APTITUDE SECTION

To find the sum of a number of terms in a geometric -progression:

-
Let 'a' be the £irst term, r the common ratio, ;the number ofterms, and S be the sum ton
I f r > 1, then.
4'
... (I)
If r < 1, then
Note: It will be convenient to remember both forms given above for S. Number (2) will be used in all cases
execept when 'r' is positive and greater than one.
of an infinite geome-tricprogression whenr < 1.
Obviouslythis formula is used onlywhen the common ratio of the GP is less than one.
Some important results about series': . .
If the same quantity be added to or subtracted from all the terms of anAP the resulting terms willform at AP but
with the same common difference as before.
Ifall the terms ofanAP be multiplied or divided by the same quantity the resulting te- will foxnan AP but
with a new comrnondifference, whichwill be the multiplication/division ofthe old co&ondifference(as the
case may be)
If all the terms of a GP be multiplied or divided by the same quantity, the resulting termsedwill
foxn a GP with the
same common ratio as before.
Ifa, byc, d, ..... are in GP, they are also in continued proportion, since, by definition.
a/b = blc = c/d = .......... = l/r
Conversely, a series of quantities in continued proportion may be represented by x, xr, d......
If you have to assume 3 terms in AP, assume them as a - d, a, a + d or as a, ,a+d and a + 2d.
For assuming 5 terms of anAP we use: a - 2d, a - d, a, a + d, a + 2d. These are the most convenient in terms
ofproblems solving.
..
For assuming 4 terms: a - 3d, a - d, a + d, a + 3d
a
For assuming three terms of a GP assume them as a, ar and a? or as - a, arY
r
To find the sum of the k s t 'n' natural numbers.
n(n+l)
Let the sum'be denoted by S then S = 1+ 2 + 3 + ....+ n is given by S =
2
To find the sumof square of the k s t n naturalnumbers.
~ et ht e s u m b e d e n ~ t e d then,s=12
b~~ +22 +32 +.......+ n 2
n(n+l)(2n+l)
This is given by
6 I