Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: Concepts & Applications (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32184-874-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-32184-874-1

Chapter 14 - Sequences, Series, and the Binomial Theorem - 14.2 Arithmetic Sequences and Series - 14.2 Exercise Set - Page 903: 57

Answer

See proof

Work Step by Step

In order to explain why $S_{n}$ of an integer arithmetic sequence is an integer we should rewrite $S_{n}=\dfrac{a_1+a_n}{2}n$ as $S_{n}=\dfrac{a_1+a_1+d(n-1)}{2}n$, because $a_n=a_1+d(n-1)$. Now $S_n=\dfrac{2a_1+d(n-1)}{2}n=\dfrac{2a_1}{2}n+\dfrac{n(n-1)}{2}.$ $S_n=a_1n+\dfrac{n(n-1)}{2}$ The first term is obviously an integer, because $a_1$ is and integer and $n$ is always an integer. Second term is integer too, because one of the $n$ and $n-1$ must be an even number and therefore divisible by two. So $S_n$ is the sum of two integers and therefore is integer itself.
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