F6 Mathematics T 1

Revision Notes on Chapter 2 : Sequences & Series (Term 1)

Name : ______________________________ Date : __________________
2.1 : Sequences
1). Limit of a sequence = lim
n
n
u

2). If lim
n
n
u

exist, the sequence is a convergent sequence or otherwise it will be a divergent sequence.

2.2 : Series
(A) : Arithmetic Progression ( A. P. )
1). The n th. Term, ( 1 )
n
u a n d = +
2). Sum of the 1
st
. n terms, ( 2 ( 1 ) ) ( )
2 2
n n
n n
S a n d or S a l = + = +
Proof : i ). ( ) ( 2 ) ... ( ( 1) )
n
S a a d a d a n d = + + + + + + + ------ (1)
ii ). ( ( 1) ) ( ( 2) ) ( ( 3) ) ...
n
S a n d a n d a n d a = + + + + + + + ------ (2)
iii). (1) + (2) :
2 (2 ( 1) ) (2 ( 1) ) (2 ( 1) ) ... (2 ( 1) )
2 (2 ( 1) )
(2 ( 1) )
2
n
n
n
S a n d a n d a n d a n d
S n a n d
n
S a n d
= + + + + + + + +
= +
= +

3). If A. P. : , p, m, q, , then
The Arithmetic mean of p and q
2
p q
m
+
= =
(B) : Geometric Progression ( G. P. )
1). The n th. Term,
1

n
n
u a r

=
2). Sum of the 1
st
. n terms,
1 1
( ) ( )
1 1
n n
n n
r r
S a or S a
r r

= =


( For r > 1 ) ( For r < 1 )
Proof : i ).
2 1
...
n
n
S a ar ar ar

= + + + + ------ (1)
ii ).
2 3
...
n
n
rS ar ar ar ar = + + + + ------ (2)
iii). (1) - (2) :
( 1 )
1
( )
1
n
n
n
n
S r a ar
r
S a
r
=

3). If G. P. : , p, m, q, , then
The Geometric mean of p and q pq m = =

4). A geometric series is convergent when 1 and the sum to infinity,
1
a
r S
r

< =

2

(C) : Summation (Sigma) Notation
1).
1 2 3
1
...
n
r n
r
u u u u u
=
= + + + +

2).
1 1

n n
r r
r r
ku k u
= =
=


3).
1

n
r
k n k
=
=

4). ( )
1 1 1

n n n
r r r r
r r r
u v u v
= = =
=


5). The term ( 1)
r
will give the alternating sign of a series.
(D) : Sum of the 1
st
. n term (Summation) of other Series
(1) : Natural Number Series
i ). Natural number are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
ii ). ( )
1
1
2
n
r
n
r n
=
= +

Proof: a).
1
1 2 3 ... ( 1)
n
r
r n n
=
= + + + + +

------ (1)
b).
1
( 1) ( 2) ... 2 1
n
r
r n n n
=
= + + + + +

------ (2)
c). (1) + (2) :
1
2 ( 1)
n
r
r n n
=
= +

( )
1
1
2
n
r
n
r n
=
= +

iii). ( )( )
2
1
1 2 1
6
n
r
n
r n n
=
= + +

Proof: a). ( )
3
3 2
1 3 3 1 r r r r + = + + +
b). ( )
3
3 2
1 3 3 1 r r r r + = + +
c). ( )
( )
3
3 2
1 1 1 1
1 3 3 1
n n n n
r r r r
r r r r
= = = =
+ = + +


d). ( )
3
3 2
1
3
1 1 3 ( 1)
2
n
r
n r n n n
=
+ = + + +

e). ( )
3
2
1
3
3 1 ( 1) ( 1)
2
n
r
r n n n n
=
= + + +

f).
2 2
1
1
3 ( 1)(2 4 2 2 3 )
2
n
r
r n n n n
=
= + + +

g). ( )( )
2
1
1 2 1
6
n
r
n
r n n
=
= + +

iv).
2
3 2
1
( 1)
4
n
r
n
r n
=
= +

3

Proof : almost the same as for ( )( )
2
1
1 2 1
6
n
r
n
r n n
=
= + +

v ). Steps to find sum to n terms of the natural number series:
a) Write the given
1 2 3 4
... u u u u + + + + series in the form of
1
n
r
r
u
=

where
r
u can be found by using the
nth. term formulae of the A.P. or G.P. or the combination of both, etc.
b) Eliminate the summation symbol by using formulae in (D)(ii), (iii) & (iv).
c) Factorize & simplify the sum to n terms.

(2) : Other Series which can be simplified by Method of Differences
i ).
1 1
( ( 1) ( )) ( 1) (1)
n n
r
r r
u f r f r f n f
= =
= + = +


ii ).
1 1
( ( ) ( 1)) (1) ( 1)
n n
r
r r
u f r f r f f n
= =
= + = +


iii).
1 1
( ( ) ( 1)) ( ) (0)
n n
r
r r
u f r f r f n f
= =
= =


iv).
1 1
( ( 1) ( )) (0) ( )
n n
r
r r
u f r f r f f n
= =
= =



v ). To show that a series is convergent, (taking case (2)(i) for example)
when , ( 1) (1) n f n f a +
(in simplified form) (find a)
(if a is a constant, then the series is convergent)
S a

=


vi). Other than formulae (2)(i) to (iv) for Method of Differences, sum to n term of a certain series can also be
simplified by :
a). Expanding the summation by listing the sum of the 1
st
. & last few terms of the series.
b). Drop the terms which can be eliminated by themselves and simplify.













4
2.3 : Binomial Expansions (Expansions of the form ( a +b )
n
)
(A). Expand ( a + b )
n
, where n is a +ve integer (Finite Series)
1). The binomial coefficients for a binomial expansion ( )
n
a b + with small n value can be obtained from the
Pascals Triangle : 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1


2). When
1 2 2 1
1 2 2 1
( 1) ( 1)( 2)...( 1)
, ( ) ... ...
1! 2! !
... ...
1 2 1
n n n n n r r n n
n n n n r r n n
n n n n n n n r
n Z a b a a b a b a b nab b
r
n n n n
a a b a b a b ab b
r n
+

+
e + = + + + + + + +
| | | | | | | |
= + + + + + + +
| | | |

\ . \ . \ . \ .


Note : the above expansion has a total of n+1 terms.

3). The coefficient of ( 1) r + th. term
!

!( )!
n
r
n
n
C
r r n r
| |
= = =
|

\ .


4). =
n n
r n r
| | | |
| |

\ . \ .

5).
1
+ =
1 1
n n n
r r r
+
| | | | | |
| | |
+ +
\ . \ . \ .

6). Specific term of an expansion,
1

n r r
r
n
u a b
r

+
| |
=
|
\ .

Must know:
i ). For ( )
9
p q + , find the term with
3
p .(Hint:
6 1
9 3, 6, find u r r
+
= = )
ii ). For
8
( ) a b + , find the middle term .(Hint: total term = 8+1 =9,middle term=
5 4 1
u u
+
= )
iii). For
12
3
1
8
2
x
x
| |

|
\ .
, find the term independent of x. (Hint: 3(12 ) ( 1) 0 r r + = , 9 r = ,find
9 1
u
+
)
iv). Find the coefficient of
3
x in the expansion of
( ) ( )
4
3
4 3 2 3 x x + . (Hint: in the expansion of ( )
4
2 3x + ,
find 1 term independent of x and 1 term with
3
x only. Then, multiply the term independent of x
with
3
3x and the other term with 4 & get the total.)






5
(B). Expand ( 1 + x )
n
, where n is a +ve integer (Finite Series)
1). When
2 1
2 1
( 1) ( 1)( 2)...( 1)
, (1 ) 1 ... ...
1! 2! !
1 ... ...
1 2 1
n r n n
r n n
n n n n n n n r
n Z x x x x nx x
r
n n n n
x x x x x
r n
+

+
e + = + + + + + + +
| | | | | | | |
= + + + + + + +
| | | |

\ . \ . \ . \ .


Note : the above expansion has a total of n+1 terms.
2).
( )
( )
1
= 1 , where
n
n
n
n
n
b
a b a
a
b
a x x
a
| |
+ = +
|
\ .
+ =

Note : the technique above is used when finding an approximation with integer n ve = + .

(C). Expand ( 1 + x )
n
, where n is NOT a +ve integer (Infinite Series)
1). If , n Z
+
= (e.g.
2
2,
3
n = etc.)
2 3
( 1) ( 1)( 2) ( 1)( 2)...( 1)
(1 ) 1 ... ...
1! 2! 3! !
n r
n n n n n n n n n n r
x x x x x
r
+
+ = + + + + + +

i ). This expansion is only valid for ( ) 1 when 1
n
x x + < and not valid for ( )
n
a b + .
ii ). This expansion is used when finding approximation with n not a +ve integer.

2). To use this expansion, ( ) 1 , where < 1 .
n
n
n
b b
a b a
a a
| |
+ = +
|
\ .

Must know:
i ). Using Binomial Theorem to find
3
8.72 correct to 4 d.p..(Hint:
1
3 3 3
8.72 8(1 0.09) 2(1 0.09) = + = + ;
stop the expansion until the term with ( )
3
0.09 for 4 d.p. accuracy.)
ii). if
3
< 1 , find the range of . x
x


3). ( )
1
2 3
1 1 ... ( 1) ... , 1
r r
x x x x x x

+ = + + + + <


4). ( )
1
2 3
1 1 ... ... , 1
r
x x x x x x

= + + + + + + <


@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@