Given, nth term of the series, an = 3 – 4n
Put n = 1, a1 = 3 - 4 (1) = 3 - 4 = -1
Put n = 2, a2 = 3 - 4 (2) = 3 - 8 = -5
Put n = 3, a3 = 3 - 4 (3) = 3 - 12 = -9
Put n = 4, a4 = 3 - 4 (4) = 3 - 16 = -13
We see that,
a2−a1=−5−(−1)=−5+1=−4
a3−a2=−9−(−5)=−9+5=−4
a4−a3=−13−(−9)=−13+9=−4
a2−a1=a3−a2=a4−a3=⋯=−4
Since, the each successive term of the series has the same difference, it forms an AP.
We know that, sum of n terms of an AP, Sn=n2[2a+(n−1)d]
∴ Sum of 20 terms of the AP, S20=202[2(−1)+(20−1)(−4)]
= 10 (-2 + (19)(-4)) = 10 (- 2 - 76)
= 10 × -78 = - 780