditions:
The first term of the sequence is zero;
The difference is 0.5.
In the problem, it is required to determine the sum of the terms of the series from 56 to 101.
Solution. Let's use the formula for determining the sum of the progression:
s(n) = (2∙a1 + d∙(n-1))∙n/2
First, we determine the sum of the values of 101 members of the progression by substituting the given conditions of our problem into the formula:
s 101 = (2∙0 + 0.5∙(101-1))∙101/2 = 2 525
Obviously, in order to find out the sum of the terms of the progression from the 56th to the 101st, it is necessary to subtract S 55 from S 101.
s 55 = (2∙0 + 0.5∙(55-1))∙55/2 = 742.5
So the sum of the arithmetic progression for this example is:
s 101 - s 55 \u003d 2,525 - 742.5 \u003d 1,782.5
Example of practical application of arithmetic progression
At the end of the article, let's return to the example of the arithmetic sequence given in the first paragraph - a taximeter (taxi car meter). Let's consider such an example.
Getting into a taxi (which includes 3 km) costs 50 rubles. Each subsequent kilometer is paid at the rate of 22 rubles / km. Travel distance 30 km. Calculate the cost of the trip.
1. Let's discard the first 3 km, the price of which is included in the landing cost.
30 - 3 = 27 km.
2. Further calculation is nothing more than parsing an arithmetic number series.
The member number is the number of kilometers traveled (minus the first three).
The value of the member is the sum.
The first term in this problem will be equal to a 1 = 50 rubles.
Progression difference d = 22 p.
the number of interest to us - the value of the (27 + 1)th member of the arithmetic progression - the meter reading at the end of the 27th kilometer - 27.999 ... = 28 km.
a 28 \u003d 50 + 22 ∙ (28 - 1) \u003d 644
Calculations of calendar data for an arbitrarily long period are based on formulas describing certain numerical sequences. In astronomy, the length of the orbit is geometrically dependent on the distance of the celestial body to the luminary. In addition, various numerical series are successfully used in statistics and other applied branches of mathematics.
Another kind of number sequence is geometric
A geometric progression is characterized by a large, compared with an arithmetic, rate of change. It is no coincidence that in politics, sociology, medicine, often, in order to show the high speed of the spread of a particular phenomenon, for example, a disease during an epidemic, they say that the process develops exponentially.
The N-th member of the geometric number series differs from the previous one in that it is multiplied by some constant number - the denominator, for example, the first member is 1, the denominator is 2, respectively, then:
n=1: 1 ∙ 2 = 2
n=2: 2 ∙ 2 = 4
n=3: 4 ∙ 2 = 8
n=4: 8 ∙ 2 = 16
n=5: 16 ∙ 2 = 32,
b n - the value of the current member of the geometric progression;
b n+1 - the formula of the next member of the geometric progression;
q is the denominator of a geometric progression (constant number).
If the graph of an arithmetic progression is a straight line, then the geometric one draws a slightly different picture:
As in the case of arithmetic, a geometric progression has a formula for the value of an arbitrary member. Any nth term of a geometric progression is equal to the product of the first term and the denominator of the progression to the power of n reduced by one:
Example. We have a geometric progression with the first term equal to 3 and the denominator of the progression equal to 1.5. Find the 5th term of the progression
b 5 \u003d b 1 ∙ q (5-1) \u003d 3 ∙ 1.5 4 \u003d 15.1875
The sum of a given number of members is also calculated using a special formula. The sum of the first n members of a geometric progression is equal to the difference between the product of the nth member of the progression and its denominator and the first member of the progression, divided by the denominator reduced by one:
If b n is replaced using the formula discussed above, the value of the sum of the first n members of the considered number series will take the form:
Example. The geometric progression starts with the first term equal to 1. The denominator is set equal to 3. Let's find the sum of the first eight terms.
s8 = 1 ∙ (3 8 -1) / (3-1) = 3 280
Yes, yes: arithmetic progression is not a toy for you :) Well, friends, if you are reading this text, then the internal cap evidence tells me that you still do not know what an arithmetic progression is, but you really (no, like this: SOOOOO!) want to know. Therefore, I will not torment you with long introductions and will immediately get down to business.
To start, a couple of examples. Consider several sets of numbers:
- 1; 2; 3; 4; ...
- 15; 20; 25; 30; ...
- $\sqrt(2);\ 2\sqrt(2);\ 3\sqrt(2);...$
What do all these sets have in common? At first glance, nothing. But actually there is something. Namely: each next element differs from the previous one by the same number.
Judge for yourself. The first set is just consecutive numbers, each one more than the previous one. In the second case, the difference between adjacent numbers is already equal to five, but this difference is still constant. In the third case, there are roots in general. However, $2\sqrt(2)=\sqrt(2)+\sqrt(2)$, while $3\sqrt(2)=2\sqrt(2)+\sqrt(2)$, i.e. in which case each next element simply increases by $\sqrt(2)$ (and don't be scared that this number is irrational).
So: all such sequences are just called arithmetic progressions. Let's give a strict definition:
Definition. A sequence of numbers in which each next differs from the previous one by exactly the same amount is called an arithmetic progression. The very amount by which the numbers differ is called the progression difference and is most often denoted by the letter $d$.
Notation: $\left(((a)_(n)) \right)$ is the progression itself, $d$ is its difference.
And just a couple of important remarks. First, progression is considered only orderly sequence of numbers: they are allowed to be read strictly in the order in which they are written - and nothing else. You can't rearrange or swap numbers.
Secondly, the sequence itself can be either finite or infinite. For example, the set (1; 2; 3) is obviously a finite arithmetic progression. But if you write something in the spirit (1; 2; 3; 4; ...) - this is already infinite progression. The ellipsis after the four, as it were, hints that quite a lot of numbers go further. Infinitely many, for example. :)
I would also like to note that progressions are increasing and decreasing. We have already seen increasing ones - the same set (1; 2; 3; 4; ...). Here are examples of decreasing progressions:
- 49; 41; 33; 25; 17; ...
- 17,5; 12; 6,5; 1; −4,5; −10; ...
- $\sqrt(5);\ \sqrt(5)-1;\ \sqrt(5)-2;\ \sqrt(5)-3;...$
Okay, okay: the last example may seem overly complicated. But the rest, I think, you understand. Therefore, we introduce new definitions:
Definition. An arithmetic progression is called:
- increasing if each next element is greater than the previous one;
- decreasing, if, on the contrary, each subsequent element is less than the previous one.
In addition, there are so-called "stationary" sequences - they consist of the same repeating number. For example, (3; 3; 3; ...).
Only one question remains: how to distinguish an increasing progression from a decreasing one? Fortunately, everything here depends only on the sign of the number $d$, i.e. progression differences:
- If $d \gt 0$, then the progression is increasing;
- If $d \lt 0$, then the progression is obviously decreasing;
- Finally, there is the case $d=0$ — in this case the entire progression is reduced to a stationary sequence of identical numbers: (1; 1; 1; 1; ...), etc.
Let's try to calculate the difference $d$ for the three decreasing progressions above. To do this, it is enough to take any two adjacent elements (for example, the first and second) and subtract from the number on the right, the number on the left. It will look like this:
- 41−49=−8;
- 12−17,5=−5,5;
- $\sqrt(5)-1-\sqrt(5)=-1$.
As you can see, in all three cases the difference really turned out to be negative. And now that we have more or less figured out the definitions, it's time to figure out how progressions are described and what properties they have.
Members of the progression and the recurrent formula
Since the elements of our sequences cannot be interchanged, they can be numbered:
\[\left(((a)_(n)) \right)=\left\( ((a)_(1)),\ ((a)_(2)),((a)_(3 )),... \right\)\]
Individual elements of this set are called members of the progression. They are indicated in this way with the help of a number: the first member, the second member, and so on.
In addition, as we already know, neighboring members of the progression are related by the formula:
\[((a)_(n))-((a)_(n-1))=d\Rightarrow ((a)_(n))=((a)_(n-1))+d \]
In short, to find the $n$th term of the progression, you need to know the $n-1$th term and the difference $d$. Such a formula is called recurrent, because with its help you can find any number, only knowing the previous one (and in fact, all the previous ones). This is very inconvenient, so there is a more tricky formula that reduces any calculation to the first term and the difference:
\[((a)_(n))=((a)_(1))+\left(n-1 \right)d\]
You have probably come across this formula before. They like to give it in all sorts of reference books and reshebniks. And in any sensible textbook on mathematics, it is one of the first.
However, I suggest you practice a little.
Task number 1. Write down the first three terms of the arithmetic progression $\left(((a)_(n)) \right)$ if $((a)_(1))=8,d=-5$.
Solution. So, we know the first term $((a)_(1))=8$ and the progression difference $d=-5$. Let's use the formula just given and substitute $n=1$, $n=2$ and $n=3$:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n))=((a)_(1))+\left(n-1 \right)d; \\ & ((a)_(1))=((a)_(1))+\left(1-1 \right)d=((a)_(1))=8; \\ & ((a)_(2))=((a)_(1))+\left(2-1 \right)d=((a)_(1))+d=8-5= 3; \\ & ((a)_(3))=((a)_(1))+\left(3-1 \right)d=((a)_(1))+2d=8-10= -2. \\ \end(align)\]
Answer: (8; 3; -2)
That's all! Note that our progression is decreasing.
Of course, $n=1$ could not have been substituted - we already know the first term. However, by substituting the unit, we made sure that even for the first term our formula works. In other cases, everything came down to banal arithmetic.
Task number 2. Write out the first three terms of an arithmetic progression if its seventh term is −40 and its seventeenth term is −50.
Solution. We write the condition of the problem in the usual terms:
\[((a)_(7))=-40;\quad ((a)_(17))=-50.\]
\[\left\( \begin(align) & ((a)_(7))=((a)_(1))+6d \\ & ((a)_(17))=((a) _(1))+16d \\ \end(align) \right.\]
\[\left\( \begin(align) & ((a)_(1))+6d=-40 \\ & ((a)_(1))+16d=-50 \\ \end(align) \right.\]
I put the sign of the system because these requirements must be met simultaneously. And now we note that if we subtract the first equation from the second equation (we have the right to do this, because we have a system), we get this:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(1))+16d-\left(((a)_(1))+6d \right)=-50-\left(-40 \right); \\ & ((a)_(1))+16d-((a)_(1))-6d=-50+40; \\ & 10d=-10; \\&d=-1. \\ \end(align)\]
Just like that, we found the progression difference! It remains to substitute the found number in any of the equations of the system. For example, in the first:
\[\begin(matrix) ((a)_(1))+6d=-40;\quad d=-1 \\ \Downarrow \\ ((a)_(1))-6=-40; \\ ((a)_(1))=-40+6=-34. \\ \end(matrix)\]
Now, knowing the first term and the difference, it remains to find the second and third terms:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(2))=((a)_(1))+d=-34-1=-35; \\ & ((a)_(3))=((a)_(1))+2d=-34-2=-36. \\ \end(align)\]
Ready! Problem solved.
Answer: (-34; -35; -36)
Pay attention to a curious property of the progression that we discovered: if we take the $n$th and $m$th terms and subtract them from each other, then we get the difference of the progression multiplied by the number $n-m$:
\[((a)_(n))-((a)_(m))=d\cdot \left(n-m \right)\]
A simple but very useful property that you should definitely know - with its help, you can significantly speed up the solution of many progression problems. Here is a prime example of this:
Task number 3. The fifth term of the arithmetic progression is 8.4, and its tenth term is 14.4. Find the fifteenth term of this progression.
Solution. Since $((a)_(5))=8.4$, $((a)_(10))=14.4$, and we need to find $((a)_(15))$, we note following:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(15))-((a)_(10))=5d; \\ & ((a)_(10))-((a)_(5))=5d. \\ \end(align)\]
But by condition $((a)_(10))-((a)_(5))=14.4-8.4=6$, so $5d=6$, whence we have:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(15))-14,4=6; \\ & ((a)_(15))=6+14.4=20.4. \\ \end(align)\]
Answer: 20.4
That's all! We did not need to compose any systems of equations and calculate the first term and the difference - everything was decided in just a couple of lines.
Now let's consider another type of problem - the search for negative and positive members of the progression. It is no secret that if the progression increases, while its first term is negative, then sooner or later positive terms will appear in it. And vice versa: the terms of a decreasing progression will sooner or later become negative.
At the same time, it is far from always possible to find this moment “on the forehead”, sequentially sorting through the elements. Often, problems are designed in such a way that without knowing the formulas, calculations would take several sheets - we would just fall asleep until we found the answer. Therefore, we will try to solve these problems in a faster way.
Task number 4. How many negative terms in an arithmetic progression -38.5; -35.8; …?
Solution. So, $((a)_(1))=-38.5$, $((a)_(2))=-35.8$, from which we immediately find the difference:
Note that the difference is positive, so the progression is increasing. The first term is negative, so indeed at some point we will stumble upon positive numbers. The only question is when this will happen.
Let's try to find out: how long (i.e., up to what natural number $n$) the negativity of the terms is preserved:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n)) \lt 0\Rightarrow ((a)_(1))+\left(n-1 \right)d \lt 0; \\ & -38.5+\left(n-1 \right)\cdot 2.7 \lt 0;\quad \left| \cdot 10 \right. \\ & -385+27\cdot \left(n-1 \right) \lt 0; \\ & -385+27n-27 \lt 0; \\ & 27n \lt 412; \\ & n \lt 15\frac(7)(27)\Rightarrow ((n)_(\max ))=15. \\ \end(align)\]
The last line needs clarification. So we know that $n \lt 15\frac(7)(27)$. On the other hand, only integer values of the number will suit us (moreover: $n\in \mathbb(N)$), so the largest allowable number is precisely $n=15$, and in no case 16.
Task number 5. In arithmetic progression $(()_(5))=-150,(()_(6))=-147$. Find the number of the first positive term of this progression.
This would be exactly the same problem as the previous one, but we don't know $((a)_(1))$. But the neighboring terms are known: $((a)_(5))$ and $((a)_(6))$, so we can easily find the progression difference:
In addition, let's try to express the fifth term in terms of the first and the difference using the standard formula:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n))=((a)_(1))+\left(n-1 \right)\cdot d; \\ & ((a)_(5))=((a)_(1))+4d; \\ & -150=((a)_(1))+4\cdot 3; \\ & ((a)_(1))=-150-12=-162. \\ \end(align)\]
Now we proceed by analogy with the previous problem. We find out at what point in our sequence positive numbers will appear:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n))=-162+\left(n-1 \right)\cdot 3 \gt 0; \\ & -162+3n-3 \gt 0; \\ & 3n \gt 165; \\ & n \gt 55\Rightarrow ((n)_(\min ))=56. \\ \end(align)\]
The minimum integer solution of this inequality is the number 56.
Please note that in the last task everything was reduced to strict inequality, so the option $n=55$ will not suit us.
Now that we have learned how to solve simple problems, let's move on to more complex ones. But first, let's learn another very useful property of arithmetic progressions, which will save us a lot of time and unequal cells in the future. :)
Arithmetic mean and equal indents
Consider several consecutive terms of the increasing arithmetic progression $\left(((a)_(n)) \right)$. Let's try to mark them on a number line:
Arithmetic progression members on the number lineI specifically noted the arbitrary members $((a)_(n-3)),...,((a)_(n+3))$, and not any $((a)_(1)) ,\ ((a)_(2)),\ ((a)_(3))$ etc. Because the rule, which I will now tell you, works the same for any "segments".
And the rule is very simple. Let's remember the recursive formula and write it down for all marked members:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n-2))=((a)_(n-3))+d; \\ & ((a)_(n-1))=((a)_(n-2))+d; \\ & ((a)_(n))=((a)_(n-1))+d; \\ & ((a)_(n+1))=((a)_(n))+d; \\ & ((a)_(n+2))=((a)_(n+1))+d; \\ \end(align)\]
However, these equalities can be rewritten differently:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n-1))=((a)_(n))-d; \\ & ((a)_(n-2))=((a)_(n))-2d; \\ & ((a)_(n-3))=((a)_(n))-3d; \\ & ((a)_(n+1))=((a)_(n))+d; \\ & ((a)_(n+2))=((a)_(n))+2d; \\ & ((a)_(n+3))=((a)_(n))+3d; \\ \end(align)\]
Well, so what? But the fact that the terms $((a)_(n-1))$ and $((a)_(n+1))$ lie at the same distance from $((a)_(n)) $. And this distance is equal to $d$. The same can be said about the terms $((a)_(n-2))$ and $((a)_(n+2))$ - they are also removed from $((a)_(n))$ by the same distance equal to $2d$. You can continue indefinitely, but the picture illustrates the meaning well
The members of the progression lie at the same distance from the center What does this mean for us? This means that you can find $((a)_(n))$ if the neighboring numbers are known:
\[((a)_(n))=\frac(((a)_(n-1))+((a)_(n+1)))(2)\]
We have deduced a magnificent statement: each member of an arithmetic progression is equal to the arithmetic mean of the neighboring members! Moreover, we can deviate from our $((a)_(n))$ to the left and to the right not by one step, but by $k$ steps — and still the formula will be correct:
\[((a)_(n))=\frac(((a)_(n-k))+((a)_(n+k)))(2)\]
Those. we can easily find some $((a)_(150))$ if we know $((a)_(100))$ and $((a)_(200))$, because $(( a)_(150))=\frac(((a)_(100))+((a)_(200)))(2)$. At first glance, it may seem that this fact does not give us anything useful. However, in practice, many tasks are specially "sharpened" for the use of the arithmetic mean. Take a look:
Task number 6. Find all values of $x$ such that the numbers $-6((x)^(2))$, $x+1$ and $14+4((x)^(2))$ are consecutive members of an arithmetic progression (in specified order).
Solution. Since these numbers are members of a progression, the arithmetic mean condition is satisfied for them: the central element $x+1$ can be expressed in terms of neighboring elements:
\[\begin(align) & x+1=\frac(-6((x)^(2))+14+4((x)^(2)))(2); \\ & x+1=\frac(14-2((x)^(2)))(2); \\ & x+1=7-((x)^(2)); \\ & ((x)^(2))+x-6=0. \\ \end(align)\]
It turned out classic quadratic equation. Its roots: $x=2$ and $x=-3$ are the answers.
Answer: -3; 2.
Task number 7. Find the values of $$ such that the numbers $-1;4-3;(()^(2))+1$ form an arithmetic progression (in that order).
Solution. Again, we express the middle term in terms of the arithmetic mean of neighboring terms:
\[\begin(align) & 4x-3=\frac(x-1+((x)^(2))+1)(2); \\ & 4x-3=\frac(((x)^(2))+x)(2);\quad \left| \cdot 2\right.; \\ & 8x-6=((x)^(2))+x; \\ & ((x)^(2))-7x+6=0. \\ \end(align)\]
Another quadratic equation. And again two roots: $x=6$ and $x=1$.
Answer: 1; 6.
If in the process of solving a problem you get some brutal numbers, or you are not completely sure of the correctness of the answers found, then there is a wonderful trick that allows you to check: did we solve the problem correctly?
Let's say in problem 6 we got answers -3 and 2. How can we check that these answers are correct? Let's just plug them into the original condition and see what happens. Let me remind you that we have three numbers ($-6(()^(2))$, $+1$ and $14+4(()^(2))$), which should form an arithmetic progression. Substitute $x=-3$:
\[\begin(align) & x=-3\Rightarrow \\ & -6((x)^(2))=-54; \\ &x+1=-2; \\ & 14+4((x)^(2))=50. \end(align)\]
We got the numbers -54; −2; 50 that differ by 52 is undoubtedly an arithmetic progression. The same thing happens for $x=2$:
\[\begin(align) & x=2\Rightarrow \\ & -6((x)^(2))=-24; \\ &x+1=3; \\ & 14+4((x)^(2))=30. \end(align)\]
Again a progression, but with a difference of 27. Thus, the problem is solved correctly. Those who wish can check the second task on their own, but I’ll say right away: everything is correct there too.
In general, while solving the last problems, we stumbled upon another interesting fact that also needs to be remembered:
If three numbers are such that the second is the average of the first and last, then these numbers form an arithmetic progression.
In the future, understanding this statement will allow us to literally “construct” the necessary progressions based on the condition of the problem. But before we engage in such a "construction", we should pay attention to one more fact, which directly follows from what has already been considered.
Grouping and sum of elements
Let's go back to the number line again. We note there several members of the progression, between which, perhaps. worth a lot of other members:
6 elements marked on the number lineLet's try to express the "left tail" in terms of $((a)_(n))$ and $d$, and the "right tail" in terms of $((a)_(k))$ and $d$. It's very simple:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n+1))=((a)_(n))+d; \\ & ((a)_(n+2))=((a)_(n))+2d; \\ & ((a)_(k-1))=((a)_(k))-d; \\ & ((a)_(k-2))=((a)_(k))-2d. \\ \end(align)\]
Now note that the following sums are equal:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(n))+((a)_(k))=S; \\ & ((a)_(n+1))+((a)_(k-1))=((a)_(n))+d+((a)_(k))-d= S; \\ & ((a)_(n+2))+((a)_(k-2))=((a)_(n))+2d+((a)_(k))-2d= S. \end(align)\]
Simply put, if we consider as a start two elements of the progression, which in total are equal to some number $S$, and then we start stepping from these elements in opposite directions (towards each other or vice versa to move away), then the sums of the elements that we will stumble upon will also be equal$S$. This can be best represented graphically:
Same indents give equal sums Understanding this fact will allow us to solve problems of a fundamentally higher level of complexity than those that we considered above. For example, these:
Task number 8. Determine the difference of an arithmetic progression in which the first term is 66, and the product of the second and twelfth terms is the smallest possible.
Solution. Let's write down everything we know:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(1))=66; \\&d=? \\ & ((a)_(2))\cdot ((a)_(12))=\min . \end(align)\]
So, we do not know the difference of the progression $d$. Actually, the whole solution will be built around the difference, since the product $((a)_(2))\cdot ((a)_(12))$ can be rewritten as follows:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(2))=((a)_(1))+d=66+d; \\ & ((a)_(12))=((a)_(1))+11d=66+11d; \\ & ((a)_(2))\cdot ((a)_(12))=\left(66+d \right)\cdot \left(66+11d \right)= \\ & =11 \cdot \left(d+66 \right)\cdot \left(d+6 \right). \end(align)\]
For those in the tank: I've taken the common factor 11 out of the second bracket. Thus, the desired product is a quadratic function with respect to the variable $d$. Therefore, consider the function $f\left(d \right)=11\left(d+66 \right)\left(d+6 \right)$ - its graph will be a parabola with branches up, because if we open the brackets, we get:
\[\begin(align) & f\left(d \right)=11\left(((d)^(2))+66d+6d+66\cdot 6 \right)= \\ & =11(( d)^(2))+11\cdot 72d+11\cdot 66\cdot 6 \end(align)\]
As you can see, the coefficient with the highest term is 11 - this is a positive number, so we are really dealing with a parabola with branches up:
graph of a quadratic function - parabola
Please note: this parabola takes its minimum value at its vertex with the abscissa $((d)_(0))$. Of course, we can calculate this abscissa according to the standard scheme (there is a formula $((d)_(0))=(-b)/(2a)\;$), but it would be much more reasonable to note that the desired vertex lies on the axis symmetry of the parabola, so the point $((d)_(0))$ is equidistant from the roots of the equation $f\left(d \right)=0$:
\[\begin(align) & f\left(d\right)=0; \\ & 11\cdot \left(d+66 \right)\cdot \left(d+6 \right)=0; \\ & ((d)_(1))=-66;\quad ((d)_(2))=-6. \\ \end(align)\]
That is why I was in no hurry to open the brackets: in its original form, the roots were very, very easy to find. Therefore, the abscissa is equal to the arithmetic mean of the numbers −66 and −6:
\[((d)_(0))=\frac(-66-6)(2)=-36\]
What gives us the discovered number? With it, the required product takes the smallest value (by the way, we did not calculate $((y)_(\min ))$ - this is not required of us). At the same time, this number is the difference of the initial progression, i.e. we found the answer. :)
Answer: -36
Task number 9. Insert three numbers between the numbers $-\frac(1)(2)$ and $-\frac(1)(6)$ so that together with the given numbers they form an arithmetic progression.
Solution. In fact, we need to make a sequence of five numbers, with the first and last number already known. Denote the missing numbers by the variables $x$, $y$ and $z$:
\[\left(((a)_(n)) \right)=\left\( -\frac(1)(2);x;y;z;-\frac(1)(6) \right\ )\]
Note that the number $y$ is the "middle" of our sequence - it is equidistant from the numbers $x$ and $z$, and from the numbers $-\frac(1)(2)$ and $-\frac(1)( 6)$. And if at the moment we cannot get $y$ from the numbers $x$ and $z$, then the situation is different with the ends of the progression. Remember the arithmetic mean:
Now, knowing $y$, we will find the remaining numbers. Note that $x$ lies between $-\frac(1)(2)$ and $y=-\frac(1)(3)$ just found. That's why
Arguing similarly, we find the remaining number:
Ready! We found all three numbers. Let's write them down in the answer in the order in which they should be inserted between the original numbers.
Answer: $-\frac(5)(12);\ -\frac(1)(3);\ -\frac(1)(4)$
Task number 10. Between the numbers 2 and 42, insert several numbers that, together with the given numbers, form an arithmetic progression, if it is known that the sum of the first, second, and last of the inserted numbers is 56.
Solution. An even more difficult task, which, however, is solved in the same way as the previous ones - through the arithmetic mean. The problem is that we don't know exactly how many numbers to insert. Therefore, for definiteness, we assume that after inserting there will be exactly $n$ numbers, and the first of them is 2, and the last is 42. In this case, the desired arithmetic progression can be represented as:
\[\left(((a)_(n)) \right)=\left\( 2;((a)_(2));((a)_(3));...;(( a)_(n-1));42 \right\)\]
\[((a)_(2))+((a)_(3))+((a)_(n-1))=56\]
Note, however, that the numbers $((a)_(2))$ and $((a)_(n-1))$ are obtained from the numbers 2 and 42 standing at the edges by one step towards each other, i.e. . to the center of the sequence. And this means that
\[((a)_(2))+((a)_(n-1))=2+42=44\]
But then the above expression can be rewritten like this:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(2))+((a)_(3))+((a)_(n-1))=56; \\ & \left(((a)_(2))+((a)_(n-1)) \right)+((a)_(3))=56; \\ & 44+((a)_(3))=56; \\ & ((a)_(3))=56-44=12. \\ \end(align)\]
Knowing $((a)_(3))$ and $((a)_(1))$, we can easily find the progression difference:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(3))-((a)_(1))=12-2=10; \\ & ((a)_(3))-((a)_(1))=\left(3-1 \right)\cdot d=2d; \\ & 2d=10\Rightarrow d=5. \\ \end(align)\]
It remains only to find the remaining members:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(1))=2; \\ & ((a)_(2))=2+5=7; \\ & ((a)_(3))=12; \\ & ((a)_(4))=2+3\cdot 5=17; \\ & ((a)_(5))=2+4\cdot 5=22; \\ & ((a)_(6))=2+5\cdot 5=27; \\ & ((a)_(7))=2+6\cdot 5=32; \\ & ((a)_(8))=2+7\cdot 5=37; \\ & ((a)_(9))=2+8\cdot 5=42; \\ \end(align)\]
Thus, already at the 9th step we will come to the left end of the sequence - the number 42. In total, only 7 numbers had to be inserted: 7; 12; 17; 22; 27; 32; 37.
Answer: 7; 12; 17; 22; 27; 32; 37
Text tasks with progressions
In conclusion, I would like to consider a couple of relatively simple problems. Well, as simple ones: for most students who study mathematics at school and have not read what is written above, these tasks may seem like a gesture. Nevertheless, it is precisely such tasks that come across in the OGE and the USE in mathematics, so I recommend that you familiarize yourself with them.
Task number 11. The team produced 62 parts in January, and in each subsequent month they produced 14 more parts than in the previous one. How many parts did the brigade produce in November?
Solution. Obviously, the number of parts, painted by month, will be an increasing arithmetic progression. And:
\[\begin(align) & ((a)_(1))=62;\quad d=14; \\ & ((a)_(n))=62+\left(n-1 \right)\cdot 14. \\ \end(align)\]
November is the 11th month of the year, so we need to find $((a)_(11))$:
\[((a)_(11))=62+10\cdot 14=202\]
Therefore, 202 parts will be manufactured in November.
Task number 12. The bookbinding workshop bound 216 books in January, and each month it bound 4 more books than the previous month. How many books did the workshop bind in December?
Solution. All the same:
$\begin(align) & ((a)_(1))=216;\quad d=4; \\ & ((a)_(n))=216+\left(n-1 \right)\cdot 4. \\ \end(align)$
December is the last, 12th month of the year, so we are looking for $((a)_(12))$:
\[((a)_(12))=216+11\cdot 4=260\]
This is the answer - 260 books will be bound in December.
Well, if you have read this far, I hasten to congratulate you: you have successfully completed the “young fighter course” in arithmetic progressions. We can safely move on to the next lesson, where we will study the progression sum formula, as well as important and very useful consequences from it.
For example, the sequence \(2\); \(5\); \(eight\); \(eleven\); \(14\)… is an arithmetic progression, because each next element differs from the previous one by three (can be obtained from the previous one by adding three):
In this progression, the difference \(d\) is positive (equal to \(3\)), and therefore each next term is greater than the previous one. Such progressions are called increasing.
However, \(d\) can also be negative number. For example, in arithmetic progression \(16\); \(ten\); \(four\); \(-2\); \(-8\)… the progression difference \(d\) is equal to minus six.
And in this case, each next element will be less than the previous one. These progressions are called decreasing.
Arithmetic progression notation
Progression is denoted by a small Latin letter.
The numbers that form a progression are called it members(or elements).
They are denoted by the same letter as the arithmetic progression, but with a numerical index equal to the element number in order.
For example, the arithmetic progression \(a_n = \left\( 2; 5; 8; 11; 14…\right\)\) consists of the elements \(a_1=2\); \(a_2=5\); \(a_3=8\) and so on.
In other words, for the progression \(a_n = \left\(2; 5; 8; 11; 14…\right\)\)
Solving problems on an arithmetic progression
In principle, the above information is already enough to solve almost any problem on an arithmetic progression (including those offered at the OGE).
Example (OGE).
The arithmetic progression is given by the conditions \(b_1=7; d=4\). Find \(b_5\).
Solution:
Answer: \(b_5=23\)
Example (OGE).
The first three terms of an arithmetic progression are given: \(62; 49; 36…\) Find the value of the first negative term of this progression..
Solution:
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We are given the first elements of the sequence and know that it is an arithmetic progression. That is, each element differs from the neighboring one by the same number. Find out which one by subtracting the previous one from the next element: \(d=49-62=-13\). |
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Now we can restore our progression to the desired (first negative) element. |
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Ready. You can write an answer. |
Answer: \(-3\)
Example (OGE).
Several successive elements of an arithmetic progression are given: \(...5; x; 10; 12.5...\) Find the value of the element denoted by the letter \(x\).
Solution:
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To find \(x\), we need to know how much the next element differs from the previous one, in other words, the progression difference. Let's find it from two known neighboring elements: \(d=12.5-10=2.5\). |
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And now we find what we are looking for without any problems: \(x=5+2.5=7.5\). |
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Ready. You can write an answer. |
Answer: \(7,5\).
Example (OGE).
The arithmetic progression is given by the following conditions: \(a_1=-11\); \(a_(n+1)=a_n+5\) Find the sum of the first six terms of this progression.
Solution:
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We need to find the sum of the first six terms of the progression. But we do not know their meanings, we are given only the first element. Therefore, we first calculate the values in turn, using the given to us: \(n=1\); \(a_(1+1)=a_1+5=-11+5=-6\) |
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\(S_6=a_1+a_2+a_3+a_4+a_5+a_6=\) |
The requested amount has been found. |
Answer: \(S_6=9\).
Example (OGE).
In arithmetic progression \(a_(12)=23\); \(a_(16)=51\). Find the difference of this progression.
Solution:
Answer: \(d=7\).
Important Arithmetic Progression Formulas
As you can see, many arithmetic progression problems can be solved simply by understanding the main thing - that an arithmetic progression is a chain of numbers, and each next element in this chain is obtained by adding the same number to the previous one (the difference of the progression).
However, sometimes there are situations when it is very inconvenient to solve "on the forehead". For example, imagine that in the very first example, we need to find not the fifth element \(b_5\), but the three hundred and eighty-sixth \(b_(386)\). What is it, we \ (385 \) times to add four? Or imagine that in the penultimate example, you need to find the sum of the first seventy-three elements. Counting is confusing...
Therefore, in such cases, they do not solve “on the forehead”, but use special formulas derived for arithmetic progression. And the main ones are the formula for the nth term of the progression and the formula for the sum \(n\) of the first terms.
Formula for the \(n\)th member: \(a_n=a_1+(n-1)d\), where \(a_1\) is the first member of the progression;
\(n\) – number of the required element;
\(a_n\) is a member of the progression with the number \(n\).
This formula allows us to quickly find at least the three hundredth, even the millionth element, knowing only the first and the progression difference.
Example.
The arithmetic progression is given by the conditions: \(b_1=-159\); \(d=8,2\). Find \(b_(246)\).
Solution:
Answer: \(b_(246)=1850\).
The formula for the sum of the first n terms is: \(S_n=\frac(a_1+a_n)(2) \cdot n\), where
\(a_n\) is the last summed term;
Example (OGE).
The arithmetic progression is given by the conditions \(a_n=3.4n-0.6\). Find the sum of the first \(25\) terms of this progression.
Solution:
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\(S_(25)=\)\(\frac(a_1+a_(25))(2 )\) \(\cdot 25\) |
To calculate the sum of the first twenty-five elements, we need to know the value of the first and twenty-fifth term. |
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\(n=1;\) \(a_1=3.4 1-0.6=2.8\) |
Now let's find the twenty-fifth term by substituting twenty-five instead of \(n\). |
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\(n=25;\) \(a_(25)=3.4 25-0.6=84.4\) |
Well, now we calculate the required amount without any problems. |
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\(S_(25)=\)\(\frac(a_1+a_(25))(2)\) \(\cdot 25=\) |
The answer is ready. |
Answer: \(S_(25)=1090\).
For the sum \(n\) of the first terms, you can get another formula: you just need to \(S_(25)=\)\(\frac(a_1+a_(25))(2)\) \(\cdot 25\ ) instead of \(a_n\) substitute the formula for it \(a_n=a_1+(n-1)d\). We get:
The formula for the sum of the first n terms is: \(S_n=\)\(\frac(2a_1+(n-1)d)(2)\) \(\cdot n\), where
\(S_n\) – the required sum \(n\) of the first elements;
\(a_1\) is the first term to be summed;
\(d\) – progression difference;
\(n\) - the number of elements in the sum.
Example.
Find the sum of the first \(33\)-ex terms of the arithmetic progression: \(17\); \(15,5\); \(fourteen\)…
Solution:
Answer: \(S_(33)=-231\).
More complex arithmetic progression problems
Now you have all the information you need to solve almost any arithmetic progression problem. Let's finish the topic by considering problems in which you need to not only apply formulas, but also think a little (in mathematics, this can be useful ☺)
Example (OGE).
Find the sum of all negative terms of the progression: \(-19.3\); \(-19\); \(-18.7\)…
Solution:
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\(S_n=\)\(\frac(2a_1+(n-1)d)(2)\) \(\cdot n\) |
The task is very similar to the previous one. We start solving the same way: first we find \(d\). |
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\(d=a_2-a_1=-19-(-19.3)=0.3\) |
Now we would substitute \(d\) into the formula for the sum ... and here a small nuance pops up - we don't know \(n\). In other words, we do not know how many terms will need to be added. How to find out? Let's think. We will stop adding elements when we get to the first positive element. That is, you need to find out the number of this element. How? Let's write down the formula for calculating any element of an arithmetic progression: \(a_n=a_1+(n-1)d\) for our case. |
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\(a_n=a_1+(n-1)d\) |
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\(a_n=-19.3+(n-1) 0.3\) |
We need \(a_n\) to be greater than zero. Let's find out for what \(n\) this will happen. |
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\(-19.3+(n-1) 0.3>0\) |
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\((n-1) 0.3>19.3\) \(|:0.3\) |
We divide both sides of the inequality by \(0,3\). |
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\(n-1>\)\(\frac(19,3)(0,3)\) |
We transfer minus one, not forgetting to change signs |
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\(n>\)\(\frac(19,3)(0,3)\) \(+1\) |
Computing... |
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\(n>65,333…\) |
…and it turns out that the first positive element will have the number \(66\). Accordingly, the last negative has \(n=65\). Just in case, let's check it out. |
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\(n=65;\) \(a_(65)=-19.3+(65-1) 0.3=-0.1\) |
Thus, we need to add the first \(65\) elements. |
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\(S_(65)=\) \(\frac(2 \cdot (-19,3)+(65-1)0,3)(2)\)\(\cdot 65\) |
The answer is ready. |
Answer: \(S_(65)=-630.5\).
Example (OGE).
The arithmetic progression is given by the conditions: \(a_1=-33\); \(a_(n+1)=a_n+4\). Find the sum from \(26\)th to \(42\) element inclusive.
Solution:
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\(a_1=-33;\) \(a_(n+1)=a_n+4\) |
In this problem, you also need to find the sum of elements, but starting not from the first, but from the \(26\)th. We don't have a formula for this. How to decide? |
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For our progression \(a_1=-33\), and the difference \(d=4\) (after all, we add four to the previous element to find the next one). Knowing this, we find the sum of the first \(42\)-uh elements. |
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\(S_(42)=\) \(\frac(2 \cdot (-33)+(42-1)4)(2)\)\(\cdot 42=\) |
Now the sum of the first \(25\)-th elements. |
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\(S_(25)=\) \(\frac(2 \cdot (-33)+(25-1)4)(2)\)\(\cdot 25=\) |
And finally, we calculate the answer. |
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\(S=S_(42)-S_(25)=2058-375=1683\) |
Answer: \(S=1683\).
For an arithmetic progression, there are several more formulas that we have not considered in this article due to their low practical usefulness. However, you can easily find them.
Instruction
An arithmetic progression is a sequence of the form a1, a1+d, a1+2d..., a1+(n-1)d. Number d step progressions.Obviously, the total of an arbitrary nth term of the arithmetic progressions has the form: An = A1+(n-1)d. Then knowing one of the members progressions, member progressions and step progressions, can be , that is, the number of the progression term. Obviously, it will be determined by the formula n = (An-A1+d)/d.
Let the mth term be known now progressions and some other member progressions- n-th, but n , as in the previous case, but it is known that n and m do not match.Step progressions can be calculated by the formula: d = (An-Am)/(n-m). Then n = (An-Am+md)/d.
If the sum of several elements of an arithmetic progressions, as well as its first and last , then the number of these elements can also be determined. The sum of the arithmetic progressions will be equal to: S = ((A1+An)/2)n. Then n = 2S/(A1+An) are chdenov progressions. Using the fact that An = A1+(n-1)d, this formula can be rewritten as: n = 2S/(2A1+(n-1)d). From this one can express n by solving a quadratic equation.
An arithmetic sequence is such an ordered set of numbers, each member of which, except for the first, differs from the previous one by the same amount. This constant is called the difference of the progression or its step and can be calculated from the known members of the arithmetic progression.
Instruction
If the values of the first and second or any other pair of neighboring terms are known from the conditions of the problem, to calculate the difference (d), simply subtract the previous term from the next term. The resulting value can be either positive or negative - it depends on whether the progression is increasing. AT general form write the solution for an arbitrary pair (aᵢ and aᵢ₊₁) of neighboring members of the progression as follows: d = aᵢ₊₁ - aᵢ.
For a pair of members of such a progression, one of which is the first (a₁), and the other is any other arbitrarily chosen one, one can also make a formula for finding the difference (d). However, in this case, the serial number (i) of an arbitrary chosen member of the sequence must be known. To calculate the difference, add both numbers, and divide the result by the ordinal number of an arbitrary term reduced by one. AT general view write this formula like this: d = (a₁+ aᵢ)/(i-1).
If, in addition to an arbitrary member of the arithmetic progression with ordinal number i, another member with ordinal number u is known, change the formula from the previous step accordingly. In this case, the difference (d) of the progression will be the sum of these two terms divided by the difference in their ordinal numbers: d = (aᵢ+aᵥ)/(i-v).
The formula for calculating the difference (d) becomes somewhat more complicated if, in the conditions of the problem, the value of its first member (a₁) and the sum (Sᵢ) of a given number (i) of the first members of the arithmetic sequence are given. To get the desired value, divide the sum by the number of terms that made it up, subtract the value of the first number in the sequence, and double the result. Divide the resulting value by the number of terms that made up the sum reduced by one. In general, write down the formula for calculating the discriminant as follows: d = 2*(Sᵢ/i-a₁)/(i-1).
Arithmetic progression problems already existed in ancient times. They appeared and demanded a solution, because they had a practical need.
So, in one of the papyri ancient egypt, which has mathematical content - the Rhind papyrus (XIX century BC) - contains the following task: divide ten measures of bread into ten people, provided that the difference between each of them is one eighth of a measure.
And in the mathematical works of the ancient Greeks there are elegant theorems related to arithmetic progression. So, Gipsicles of Alexandria (II century, which amounted to a lot interesting tasks and adding the fourteenth book to the "Principles" of Euclid, formulated the idea: "In an arithmetic progression having even number members, the sum of the members of the 2nd half is greater than the sum of the members of the 1st by the square 1/2 of the number of members.
The sequence an is denoted. The numbers of the sequence are called its members and are usually denoted by letters with indices that indicate the serial number of this member (a1, a2, a3 ... it reads: “a 1st”, “a 2nd”, “a 3rd” and so on ).
The sequence can be infinite or finite.
What is an arithmetic progression? It is understood as obtained by adding the previous term (n) with the same number d, which is the difference of the progression.
If d<0, то мы имеем убывающую прогрессию. Если d>0, then such a progression is considered to be increasing.
An arithmetic progression is said to be finite if only a few of its first terms are taken into account. At very in large numbers members is already an infinite progression.
Any arithmetic progression is given by the following formula:
an =kn+b, while b and k are some numbers.
The statement, which is the opposite, is absolutely true: if the sequence is given by a similar formula, then this is exactly an arithmetic progression, which has the properties:
- Each member of the progression is the arithmetic mean of the previous member and the next one.
- The opposite: if, starting from the 2nd, each term is the arithmetic mean of the previous term and the next, i.e. if the condition is met, then the given sequence is an arithmetic progression. This equality is at the same time a sign of progression, so it is usually called a characteristic property of progression.
In the same way, the theorem that reflects this property is true: a sequence is an arithmetic progression only if this equality is true for any of the members of the sequence, starting from the 2nd.
The characteristic property for any four numbers of an arithmetic progression can be expressed by the formula an + am = ak + al if n + m = k + l (m, n, k are the numbers of the progression).
In an arithmetic progression, any necessary (Nth) term can be found by applying the following formula:
For example: the first term (a1) in an arithmetic progression is given and equals three, and the difference (d) equals four. You need to find the forty-fifth term of this progression. a45 = 1+4(45-1)=177
The formula an = ak + d(n - k) allows us to determine nth term arithmetic progression through any of its k-th term, provided that it is known.
The sum of the members of an arithmetic progression (assuming the 1st n members of the final progression) is calculated as follows:
Sn = (a1+an) n/2.
If the 1st term is also known, then another formula is convenient for calculation:
Sn = ((2a1+d(n-1))/2)*n.
The sum of an arithmetic progression that contains n terms is calculated as follows:
The choice of formulas for calculations depends on the conditions of the tasks and the initial data.
Natural series of any numbers like 1,2,3,...,n,...- the simplest example arithmetic progression.
In addition to the arithmetic progression, there is also a geometric one, which has its own properties and characteristics.
