PRECALCULUS

S LEARNING KIT

Prepared by: Catherine C. Mira

Reviewed by: Hazel Mae C. Abay

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 UNIT 2: SERIES AND MATHEMATICAL
INDUCTION
SERIES, SEQUENCE AND SIGMA NOTATION
Time Frame: 3 Weeks

Introduction
When you look around, you will find a number of patterns. Recognizing and
extending patterns are important skills needed to make an informed decision and
come up with the best solution to a problem.

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to demonstrate an

understanding of the key concepts of series and mathematical induction and the
binomial theorem.

The learner should be able to keenly observe and investigate patterns and
formulate appropriate mathematical statements.

Table of Contents

Lesson 2.1 Series and Sequence . 2

Lesson 2.2 Sigma Notation . 12

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 Lesson 1: Series and Sequence
Illustrate a series (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-1)
Differentiate a series from a sequence (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-2)

This lesson will help students to understand the concept of series and sequence
and differentiate each.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the module, the student is able to:
1. Define sequence
2. Illustrate a series
3. Differentiate a series from a sequence
4. Demonstrate appreciation of patterns in real-life

What I
KNOW

Directions: On the space provided before the number, write T if the statement is true
and F if otherwise.
1. A series is a function f whose domain is the set of natural numbers.
2. A sequence is the sum of some set of terms of a sequence.
3. The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is given by + (n 1) d
4. The nth term of a geometric sequence is given by
5. The sum of the first 12 numbers in the series
is 2125760.
6. The sum of the first 7 numbers in the series is 140.
7. The problem A group of choreographers for the Sinulog Dance
Competition wants to arrange their dancers in 10 rows. She wants to have
13 dancers in the first row, 17 in the 2nd, and 21 in the 3rd, and so on, how
many total dancers are there in all? involves concepts on series.
8. The first six terms of the Fibonacci sequence is written 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8.
9. A sequence presents a list of numbers separated by commas, while a
series is a sum of numbers separated by + - sign.

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 IN

Recall the following figures you learned in Algebra

Complete the sequences below by writing the next number on the space provided.
1. 13, 19, 25, 31, ___ _______________________
2. 46, 184, 736, 2944, ___ _______________________
3. 18.2, 10.7, 3.2, -4.3, ___ _______________________
4. 2, -12, 72, -432, ___ _______________________
5. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 ___ _______________________

Find the first four terms and stated term given the arithmetic sequence, with as
the first term.
1. First 4 terms: _____________________________
What is ?: _____________________________

2. First 4 terms: _____________________________

What is ?: _____________________________

Find the first four terms and stated term given the geometric sequence, with as
the first term.
1. First 4 terms: _____________________________
What is ?: _____________________________

2. First 4 terms: _____________________________

What is ?: _____________________________

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 What
NEW

concept.

In math, a sequence is a list of events that arranged in a particular

order; such that each element either comes before, or after, every
other member.

From the previous activity,

How did you determine the next term? Write a brief explanation on the space
provided.

1. 13, 19, 25, 31, ________________________________________

2. 46, 184, 736, 2944 ________________________________________
How did you identify the first four terms and stated term ? Write a brief
explanation on the space provided.

1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________

What is
IT

Let s try to go over the following definition of sequence and

series.

A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of positive integers

or the set {1, 2, 3, , n}.

A series represents the sum of the terms of a sequence.

If a sequence is infinite, we will refer to the sum of the terms of the

sequence as the series associated with the sequence. If the sequence has
infinitely many terms, the sum is defined more precisely in calculus.

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 A sequence presents a list of numbers separated by
commas, while a series is a sum of numbers separated
by + - sign.

Example:
1. Determine the first five terms of the define sequence then identify its
associated series.

Solution:
To determine the first five terms, substitute n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to the
formula .

Thus, the first five terms are , , , ,

To determine the associated series, add all the terms.

2. Determine the first five terms of the define sequence then

identify its associated series.

Solution:
To determine the first five terms, substitute n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to the
formula .

Thus, the first five terms are , , , ,

To determine the associated series, add all the terms.

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 Further, some special sequences include Arithmetic
Sequence, Geometric Sequence and Fibonacci
Sequence.

Arithmetic Sequence
A sequence in which each term after the first is obtained by adding a
constant (called the common difference) to the preceding term.

If the nth term of an arithmetic sequence is and the common difference

is d, then,
.

The associated arithmetic series with n terms is given by

Geometric Sequence
A sequence in which each term after the first is obtained by multiplying the
preceding term by a constant (called the common ratio).

If the nth term of an arithmetic sequence is and the common difference

is d, then,

The associated geometric series with n terms is given by

Fibonacci Sequence
A sequence defined by , where
. Its terms are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,

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 MORE

check your understanding on the difference between

sequence and series. Write your answer on the space provided.

Write SEQ if the given item is a sequence and write SER if it is a series.
1. 1, 2, 4, 8,
2. 2, 8, 10,18,
3. -1 + 1 1+1 1

4.

5. 1 + 2 + 22 + 23 + 24

Write A if the sequence is arithmetic, G if geometric, F if Fibonacci and O if it is

none of the mentioned types.
1. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,
2. 2, 4, 9, 16, 25,
3. 4, 6, 10, 16, 26,

4.

5.

Given the first term and the common difference, find the first four terms and its
associated series.

Given: Solution:

a1 = 29 First four terms: ________________________

d = -5 Series: ___________________________

Given the first term and the common ratio, find the first four terms and its
associated series.

Given: Solution:

a1 = 5 First four terms: ________________________

r = -2 Series: ___________________________

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 What I HAVE
LEARNED

Write your
answer on the space provided.

1. What is the difference between a sequence and a series?

2. How do we identify the terms of a sequence given the formula? How do we solve
for its associate series?

What I
CAN DO

dy know in this lesson.

Read the problem carefully then solve for what is asked. Show your solution on the
space provided.

The nth hexagonal number is given by hn . What is the sixth hexagonal

number?

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 TEST YOUR SKILL
8

Answer the questions below. Write your answer on the space provided.

A. Find the first 3 terms of the sequence below then identify its associated series.
1.

2.

3. +

B. Find the sum.

1.

2. 1 .

C. Determine whether the problem below is an example of a series or a sequence

by writing SEQ or SER then given the data, solve for what is asked.

1. Once a week, Mr. Jose makes cupcakes. The first week he made a total of 50
packs. Since many customers would like to buy as weeks go by, he increases
his previous production by 20 packs each week after the first week. If Mang
Jose continues this practice, how many packs of cupcakes would he have
made at the end of the 8th week?

2. The Greek theater shown at the right has 30 seats in the first row of the center
section. Each row behind the first row gains two additional seats. How many
seats are in the 5th row in the center section?

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ANSWER KEY
What I Know
1. F 6. T
2. F 7. T
3. T 8. T
4. T 9. T
5. T

A. 1. 37 Arithmetic 3. -11.8 Arithmetic 5. 21 Fibonacci

2. 11776 Geometric 4. 2592 Geometric

B. 1. 27, 34, 41, 48 2. 22, 15, 8, 1

=146 = -20

C. 1. 3, 6, 12, 24 2. 3, -18, 108, -648

=48 = -23328

A. 1. Add 6 to the previous term

2. Multiply the previous term by 4
B. Substitute n = 1, 2, 3, 4 to the formula then solve for the first four terms
To determine , simply substitute the specified value of n to the formula
What More
A. 1. SEQ 2. SEQ 3. SER 4. SEQ 5. SER
B. 1. A 2. O 3. F 4. G 5. O
C. 29, 24, 19, 14 ... S = 86
D. 5, -10, 20, -40 ... S = -25

What I Can Do
hn )
To find the sixth hexagonal number, replace n with 6
Therefore h6 6
Test Your Skill
A. 1. 7, 11, 15 2. 12, 6, 4 3. 1, 1,2,
B. 1. 3280 2. 0.666016
C. 1. Series - 960 packs 2. Sequence - 38 seats

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 Lesson 2: Sigma Notation
Use the Sigma Notation to illustrate a series (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-3)
Apply the use of sigma notation in finding sums (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-4)

This lesson will help students to use the sigma notation to represent a series.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the module, the student is able to:
1. Define and write in sigma notations
2. Use the sigma notation to represent series
3. Enumerate properties of sigma notation
4. Calculating sums using the properties of sigma notation

What I
KNOW

1. 13 +

2.

Expand the sigma notation.

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 IN

Recall your knowledge on series and sequence.

Determine the associated series of the first five terms given the defined sequence
below.
1. S = __________________________________
2. S = __________________________________

Define the sequence of each series below by writing its formula.

1. = __________________________________

2. = __________________________________

NEW

and the concept.

Series and sequence require a defined formula in order to identify its

terms and partial sums. Conversely, a given associated series can be
used to identify the formula.

From the previous activity,

How did you determine the associated series? Write a brief explanation on the
space provided.
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________

How did you identify the formula from the given series? Write a brief
explanation on the space provided.

1. ________________________________________

2. ________________________________________

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 What is
IT

some techniques in writing sums in shorthand.

The sigma notation is a shorthand for writing sums. In this lesson, we will see
how this notation may be used in computing sums of numbers as well as algebraic
expressions.

The sigma notation is used to denote a sum where the uppercase Greek letter
(sigma) is used.

Let f(i) be an expression involving an integer i. The expression

can be written in sigma notation as

read as the summation of f(i) from i = m to n. where m and n are integers with m n,
f(i) is a term or summand of the summation, i is the index, m the lower bound and n
the upper bound.

Example A: Expand each notation and simplify.

= = 27

= 20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + 24 + 25 = 63

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Example B: Write each expression in sigma notation.

Solution Solution

Below are properties that may help you when dealing with
sigma notation.

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 MORE

check your understanding on sigma notation.

Write each sum using sigma notation. Write your answer on the space provided.

1.

2. 1 + +

3.

Expand each sigma notation. Write your answer on the space provided.

What I HAVE
LEARNED

Write your
answer on the space provided.

How do we write the sum of series using sigma notation? (Explain the parts of a
sigma notation in your own words.)

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 Post Assessment
8

Solve each item below. Write your answer on the space provided.
A. Write the sum using sigma notation.
1.

2.

3.

4. +

B. Write the sum without using sigma notation.

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