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Key Concepts

12.1 Sequences

  • Factorial Notation
    If n is a positive integer, then n!n! is
    n!=n(n−1)(n−2)…(3)(2)(1).n!=n(n−1)(n−2)…(3)(2)(1).

    We define 0!0! as 1, so 0!=10!=1
  • Summation Notation
    The sum of the first n terms of a sequence whose nth term anan is written in summation notation as:
    ∑i=1nai=a1+a2+a3+a4+a5+…+an∑i=1nai=a1+a2+a3+a4+a5+…+an

    The i is the index of summation and the 1 tells us where to start and the n tells us where to end.

12.2 Arithmetic Sequences

  • General Term (nth term) of an Arithmetic Sequence
    The general term of an arithmetic sequence with first term a1a1 and the common difference d is
    an=a1+(n−1)dan=a1+(n−1)d
  • Sum of the First n Terms of an Arithmetic Sequence
    The sum, Sn,Sn, of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence, where a1a1 is the first term and anan is the nth term is
    Sn=n2(a1+an)Sn=n2(a1+an)

12.3 Geometric Sequences and Series

  • General Term (nth term) of a Geometric Sequence: The general term of a geometric sequence with first term a1a1 and the common ratio r is
    an=a1rn−1an=a1rn−1
  • Sum of the First n Terms of a Geometric Series: The sum, Sn,Sn, of the n terms of a geometric sequence is
    Sn=a1(1−rn)1−rSn=a1(1−rn)1−r

    where a1a1 is the first term and r is the common ratio.
  • Infinite Geometric Series: An infinite geometric series is an infinite sum whose first term is a1a1 and common ratio is r and is written
    a1+a1r+a1r2+…+a1rn−1+…a1+a1r+a1r2+…+a1rn−1+…
  • Sum of an Infinite Geometric Series: For an infinite geometric series whose first term is a1a1 and common ratio r,
    If|r|<1,the sum is S=a11−r We say the series converges. If|r|≥1,the infinite geometric series does not have a sum. We say the series diverges.If|r|<1,the sum is S=a11−r We say the series converges. If|r|≥1,the infinite geometric series does not have a sum. We say the series diverges.
  • Value of an Annuity with Interest Compounded nn Times a Year: For a principal, P, invested at the end of a compounding period, with an interest rate, r, which is compounded n times a year, the new balance, A, after t years, is
    At=P((1+rn)nt−1)rnAt=P((1+rn)nt−1)rn

12.4 Binomial Theorem

  • Patterns in the expansion of (a+b)n(a+b)n
    • The number of terms is n+1.n+1.
    • The first term is anan and the last term is bn.bn.
    • The exponents on a decrease by one on each term going left to right.
    • The exponents on b increase by one on each term going left to right.
    • The sum of the exponents on any term is n.
  • Pascal’s Triangle
  • Binomial Coefficient (nr)(nr) : A binomial coefficient (nr),(nr), where r and n are integers with 0≤r≤n,0≤r≤n, is defined as
    (nr)=n!r!(n−r)!(nr)=n!r!(n−r)!

    We read (nr)(nr) as “n choose r” or “n taken r at a time”.
  • Properties of Binomial Coefficients
    (n1)=n(nn)=1(n0)=1 (n1)=n(nn)=1(n0)=1
  • Binomial Theorem: For any real numbers a, b, and positive integer n,
    (a+b)n=(n0)an+(n1)an−1b1+(n2)an−2b2+...+(nr)an−rbr+...+(nn)bn(a+b)n=(n0)an+(n1)an−1b1+(n2)an−2b2+...+(nr)an−rbr+...+(nn)bn
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