11  

PRE-CALCULUS  

Learning Activity Sheet  

Quarter  1: Week 7 - 9  

Series, Sequence and Sigma
Notation

 
 Pre-Calculus
Name of Learner: _________________ Grade Level: 11
Section: ________________________ Score: ___________

Learning Activity Sheet

Series, Sequence and Sigma Notation
Background Information:
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 finite, 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.

A sequence is a list of numbers (separated by commas), while a series is a sum of

numbers (separated by “+” or “-” sign).

Example 1:
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
, − , , − is a sequence; − + − =− is its associated series.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"

The sequence with nth term 𝑎! is usually denoted by {𝑎! }, and the associated series
is given by S = 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! + ··· +𝑎! .

Example 2. Determine the first five terms of each defined sequence and give their
associated series.
!
1. {n2 + 1} 3.
!!
2. {1 + 2n + 3n2) 4. {1+2+3+…+n}

Solution. We denote the nth term of a sequence by an, and S = 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! +𝑎! + 𝑎! .

1. 𝑎! = n2 + 1
First five terms:
𝑎! = (1)2 + 1 = 2, 𝑎! = (2)2 + 1 = 5, 𝑎! = 10, 𝑎! = 17, 𝑎! = 26
Associated series: S = 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! +𝑎! + 𝑎! = 2 + 5 + 10 +17 + 26 = 60

2. {1 + 2n + 3n2)
First five terms: 𝑎! =1 + (2 ● 1) + (3 ● 12 = 6, 𝑎! = 17, 𝑎! = 34, 𝑎! = 57, 𝑎! = 86
Associated series: S = 6 + 17 + 34 + 57 + 86 = 200

!
3.
!!
! ! ! ! ! !
First five terms: 𝑎! = = 1, 𝑎! = = , 𝑎! = , 𝑎! = , 𝑎! =
(!)! (!)! ! ! !" !"
! ! ! ! !"#$
Associated series: S = 1 + + + + =
! ! !" !" !"##

4. {1+2+3+…+n}
First five terms:
𝑎! = 1, 𝑎! = 1+2 = 3, 𝑎! = 1+2+3 = 6, 𝑎! = 1+2+3+4 =10, 𝑎! = 1+2+3+4+5 = 15
 Associated series: S = 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 = 35
An arithmetic sequence is 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 𝑎! and the common difference is d, then 𝑎! = 𝑎! + (n - 1)d. The
!(!!  !  !! ) ![!!!  !  (!  !  !)!]
associated arithmetic series with n terms is given by 𝑆! = =
! !

A geometric sequence is 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 a
geometric sequence is 𝑎! and the common ratio is r, then 𝑎! = 𝑎! rn-1

The associated geometric series with n terms is given by:

n𝑎! if r = 1
𝑆! =  
!! (!!! ! )
if r ≠ 1
(!!!)

When -1 < r < 1, the infinite geometric series a1 + a1r + a1𝑟 ! + ··· + a1r n-1 + ··· has a
!
sum, and is given by S = !
!!!
!
If {𝑎! } is an arithmetic sequence, then the sequence with nth term 𝑏! = is a
!!
harmonic sequence.
The use of sigma notation is to denote a sum. The Greek letter Σ (sigma) is used to
indicate a sum. Let f(i) be an expression involving an integer i. The expression f(m) + f(m +
1) + f(m + 2) + . . . + f(n) can be compactly written in sigma notation, and we write it as
!

𝑓(𝑖)
!!!
Which is read “the summation of f(i) from i = m to n”. Here m and n are integers with m < n,
f(i) is a term (or summand) of the summation, and letter i is the index, m is the lower bound
and n is the upper bound.

Example 3: Expand the following summations. Then, simplify the answers if possible.

! !
!
1. !(𝑖 ! + 3) 2. ! 23.! ! 𝑎!
!!! !!!
!!!

Solutions:
!

1. !(𝑖 ! + 3) = (12 + 3) + (22 + 3) + (32 + 3) + (42 + 3) = 4 + 7 +12 + 19 = 42

!!!

2. ! 2!
= 2! + 2! + 2! + 2! + 2! + 2! = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 = 63
!!!

3. ! 𝑎!
= 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! + . . . + 𝑎!
!!!
Example 3: Write each of the following expressions into a sigma notation.
1. 1+ 4 + 9 + 16 + . . . + 100
! ! ! !
2. 1 + + + +...
! ! ! !""
3. -1 + 2 – 3 + 4 – 5 + 6 + . . . – 25
4. 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! + . . . 𝑎!"

Solutions: !"

1. 1+ 4 + 9 + 16 + . . . + 100 = ! 𝑖!
!!!

!""
1
!
! ! ! ! 𝑛
2. 1 + + + +... = !!!
! ! ! !""

3. -1 + 2 – 3 + 4 – 5 + 6 +. . . – 25 !"
𝑗
= (-1)1 1 + (-1)2 2 + (-1)3 3 + (-1)4 4 + (-1)5 5 + (-1)6 6 + . . . (-1)25 25 = !(−1) 𝑗
!!!

4. 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! + 𝑎! + . . . 𝑎!" !"

= 𝑎!(!) + 𝑎!(!) + 𝑎!(!) + 𝑎!(!) + . . . 𝑎!(!") =   ! 𝑎2𝑖)

!!!

Learning Competency with code

• Illustrate a series (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-1);
• Differentiate a series from a sequence (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-2);
• Use the sigma notation to represent a series (STEM_PC11SMI-Ih-3); and
• Apply the use of sigma notation in finding sums (No code given).

Activity 1. Write SEQ if the given item is a sequence and write SER if it is a series. Write the
correct answer on the space provided.
_____1. 1, 2, 4, 8,...
_____2. -1 + 1 – 1 + 1 – 1
! ! ! !
_____3. , , , ,...
! ! ! !
_____4. 1 + 2 + 22 + 23 + 24
_____5. 1+ 0.1 + 0.001 + 0.0001

Activity 2. Determine the first five terms of each defined sequence and give their associated
series.
2
1. {1 + n-n }
First five terms:_______________________________________________________
Associated Series:____________________________________________________

2. {1-(-1)n+1}
First five terms:______________________________________________________
 Associated Series:____________________________________________________

3. a1 = 3 and an = 2an-1 + 3 for n≥2

First five terms:______________________________________________________
Associated Series:___________________________________________________

4. {1 · 2 · 3 ··· n}
First five terms:______________________________________________________
Associated Series:____________________________________________________

Activity 3. Identify the series and determine the sum if possible

1. 4 + 9 + 14 + . . . + 64 Type of Series: ________________ Sum: _________
!
2. 81 + 27 + 9 + . . . Type of Series: ________________ Sum: _________
!"
3. -10 -2 + 6 + . . . + 46 Type of Series: ________________ Sum: _________
4. 10 + 2 + 0.4 + 0.08 + . . . Type of Series: ________________ Sum: _________
5. 1 – 0.1 + 0.01 – 0.001 + . . . Type of Series: ________________ Sum: _________

Activity 4. Expand each summation and simplify if possible.

!

1. 2 − 3j
!!!!

2. 𝑥!
!!!

3. (𝑎 ! − a)
!!!

4. !(−1)!!!  𝑖
!!!

5. !(a!!! − 𝑎! )
!!!

Activity 5. Write each expression in sigma notation. Write your final answer on the space
provided

________________1. x + 2x2 + 3x3 + 4x4 + 5x5

________________2. 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + . . . 101

________________3. a4 + a8 + a12 + a16

! ! ! !
________________4. 1 – + – +
! ! ! !
________________5. 1 - 2 + 3 - 4 + 5 - 6 + . . . - 10

Reflection:

Put a tick (/) mark in the box which corresponds to how well you learned the lesson.

Question Agree Somewhat Need

Agree extra
help
1. I learned to illustrate a series
2. I learned to differentiate sequence and series
3. I leaned to identify the series given the expression and
determine the sum if possible
4. I learned to expand sigma notation
5. I learned to write an expression in sigma notation

References:
Pre-Calculus (Commission on Higher Education, 2016). Accessed on August 29, 2020.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B869YF0KEHr7S0hVajRIaWtCemc/view
"Sequences and Series". Accessed on August 29, 2020.

https://sites.google.com/a/nhcs.net/precalculus/unit-3---sequences-and-series  

Answer Key

Activity 1.
1. SEQ 2. SER 3. SEQ 4. SER 5. SER

Activity 2.

2
1. {1 + n-n }
Answer: a1 = 1, a2 = - 1, a3 = - 5, a4 = -11, a5 = -19
Associated series: 1 – 1 – 5 – 11 - 19 = - 35

n+1
2. {1-(-1) }
Answer: a1 = 0, a2 = 2, a3 = 0, a4 = 2, a5 = 0
Associated series: 0 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 4

3. a1 = 3 and an = 2an-1 + 3 for n≥2

Answer: a1 = 3, a2 = 9, a3 = 21, a4 = 45, a5 = 93
Associated series: 1-1-5-11-19 =-35

4. {1 · 2 · 3 ··· n}
Answer: a1 = 1, a2 = 1 · 2 = 2, a3 = 1 · 2 · 3 = 6, a4 = 24, a5 = 120
Associated series: 1 + 2 + 6 + 24 + 120 = 153

Activity 3
1. Arithmetic, 442 4. Infinite Geometric, 12.5
!"#$ !"
2. Geometric, 5. Infinite Geometric,
!" !!
 3. Arithmetic,144

Activity 4
1. -28 4.-2
2. x + x2 + x3 + . . . xn 5. a4 –a1
3. 68

Activity 5.
!

1. k𝑥 !
!!!

!"

2. 2k + 1
!!!

3. ! a!!
!!!

 
!
(−1)!
4. !
2𝑘 + 1
!!!

!"
!!!
5. [ −1 n]
!!!

Prepared:

JOSEL L. DIZON
SHS T - III
Angeles City Senior High School