# Arithmetic Series

An $\textit{arithmetic series}$ is the sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence. For example:
• $4, 7, 10, 13, \cdots,61$ is a finite arithmetic sequence.
• $4+7+10+13+ \cdots +61$ is the corresponding arithmetic series.

Arithmetic Series

## Sum of a Finite Arithmetic Series

If the first term is $u_{1}$ and the common difference is $d$, the terms are: $$u_{1},u_{1}+d,u_{1}+2d,u_{1}+3d,\cdots$$ \begin{align} \displaystyle \require{color} u_{1} &= u_{1} \\ u_{2} &= u_{1} + d \\ u_{3} &= u_{1} + 2d \\ &\vdots \\ u_{n-2} &= u_{n} - 2d \\ u_{n-1} &= u_{n} - d \\ u_{n} &= u_{n} \\ S_{n} &= u_{1} + (u_{1}+d) + (u_{1}+2d) + \cdots + (u_{n}-2d) + (u_{n}-d) + u_{n} \\ S_{n} &= u_{n} + (u_{n}-d) + (u_{n}-2d) + \cdots + (u_{1}+2d) + (u_{1}+d) + u_{1} \color{red}\text{ reversing} \\ 2S_{n} &= \overbrace{(u_{1}+u_{n})+(u_{1}+u_{n})+(u_{1}+u_{n})+ \cdots + (u_{1}+u_{n})+(u_{1}+u_{n})+(u_{1}+u_{n})}^{n} \color{red}\text{ adding these}\\ 2S_{n} &= n(u_{1}+u_{n}) \\ \therefore S_{n} &= \dfrac{n}{2}(u_{1}+u_{n}) \\ S_{n} &= \dfrac{n}{2}[u_{1}+u_{1}+(n-1)d] \ \color{red}u_{n}=u_{1}+(n-1)d\\ \therefore S_{n} &= \dfrac{n}{2}[2u_{1}+(n-1)d] \\ \end{align}

If we know the first term $u_{1}$, the common difference $d$ and the number of terms $n$ that we wish to add together, we can calculate the sum directly without having to add up all the individual terms.

It is worthwhile also to note that $S_{n+1} = S_{n} + u_{n+1}$. This tells us that the next term in the series $S_{n+1}$ is the present sum, $S_{n}$, plus the next term in the sequence, $u_{n+1}$. This result is useful in spreadsheets where one column gives the sequence and an adjacent column is used to give the series.

### Example 1

Find the sum of $3+5+7+ \cdots$ to $60$ terms.

### Example 2

Find the sum of $5+8+11+ \cdots +599$.