Understanding a sequence can be tricky. It can be confusing for students when they see too many complex ideas all at once.

Many students find it hard to connect different terms and see how they fit into formulas.

Let’s break it down:

1. Arithmetic Series: Getting to the formula $S_n = \frac{n}{2} (a_1 + a_n)$ can be tough. It's even harder when you don’t have a picture to help explain it.

2. Geometric Series: The formula $S_n = a_1 \frac{1 - r^n}{1 - r}$ can seem really abstract. It might feel like it doesn’t have any connection to what you’re learning.

But there’s good news! Using diagrams or graphs to show these sequences can make everything clearer.

These visuals can help you see the patterns and connections, making it much easier to understand how the formulas work.