The sum of the first n terms of an AP is . Find the nth term and the 20th term of this AP.
Let an be the nth term of the AP.
To find: an and a20
Since, an =Sn - Sn - 1
= ( ) - (
)
= 1/2 (5n2 + 3n) - 1/2 [5(n - 1)2 + 3(n - 1)]
= 1/2 (5n2 + 3n - 5n2 - 5 + 10n - 3n + 3)
= 1/2 (10n - 2)
= 5n - 1
Since an = 5n - 1
∴ For 20th term, put n = 20, we get,
a20 = 5(20) - 1
= 100 - 1
= 99