SEQUENCE AND SERIES TOPIC 3

TOPIC 3 : SEQUENCES AND SERIES

3.1 Sequences and Series

3.1.1 Sequences
1. A “sequences” is an ordered list numbers; the ordered lists are called “elements” or “terms”. A
“series” is the value you get when you add all the terms of sequences.
A sequence is a set of numbers written following a simple rule.
a) 2, 6, 10, 14, 18…. b) 2, 4, 8, 16, 32….
1 1 1
− −
c) 1,1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…. d) 1, 2 , 4 , 8 ….
e) 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3,…. f) 1, 1, 1,  1,….

2. For (a), the different between two consecutive terms is always the same,
6  2 = 4; 10  6 = 4
14  10 = 4; 18  14 = 4
x – 18 = 4 (x is the term after 18)
So, x = 22 is the term after 18.

3. For (b), the ratio between two consecutive terms is always the same,
4 8 16 32
2 = 2; 4 = 2; 8 =2; 16 = 2
x
32 =2 (x is the term after 32)
So, 64 is the term after 32.
4. For (c ), note that there is no common difference or common ratio. Look for another pattern.
1+1=2
1+2=3
2+3=5
3+5=8
5 + 8 = 13
The next term is obtained by adding the two preceding terms.
8 +13 = 21

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The term after 13 is 21.

5. For the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, ….
If Un denotes the nth term of the sequences , then
u1= 1, u2 = 2, u3 = 3, u4 = 4
Hence, un = n
6. In the same way , for the sequences 1, 2, 4, 8,….
u1= 1 (= 20 ), u2= 2 (= 21), u3= 4 (= 22), u4= 8 (=23)
n1
un= 2
7. If the nth term, un, of a sequences is known , then all the terms of sequences can be found.
8. A finite sequences has a fixed number of terms.
For example, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 is a finite sequences of six terms.
9. An infinite sequences has an infinite number of terms.
For example, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,…is an infinite sequence.

Example 3.1

Find the first four terms of the sequence whose nth term given by U n = 32  6n.
Solution
Un = 32  6n.
U1 = 32  6(1) = 26
U2 = 32  6(2) = 20
U3 = 32  6(3) = 14
U4 = 32  6(4) = 8
The first four terms of sequence are 26, 20, 14, 8.

Example 3.2

Find the first four terms of sequences where u n = (3)n

un = (3)n
u1 = (3)1 = 3
u2 = (3)2 = 9
u3 = (3)3 = 27
u4 = (3)4 = 81

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Example 3.3

Find the first four terms of the sequence which is defined by u n+1 =2un + 1, n  1 where u1 = 1.
un+1 =2un + 1
u1 = 1 ( given )
u2 =2u1 + 1 = 2(1) + 1=3
u3 =2u2 + 1 = 2(3) + 1=7
u4 =2u4 + 1 = 2(7) + 1=15
The first four terms of sequence are 1, 3, 7, 15.
3.1.2 Series
1. A series is something we obtain from a sequence by adding all the terms together.
For example, suppose we have the sequence
u1, u2, u3, …..u4
The series we obtain from this is
u1 + u2 + u3 + …..+u4
2. If the series ends after a finite number of terms, it is called a finite series. For example,
2 + 5 + 8 + 11 + 14 + 17 + 20
is a finite arithmetic series of seven terms.
3. If the series does not end, it is called an infinite series.
Thus,
1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + … + 128 +…
3.1.3 Arithmetic Sequences (or Progression)
1. An arithmetic sequences is a sequences of numbers such that the difference of any two
successive members of is constant.
2. In an arithmetic sequence, there is a common difference between successive terms.
3. If any term is subtracted from the next term, the result is always the same, and this number is
called the common difference.

Example 3.4

a) 2, 5, 8, 11…. Common difference is 3

b) 21, 18, 15, 12… Common difference is 3

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c) a, a + d, a + 2d Common difference is d

3.1.4 General term of an arithmetic sequences

1. Suppose an arithmetic sequence has first term a and common difference d. The sequence is
a, a + d , a +2d, a +3d,…
First term, T1 = a
Second term T2 = a + d = a + (2 1)d
Third term T3 = a + 2d = a (3  1)d
. . .
. . .
. . .
nth term Tn = a + (n 1)d
2. The nth term, Tn is called the general term of the arithmetic sequence.

3. Note that the common difference is

d = T2 – T 1 = T 3 – T 2 = … = T n – T n – 1

Example 3.5

Find the 20th term, and the nth term of the following arithmetic sequences.
a) 3, 7, 11, 15…
b) 13, 10, 7, 5…

Solution
a) 3, 7, 11, 15…
First term, a =3
Common differences , d = 7  3 = 4
i) 20th term,
Tn = a + ( n – 1 )d
T20 = 3 + (20 – 1 )4
T20 = 3 + (19)4
T20 = 3 + 76
T20 = 79

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ii) nth term,

Tn = 3 + (n – 1)4
Tn = 3 + 4n – 4
Tn = 3 + 4n – 4
Tn = 4n – 1

b) 13, 10, 7, 4, …
a = 13
d = 10 – 13
= 3
i) T20
T20 = a + (n – 1 )d
T20 = 13 + (20 – 1)(3)
T20 = 13 + (19)(3)
T20 = 13  57
T20 =  44
ii) Tn
Tn = 13 + (n – 1 )(3)
Tn = 13 + (3n + 3)
Tn = 13 3n + 3
Tn = 16  3n

Example 3.6

Find the number of terms in the arithmetic sequence 7, 13, 19, …, 307.
Solution
Let the number of terms be n so that Tn = 307.
Substitute a = 7, d = 6, Tn = 307 in the formula.
Tn = a + (n – 1 )d
307 = 7 + ( n – 1 )6
= 6n + 1
307  1 = 6n
306 = 6n

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n = 51
Number of terms is 51

Example 3.7

How many multiplies of 7 are there between 100 and 500?

Solution
The multiplies of 7 between 100 and 500 form the sequences 105, 112,…, 497
Therefore, a = 105, d = 7, Tn = 497
Tn = a + (n – 1 )d
497 = 105 + (n – 1 )7
= 7n + 98
399 = 7n
n = 57
There are 57 multiplies.

Example 3.8

The 6th term of an arithmetic sequence is 22 and the 10 th term is 38.

Find
a) The first term and the common difference
b) The 100th term.
Solution.
a) Let a be the first term and d the common difference.
T6 = 22
Therefore, a + 5d = 22 ……..(1)
T10 =38
Therefore, a + 9d = 38 ……..(2)
(2)  (1) 4d = 16
d=4
From (1), a + 5(4) = 22
a=2
The first term is 2 and the common difference is 4
b) The 100th term, T100 = a + 99d

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= 2 + 99(4)
= 398

Example 3.9

The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is 40 + 7n. Find the common difference.
Which term of the sequence is 215?
Solution
Tn = 40 + 7n
First term, T1 = 40 + 7(1)
= 47
Second term, T2 = 40 + 7(2)
= 54
Common difference, T2 – T1 = 54 – 47
=7
Let Tn = 215
Hence, 40 + 7n = 215
7n = 175
n = 25
The 25th term is 215.
3.1.5 Arithmetic Series
1. An arithmetic series is the sum f the terms of an arithmetic sequence.
2. Sum to n terms of an arithmetic series
a) Consider the sum of the first 100 positive integers.
This series is an arithmetic series and writing it in normal order,
S = 1+2+3+ …+ 98 + 99 + 100………………….(1)
and in reverse order,
(1) + (2) S = 100 + 99 + 98 + … + 3 + 2 + 1……………(2)
2S = 101 + 101 +101 + … + 101 + 101 + 101
= 101  101
S = 50  101
= 5050

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b) This method can be used to drive a general formula for the sum of n terms of the arithmetic
sequence a, a + d, a + 2d,… Lets Sn be the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic series whose
last term is l.
Sn = a + (a+d)+(a+ 2d)+…+(ld)+ l
Reversing the order, Sn = l + ( l – d) + (l – 2d ) + … + (a +d) + a
Adding 2Sn = (a+l )+ (a+l )+(a+l )+ …+(a+l )+(a+l )
Since there are n terms, 2Sn = n(a+l )
n
S n= ( a+l )
2
Substituting, l = a + (n – 1)d
n
Sn = 2 (a + a +(n – 1 )d)
Therefore,
n
S n= ( 2a+ ( n−1 ) d )
2
c. The relation between Tn and Sn is Tn = Sn – Sn – 1

Example 3.10

Find the sum of the following series.

a) An arithmetic series of 25 terms where the first term is 5 and the last term is 41.
b) 3 + 5 + 7 + …. To 60 terms.

Solution.
a) Given first term, a = 5, last term, l = 41,
and the number of term, n = 25
n
S n= ( a+l )
using 2
25
S 25= ( 5+ 41 )
2
= 575

b) a = 3, d = 2 and n = 60

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n
S n= ( 2a+ ( n−1 ) d )
Using 2
60
S 60= ( 6+ ( 59 ) 2 )
2
= 30  124
= 3720

Example 3.11

Find an expression for the sum of the first n terms of the series 5 + 8 + 11+…
Find the value of n if the sum is equal to 440.
Solution
The series is an arithmetic series with a = 5 and d =3
n
S n= ( 2a+ ( n−1 ) d )
2
n
440= ( 10+ ( n−1 ) 3 )
2
n
440= ( 3n+ 7 )
2
n
( 3n+7 ) =440
2
3n2 + 7n  880 = 0
(3n + 55)(n  16) = 0
55 55
− −
n= 3 or 16 (n = 3 is rejected)
The value of n is 16.

Example 3.12

The sum first n terms of a series is given by S n = 2n2 + n . Find the fourth term of the series and
show that the series is an arithmetic series.

Solution
If the terms of the series are T1, T2, T3 , ….Tn ,
Then Sn = T1 + T2 + ….+ Tn = 2n2 + n

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S4 = T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 = 36 (substitute n = 4)
S3 = T1 + T3 + T3 = 21 (substitute n = 3)

The fourth term of the series, T4 = S4 – S3 = 36  21 = 15

Sn = T1 + T2 + …. + Tn – 1 + Tn = 2n2 + n
Sn – 1 = T1 + T2 + …. + Tn – 1 = 2 (n – 1 )2 + (n – 1 )

The nth term, Tn = Sn – Sn – 1

= (2n2 + n) – [2(n – 1 )2 + (n – 1)]
= 4n – 1
The ( n – 1 )th term , Tn – 1 = 4(n – 1) – 1 = 4n – 5
Tn – Tn – 1 = (4n – 1 ) – (4n – 5 ) = 4

Therefore, the difference between two consecutive terms is 4 (constant).

Thus, the series is an arithmetic series.

Example 3.13

The sum of the first 15 terms of an arithmetic series is 255 and the sum of the next 15 terms is
705. Find the first term and the common difference.
Solution
Given S15 = 255
15
( 2a+14d ) =255
2
2a + 14d = 255 ………………………(1)
Also S30 = 255 + 705 = 960
30
( 2a+29d ) =960
2
2a + 29d = 64………………………….(2)
(2) – (1) 15d = 30
d=2
From (1), 2a + 14(2) = 34
a=3

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The first term is 3 and the common difference is 2.

3.1.6 Geometric Sequence

1. Geometric sequence is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by
multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero called the common ratio.
2. In a geometric sequence, there is a common ratio between successive terms.
3. If any term is divided by the preceding term, the result is always the same, and the number is
called the common ratio.

Example 3.14

a) 2, 6, 18, 54,… common ratio is 3

b) 1,  2, 4, 8, … common ratio is 2
4 8 2
c) 3, 2, 3 , 9 , … common ratio is 3
1 1
− −
d) 16,  4, 1, 4,… common ratio is 4

3.1.7 General term of a geometric sequence

1. Suppose a geometric sequence has first term a and common ratio r, then the geometric
sequence is a, ar, ar2, ar3, …
First term, T1 = a
Second term , T2 = ar = ar2 – 1
Third term, T3 = ar2 = ar3 – 1
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
nth term, Tn = ar n–1

Note: a  0 and r  0. In general, r   1.

2. The nth term Tn is called the general term of the geometric sequence.
3.note that the commn ratio is given by

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T2 T3 Tn
r= = =.. .=
T1 T2 T n−1

Example 3.15

Find the sixth and nth terms of the following geometric sequence.
a) 4, 8, 16, 32 …
2 2 2
b) 2, 3 , 9 , 27 ,…
Solution
a) 4, 8, 16, 32 …
8
−
a = 4, r = 4 = 2

Sixth term, T6 =ar5

= 4(2)5
=  128
nth term, Tn = arn – 1
= 4 ( 2)n – 1
2 2 2
b) 2, 3 , 9 , 27 ,…
1
a = 4, r = 3
Sixth term, T6 = ar5

()
5
1
=2 3
2
= 243
Nth term, Tn = arn-1

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()
n−1
1
=2 3
Example 3.16

()
n−1
2
The nth term, Tn, of a sequence is given by Tn = 3
a) Show that the sequence is a geometric sequence.
64
b) Which term of the sequence is 729 ?
Solution

()
n−1
2
a) Tn = 3

( 23 ) ( 23 )
( n−1 ) −1 n−2

Tn – 1 = =

( 23 ) ( 23 ) ( 23 )
n−1 n−2

( 23 ) ( 23 )
Tn n−2 n−2
2
T n−1 = = = 3 (constant)
2
Since the ratio is a constant, the sequence is a geometric sequence with common ratio 3
64
b) Let Tn =729

( ) 64729
n−1
2
3 =

( 3) ( 3)
n−1 6
2 2
=
n–1=6
n=7
64
729 is the seventh term

Example 3.17

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The third term of geometric sequences is 15 and the sixth term is 120. Find the first term and the
common ratio.
Solution
Let a be the first term and r the common ratio.
Then ar2 = 15 ……………(1)
and ar5 = 120……………(2)
ar 5 120
(2)  (1), ar 2 =15
r2=8
r=2
Substitute into (1)
a(2)2 = 15
15
a= 4
3
3
a= 4
3
3
The first term is 4 and the common ratio is 2

Example 3.18

If x + 2, 2, 2x – 3 are three consecutive terms of a geometric sequence, find the possible values
of x.
Solution
2 2x−3
=
The common ratio is x+2 2
4 = (x+2)(2x – 3 )
4 = 2x2 + x – 6
2x2 + x – 10 = 0
(x – 2 )(2x + 5 ) = 0
5
−
2
x = 2 or

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3.1.8 Geometric Series

1. A geometric series is the sum of the terms of geometric sequence.
2. Sum to n terms of a geometric series
a) To find the sum of the geometric sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32:
Let S = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 ……………………(1)
Multiply by 2, 2S = 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 64………………….(2)
(2) – (1) S = 1 + 64
=63

b) Now consider the geometric sequence,

a, ar, ar2, ar3, …….
Let the sum to n terms be Sn
Sn = a + ar + ar2 + ….. + arn  1 + arn  2 …………………………….(1)
Multiply the equation by the common ratio , r
rSn = ar + ar + ar2 + …. + arn – 1 + arn ………………………………(2)
Taking equations (1) – (2) ,
Sn – rSn = a – arn
Taking equation (1) – (2),
Sn – rSn = a - arn
Sn (1 – r) = a (1 – rn)

a ( 1−r n )
S n=
1−r for r < 1
or taking equations (2) – (1)

a ( r n −1 )
S n=
r -1 for r > 1
c) The relation between Tn and Sn is Tn = Sn – Sn – 1

Example 3.19

Find the sum to the 8th term of the geometric series

2 – 6 +18  54 + …

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Solution
a = 2, r =  3
From the formula,

a ( 1−r n )
S n=
1−r
2 ( 1−( -3 )n ) 1
S n= ( 1−38 )
1−( -3 ) = 2

= 3280

Example 3.20

In a geometric sequence, the sum of the first six terms is nine times the sum of the first three
terms. Find the common ratio.

Solution

a ( r 6 −1 )
S 6=
Sum of the first six terms, r -1

a ( r 3 −1 )
S3 =
Sum of the first three terms, r -1
S6 =9S3
a ( r6 −1 ) 9a ( r3 −1 )
r -1 = r -1
r6 1 = 9(r3 1)
(r2 + 1)(r3  1) = 9(r3 1)
r3 + 1 = 9
r3 = 8
3
r =√ 8
r=2

This common ratio is 2

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3.2 Binomial Expansion

1. An expression such as (a + x) which consists of two terms is called a binomial expression
and (a +x)n is a binomial function.
2. Expansion of (a + x )n as a power series in x
a) The powers of ( a + x) can be obtained by direct multiplication.
(a + x)0 = 1
(a + x) =
1
a+x
(a + x) =
2
a + 2ax + x2
2

(a + x)3 = a 3 + 3a2x + 3ax2 + x3

(a + x)4 = a 4 + 4a3x + 6a2x2 + 4ax3 + x4
(a + x)5 = a5 +5a4 + 10a3x2 + 10a2x3 + 5ax4 + x5
b) Ignore the coefficients and concentrate only the variables:
(a + x)1 : a x
(a + x)2 : a2 ax x2
(a + x)3 : a3 a2x ax2 x3
(a + x)4 : a4 a3x a2x2 ax3 x4
As read from left to right,
i) The powers of a decrease as the powers of x increase
ii) The sum of the powers of each term is the same as the power of (a + x).
So (a + x)n : an an1x an  2x2 … an  1x1 … a2x n2
axn  1 xn

c) Next consider the coefficients:

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(a + x)0 : 1
(a + x)1 : 1 1
(a + x)2 : 1 2 1
(a + x)3 : 1 3 3 1
(a + x)4 : 1 4 6 4 1
(a + x)5: 1 5 10 10 5 1

i) The arrangement of numbers is called Pascal’s triangle.

ii) The row and columns of Pascal’s triangle are usually numbered as shown next page.

Row 0: 1
Row 1: 1 1
Row 2: 1 2 1
Row 3: 1 3 3 1
Row 4: 1 4 6 4 1
Row 5: 1 5 10 10 5 1
Row 6: 1 6 15 20 15 6 1

iii) Each row begins and ends with 1

iv) The other coefficients in a particular row are obtained by adding the two coefficients just
above in preceding row. Thus row 7 can be found from row 6

Row 6: 1 6 15 20 15 6 1

Row 7: 1 7 21 35 35 21 7 1

d)
(nr ) is written to represent the element in the nth row and the rth column of triangle.

Therefore,
(00 )=1
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(10 )=1 (11 )=1

(20 )=1 (21 )=2 (22 )=1
(30 )=1 (31 )=3 (32 )=3 (33 )=1
. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

e) Using this notation, the binomial theorem can be stated.

For any positive integer n,

(a + x)n = a2 +
(n1 ) an 1 x +
(n2 ) an – 2 + … +
(nr ) an – r xr + … +xn

f) In the special case when a = 1, we have

(1 + x)n = 1 +
(n1 ) (n2 )
x+ x2 + … +
(nr ) xr + … +xn

Example 3.21

Expand the following, using Pascal’s triangle.

a) (x + y)8 b) (2x – 3y)4

( )
6
1
x−
c) (1 + 3x)5 d) x

Solution

a) From Pascal’s triangle, the coefficients are 1, 8, 28, 56, 70, 56, 28, 8, 1
(x + y)8 = x8 + 8x7y + 28x6y2 + 56x5y3 + 70x4y4 + 56x3y5 + 28x2y6 + 8xy7
b) Here a = 2x, x = 3y and the coefficients are 1, 4, 6, 4, 1.
(2x  3y)4 = (2x)4 + 4(2x)3(3y) + 6(2x)2(3y2)+4(2x)(3y)3+(3y)4
=16x4 – 96x3y + 216x2y2 216xy3 + 81y4

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c) The coefficients are 1, 5, 10, 10, 5, 1

(1 +3x)5 = 1 + 5(3x) + 10(3x)2 + 10(3x)3 + 5(3x)4 + (3x)5
= 1 + 15x + 90x2 + 270x3 + 405x4 + 243x5
d) The coefficients are 1, 6, 15, 20, 15, 6, 1.

( )
6
1
x−
x

( ) ( )
1 2
( )
1 3
( ) ( ) ( )
4
1 1 1 5 1 6
− − − − − −
=x6 + 6x5 x + 15x4 x +20x3 x +15x2 x +6x x + x
15 6 1
2 4 6
6
– 6x4 + 15x2 – 20 + x  x + x
=x

Example 3.22

Expand (1 +2x – x2) in ascending powers of x up to the term in x3

Solution

Write ( 1 + 2x – x3) as 1 + (2x – x2)

Using the expansion

(1 + y)5 = 1 +5y + 10y2 + 10y3 + 5y4 +y5

And substituting y = 2x – x2

(1 +2x – x 2)5 = 1 + 5(2x – x2) + 10(2x – x2)2 + 10(2x – x2)3 +…

= 1 +10x – 5x2 + 10(4x2 – 4x3 + x4) + 10(8x3  …)

= 1 + 10x + 35x2 + 40x3 + …

3.2.2 Factorial Notation

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1. If the power of the binomial function is large, then expansion using Pascal’s triangle is not

efficient. So the next step is to find a formula for .

(nr )
2. This formula is found by using a notation called factorial notation.
a) The symbol n! is called n factorial

n! = 1  2  3  … (n – 1)  n

Example 3.23

10! 10×9×8×7!
= =10×9×8=720
2! = 1  2 = 2 , 7! 7! , 0! = 1, 1!= 1

3. The symbol
(nr ) is defined for integers rand n such that 0  r  n.

Example 3.24
(nr )= r!(n−r
n!
)!

a)
(52 )= 5×4
1×2 =10
(
b)
)
7 7!
= =
4 4!3! 3×2×1
7×6×5
=35

c)
(n1 )= 1! (n-1n! ) ! = n×1! ((n−1 )!
n-1 ) !
=n

) ×( n−2 ) ! n ( n-1 )
d)
(n2 )= 2! ( n!n-2) ! = n×(n−1 2! ( n-2 ) !
=
1×2

e)
(n3) = 3! ( n!n-3 ) ! = n×( n−1 )×3!(n−2 ) !×( n−3 ) ! n ( n-1 )( n-2)
( n-3 ) !
=
1×2×3

4. The binomial expansion

(a + x)n = an+
(n1 ) an-1 x +
(n2 ) an-2 x2 +…+
(nr ) an-r xr +…+xn

can also be written in the form

n ( n−1 ) n ( n−1 ) ( n−2 )
(a + x) =a + na
n n n-1
x+ 1×2 a x + 1×2×3 an3x3 +…+xn
n-2 2

a) Note that the (r+1)th term in the expansion is

T r+1 = (nr ) an−1 1

x

BASIC CALCULUS ( FIS 1114) 21

 SEQUENCE AND SERIES TOPIC 3

b) In the special case where a = 1,

n( n−1 ) 2 n( n−1 )( n−2) 3
x x
(1+x)n = 1+nx 1×2 + 1×2×3 + … +xn

Example 3.25

Write down the first three terms in the expansion of the following.

( )
12
x
1+
a) 2 b)(2 – y )10
Solution

n ( n−1 ) x
−
a) Using the formula (1+x) = 1+ nx + 1×2 x + … and replacing x by 2 and n =12,
n 2

( ) ( )
12 2
1−
x
2 ( )
= 1 +12
−
x 12×11 − x
2 + 1×2 2 +…
33
+ x2
= 1 – 6x 2 +…

b) Using the formula (a+x)n = an +

(n1 ) (n2 )
an-1 x+ an -2 x2 +…and replacing a by 2, x by – y and n =
10,

(2 – y)10 = 210 +
(101 )
29 (y) +
(102 )
28 (y)2 + …
= 1024 – 5120y + 11 520y 2 + …

3.2.3 Binomial Expansion when n is not a positive integer.

1. When n is a positive integer,

n ( n−1 ) 2 n ( n−1 ) ( n−2 ) 3

x x
(1+x) = 1 + nx + 2!
n
+2! + … + xn

2. When n is not a positive integer, the expansion above is still true but the number of termsin
the series is infinite,

n ( n−1 ) 2 n ( n−1 ) ( n−2 ) 3

x x
(1+x) = 1 + nx + 2!
n
+2! + … and the series is convergent for 1 < x < 1.

3. The differences between this case and the expansion when the index is a positive integer are:

BASIC CALCULUS ( FIS 1114) 22

 SEQUENCE AND SERIES TOPIC 3

a) for positive integer n, the series

n ( n−1 ) 2 n ( n−1 ) ( n−2 ) 3

x x
1 + nx + 2! +2! + … ends at the term xn and the sum is (1+x)n for all values
of x.

b) For non – positive integers n, the series is infinite and converges when 1 < x < 1 with the
limit of the sum as (1+ x)n

Example 3.26

Find the first four term in the expansions of the following functions in ascending powers of x and
state the values of x for which the expansions are valid .
1

a) ( 1+ x )
4
b) √ 4−x
1
−2
c) √ 1−x d) ( 2+x )

Solution.
1
4
a) ( 1+ x )

1
=1+ x +
( 1
4 )(− )
3
4
x +
( 1
4 )(− )(− )
3
4
2
7
4
x +.. . 3
4 2! 3!
1 3 7 3
=1+ x + x 2 + x +...
= 4 32 128
The expansion is valid for |x|< , that is 1< x < 1

[ ( )]
1
x 2
4 1−
b) √ 4−x = 4

2 (1− )
1
x 2
= 4

[ ( )( )( )
]
1 1 3
1
−
1
( )( )
− −

=
1 x
2 1+ − +
2 4 ( )
2
2!
2 x 2 2
− +
4
2
3!
2 x 3
( )
− +...
4 ( )
=
(1
2 1− x−
8
1 2
128
x−
1
1024
x 3 +. .. )
The expansion is valid for |x|<1, that is 4 < x < 4.
BASIC CALCULUS ( FIS 1114) 23
 SEQUENCE AND SERIES TOPIC 3

1 1
−
c) √ 1−x = (1−x )
2

(− )(− )
1 3
(− )(− )( − )
1 3 5

=1+
(− ) (−x )+
1
2
2
2!
2
(−x ) +
2 2
3!
2 2
(−x ) +. .. 3

1 3 5 3
1 + x + x2+ x + .. .
= 2 8 16

The expansion is valid for |x|<1, that is 1 < x < 1.

[ ( )]
−2
−2 x
2 1+
d) ( 2+ x )−2 = 2

( )
−2
x
2−2 1+
2
=

=
1
4 [(
1+ (−2 ) +
2 2! ) +
2 3! () ()
x (−2 ) (−3 ) x 2 (−2 ) (−3 ) (−4 ) x 3
2
+. ..
]
=
1
4 ( 3 1
1− x + x 2 − x 3 + ...
4 2 )
x
| |
The expansion is valid for 2 <1, that is 2 < x < 2.

The following results are useful and should be noted.

(1+ x)1 = 1 – x + x2 – x3 + …

(1  x)1 = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + …

EXERCISE 3.6

1. Expand the following using Pascal’s triangle.

a) (1 + 2x)4
b) (1 – 3y)4
c) (2 + 3x)5
d) (3x + 2y2)6
2. Find the first four terms in the expansion of the following functions in ascending power of
x and state the values of x for which the expansion BASIC
are valid.
CALCULUS ( FIS 1114) 24
3
4
a) ( 1+ x )
1