1. Arithmetic Sequences and Series
12-3
Arithmetic Sequences and Series
Warm Up
Lesson Presentation
Lesson Quiz
Holt Algebra 2

2. Find the 5th term of each sequence. 1. an = n + 6 2. an = 4 – n
Warm Up
Find the 5th term of each sequence.
1. an = n an = 4 – n
3. an = 3n + 4
Write a possible explicit rule for the nth term of each sequence.
4. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,… 5. –3, –1, 1, 3, 5, … 6. 11 –1 19
an = n + 3
an = 2n – 5

3. Objectives Find the indicated terms of an arithmetic sequence.
Find the sums of arithmetic series.

4. Vocabulary
arithmetic sequence
arithmetic series

5. The cost of mailing a letter in 2005 gives the sequence 0.37, 0.60, 0.83, 1.06, …. This sequence is called an arithmetic sequence because its successive terms differ by the same number d (d ≠ 0), called the common difference. For the mail costs, d is 0.23, as shown.

6. Recall that linear functions have a constant first difference
Recall that linear functions have a constant first difference. Notice also that when you graph the ordered pairs (n, an) of an arithmetic sequence, the points lie on a straight line. Thus, you can think of an arithmetic sequence as a linear function with sequential natural numbers as the domain.

7. Example 1A: Identifying Arithmetic Sequences
Determine whether the sequence could be arithmetic. If so, find the common first
difference and the next term.
–10, –4, 2, 8, 14, …
–10, –4, , 8, 14
Differences
The sequence could be arithmetic with a common difference of 6.
The next term is = 20.

8. Example 1B: Identifying Arithmetic Sequences
Determine whether the sequence could be arithmetic. If so, find the common first
difference and the next term.
–2, –5, –11, –20, –32, …
–2, –5, –11, –20, –32
Differences – – – –12
The sequence is not arithmetic because the first differences are not common.

9. Check It Out! Example 1a
Determine whether the sequence could be arithmetic. If so, find the common difference and the next term.
1.9, 1.2, 0.5, –0.2, –0.9, ...
1.9, , , –0.2, –0.9
–0.7
Differences
The sequence could be arithmetic with a common difference of –0.7.
The next term would be –0.9 – 0.7 = –1.6.

10. Check It Out! Example 1b
Determine whether the sequence could be arithmetic. If so, find the common difference and the next term.
Differences
The sequence is not arithmetic because the first differences are not common.

11. Each term in an arithmetic sequence is the sum of the previous term and the common difference. This gives the recursive rule an = an – 1 + d. You also can develop an explicit rule for an arithmetic sequence.

12. Notice the pattern in the table
Notice the pattern in the table. Each term is the sum of the first term and a multiple of the common difference.
This pattern can be generalized into a rule for all arithmetic sequences.

14. Example 2: Finding the nth Term Given an Arithmetic Sequence
Find the 12th term of the arithmetic sequence 20, 14, 8, 2, 4, ....
Step 1 Find the common difference: d = 14 – 20 = –6.

15.  Example 2 Continued Step 2 Evaluate by using the formula.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
Substitute 20 for a1, 12 for n, and –6 for d.
a12 = 20 + (12 – 1)(–6)
= –46
The 12th term is –46.
Check Continue the sequence. 

16. Check It Out! Example 2a
Find the 11th term of the arithmetic sequence.
–3, –5, –7, –9, …
Step 1 Find the common difference: d = –5 – (–3)= –2.
Step 2 Evaluate by using the formula.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
Substitute –3 for a1, 11 for n, and –2 for d.
a11= –3 + (11 – 1)(–2)
= –23
The 11th term is –23.

17. Check It Out! Example 2a Continued
Check Continue the sequence. n 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 an –3 –5 –7 –9
–11
–13
–15
–17
–19
–21
–23 

18. Check It Out! Example 2b
Find the 11th term of the arithmetic sequence.
9.2, 9.15, 9.1, 9.05, …
Step 1 Find the common difference:
d = 9.15 – 9.2 = –0.05.
Step 2 Evaluate by using the formula.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
Substitute for a1, 11 for n, and –0.05 for d.
a11= (11 – 1)(–0.05)
= 8.7
The 11th term is 8.7.

19. Check It Out! Example 2b Continued
Check Continue the sequence.  n 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 an
9.2
9.15
9.1
9.05
8.95
8.9
8.85
8.8
8.75
8.7

20. Example 3: Finding Missing Terms
Find the missing terms in the arithmetic sequence
17, , , , –7.
Step 1 Find the common difference.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
Substitute –7 for an,
17 for a1, and 5 for n.
–7 = 17 + (5 – 1)(d)
–6 = d
Solve for d.

21. Example 3 Continued
Step 2 Find the missing terms using d= –6 and a1 = 17.
a2 = 17 + (2 – 1)(–6)
= 11
The missing terms are 11, 5, and –1.
a3 = 17 +(3 – 1)(–6)
= 5
a4 = 17 + (4 – 1)(–6)
= –1

22. Check It Out! Example 3
Find the missing terms in the arithmetic sequence
2, , , , 0.
Step 1 Find the common difference.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
0 = 2 + (5 – 1)d
Substitute 0 for an,
2 for a1, and 5 for n.
–2 = 4d
Solve for d.

23. Check It Out! Example 3 Continued
Step 2 Find the missing terms using d= and a1= 2.
The missing terms are
= 1

24. Because arithmetic sequences have a common difference, you can use any two terms to find the difference.

25. Example 4: Finding the nth Term Given Two Terms
Find the 5th term of the arithmetic sequence with a8 = 85 and a14 = 157.
Step 1 Find the common difference.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
Let an = a14 and a1 = a8. Replace 1 with 8.
a14 = a8 + (14 – 8)d
a14 = a8 + 6d
Simplify.
Substitute 157 for a14 and 85 for a8.
157 = d
72 = 6d
12 = d

26. Example 4 Continued
Step 2 Find a1.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule
Substitute 85 for a8,
8 for n, and 12 for d.
85 = a1 + (8 - 1)(12)
85 = a1 + 84
Simplify.
1 = a1

27. Example 4 Continued
Step 3 Write a rule for the sequence, and evaluate to find a5.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
an = 1 + (n – 1)(12)
Substitute 1 for a1 and 12 for d.
a5 = 1 + (5 – 1)(12)
Evaluate for n = 5.
= 49
The 5th term is 49.

28. Check It Out! Example 4a
Find the 11th term of the arithmetic sequence.
a2 = –133 and a3 = –121
Step 1 Find the common difference.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
a3 = a2 + (3 – 2)d
Let an = a3 and a1 = a2. Replace 1 with 2.
a3 = a2 + d
Simplify.
–121 = –133 + d
Substitute –121 for a3 and –133 for a2.
d = 12

29. Check It Out! Example 4a Continued
Step 2 Find a1.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule
Substitute –133 for an, 2 for n, and 12 for d.
–133 = a1 + (2 – 1)(12)
–133 = a1 + 12
Simplify.
–145 = a1

30. Check It Out! Example 4a Continued
Step 3 Write a rule for the sequence, and evaluate to find a11.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule.
Substitute –145 for a1 and 12 for d.
a11 = –145 + (n – 1)(12)
a11 = –145 + (11 – 1)(12)
Evaluate for n = 11.
= –25
The 11th term is –25.

31. Check It Out! Example 4b
Find the 11th term of each arithmetic sequence.
a3 = 20.5 and a8 = 13
Step 1 Find the common difference.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule
Let an = a8 and a1 = a3.
Replace 1 with 3.
a8 = a3 + (8 – 3)d
a8 = a3 + 5d
Simplify.
13 = d
Substitute 13 for a8 and 20.5 for a3.
–7.5 = 5d
Simplify.
–1.5 = d

32. Check It Out! Example 4b Continued
Step 2 Find a1.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule
Substitute 20.5 for an, 3 for n, and –1.5 for d.
20.5 = a1 + (3 – 1)(–1.5)
20.5 = a1 – 3
Simplify.
23.5 = a1

33. Check It Out! Example 4b Continued
Step 3 Write a rule for the sequence, and evaluate to find a11.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
General rule
a11 = (n – 1)(–1.5)
Substitute 23.5 for a1 and –1.5 for d.
a11 = 23.5
+ (11 – 1)(–1.5)
Evaluate for n = 11.
a11 = 8.5
The 11th term is 8.5.

34. In Lesson 12-2 you wrote and evaluated series
In Lesson 12-2 you wrote and evaluated series. An arithmetic series is the indicated sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence. You can derive a general formula for the sum of an arithmetic series by writing the series in forward and reverse order and adding the results.

37. Example 5A: Finding the Sum of an Arithmetic Series
Find the indicated sum for the arithmetic series.
S18 for (–9) + (–20)
Find the common difference.
d = 2 – 13 = –11
Find the 18th term.
a18 = 13 + (18 – 1)(–11)
= –174

38.  Example 5A Continued Sum formula Substitute. = 18(-80.5) = –1449
Check Use a graphing calculator. 

39. These sums are actually partial sums
These sums are actually partial sums. You cannot find the complete sum of an infinite arithmetic series because the term values increase or decrease indefinitely.
Remember!

40. Example 5B: Finding the Sum of an Arithmetic Series
Find the indicated sum for the arithmetic series.
Find S15.
Find 1st and 15th terms.
a1 = 5 + 2(1) = 7
a15 = 5 + 2(15) = 35
= 15(21) = 315

41. Example 5B Continued
Check Use a graphing calculator. 

42. Check It Out! Example 5a
Find the indicated sum for the arithmetic series.
S16 for (–3)+ …
Find the common difference.
d = 7 – 12 = –5
Find the 16th term.
a16 = 12 + (16 – 1)(–5)
= –63

43. Check It Out! Example 5a Continued
Find S16.
Sum formula.
Substitute.
= 16(–25.5)
Simplify.
= –408

44. Check It Out! Example 5b
Find the indicated sum for the arithmetic series.
Find 1st and 15th terms.
a1 = 50 – 20(1) = 30
a15 = 50 – 20(15) = –250

45. Check It Out! Example 5b Continued
Find S15.
Sum formula.
Substitute.
= 15(–110)
Simplify.
= –1650

46. Example 6A: Theater Application
The center section of a concert hall has 15 seats in the first row and 2 additional seats in each subsequent row.
How many seats are in the 20th row?
Write a general rule using a1 = 15 and d = 2.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
Explicit rule for nth term
a20 = 15 + (20 – 1)(2)
Substitute. =
Simplify.
= 53
There are 53 seats in the 20th row.

47. Example 6B: Theater Application
How many seats in total are in the first 20 rows?
Find S20 using the formula for finding the sum of the first n terms.
Formula for first n terms
Substitute.
Simplify.
There are 680 seats in rows 1 through 20.

48. Check It Out! Example 6a
What if...? The number of seats in the first row of a theater has 14 seats. Suppose that each row after the first had 2 additional seats.
How many seats would be in the 14th row?
Write a general rule using a1 = 14 and d = 2.
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
Explicit rule for nth term
a14 = 11 + (14 – 1)(2)
Substitute. =
Simplify.
= 37
There are 37 seats in the 14th row.

49. Check It Out! Example 6b
How many seats in total are in the first 14 rows?
Find S14 using the formula for finding the sum of the first n terms.
Formula for first n terms
Substitute.
Simplify.
There are 336 total seats in rows 1 through 14.

50. Lesson Quiz: Part I
1. Determine whether the sequence could be arithmetic. If so, find the first difference and the next term. –1, –4, –7, –10, –13, …
yes; –3,–16
2. Find the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence –2, –5, –8, –11, –14, …
–29
3. Find the missing terms in the arithmetic sequence 15, , , , 17.
15.5, 16, 16.5
4. Find the 6th term of the arithmetic sequence with a9 = 64 and a12 = 88. 40

51. Lesson Quiz: Part II
5. Find the indicated sum for
–132
6. The side section of an auditorium has 12 seats in the first row and 3 additional seats in each subsequent row. How many seats are in the 10th row? How many seats in total are in the first 10 rows?
39; 255