Use the Formula for an Arithmetic Series

At the last stop on our journey, we will learn the basic properties of an arithmetic series. We will also learn how to use standard notations to express series.

Series and Their Notations

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will:

  • Use summation notation.
  • Use the formula for the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic series.
  • Use the formula for the sum of the first n terms of a geometric series.
  • Use the formula for the sum of an infinite geometric series.
  • Solve annuity problems.

A couple decides to start a college fund for their daughter. They plan to invest $50 in the fund each month. The fund pays 6% annual interest, compounded monthly. How much money will they have saved when their daughter is ready to start college in 6 years? In this section, we will learn how to answer this question. To do so, we need to consider the amount of money invested and the amount of interest earned.

Source: Rice University, https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra/pages/9-4-series-and-their-notations
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