Q:

What is the sum of the first 27 terms of the arithmetic sequence?-15,-11,-7,-3,..

Accepted Solution

A:
[tex]\bf -15~~,~~\stackrel{-15+4}{-11}~~,~~\stackrel{-11+4}{-7}~~,~~\stackrel{-7+4}{-3}~~~~,...\qquad \qquad \boxed{d=4} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ n^{th}\textit{ term of an arithmetic sequence} \\\\ a_n=a_1+(n-1)d\qquad \begin{cases} n=n^{th}\ term\\ a_1=\textit{first term's value}\\ d=\textit{common difference}\\[-0.5em] \hrulefill\\ d=4\\ a_1=-15\\ n=27 \end{cases} \\\\\\ a_{27}=-15+(27-1)4\implies a_{27}=-15+(26)4 \\\\\\ a_{27}=-15+104 \implies a_{27}=89[/tex][tex]\bf \rule{34em}{0.25pt}\\\\ \textit{ sum of a finite arithmetic sequence} \\\\ S_n=\cfrac{n(a_1+a_n)}{2}\qquad \begin{cases} n=n^{th}\ term\\ a_1=\textit{first term's value}\\[-0.5em] \hrulefill\\ n=27\\ a_1=-15\\ a_{27}=89 \end{cases} \\\\\\ S_{27}=\cfrac{27(a_1+a_{27})}{2}\implies S_{27}=\cfrac{27(-15+89)}{2}\implies S_{27}=\cfrac{27(74)}{2} \\\\[-0.35em] \rule{34em}{0.25pt}\\\\ ~\hfill S_{27}=999~\hfill[/tex]