Sequences 1
11th Grade Maths
Week 5 – Lesson 1
• Finding a general formula for
the nth term of an arithmetic
sequence
Agenda
• Determine whether a particular
number is a term of a given
arithmetic sequence
• Worksheet
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• Sequence – A set of numbers that follows a definite pattern.
• Term – Each number in a sequence.
• Consecutive Terms – Terms that are next to each other.
Definitions • Common Difference (d) – is when the difference between
each pair of consecutive terms are the same.
• Arithmetic Sequence – is a sequence where the difference
between consecutive terms are the same.
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Key Words
A list of numbers is a sequence. Each number is called a term.
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, ...
1st term 6th term
Terms next to each other are consecutive terms.
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nth term
Term: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Consider the sequence, 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8,...
• What is the 3rd term? 24
• What is the 6th term? 12
• What is the 9th term? 0
Term: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Consider the sequence, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21....
• What is the 5th term? 5
• What is the 7th term? 13
• What is the 9th term? 34 5
Sequence given by a formula
Sometimes the sequence is given by a formula
When a sequence is given by a formula, any term can be worked out
Example: Find the first two terms and the 10th term of the following
sequence nth term = 4n-2
• Substituting to find the 1st term = 4(1) - 2 = 2
• Substituting to find the 2nd term = 4(2) - 2 = 6
• Substituting to find the 10th term = 4(10) - 2 = 38
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Arithmetic Sequence
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Arithmetic Sequence
An Arithmetic Sequence is a sequence where the difference d between
consecutive terms are the same.
All have the form: xn = dn + x0 where: Examples:
Sequence Formulae
• d is the constant difference 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 xn= 2n + 2
• x0 is the term that would come before the first 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12 xn= -4n + 36
term – called zero term 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 xn= 4n
Question: what is the link in between x0, x1 and d?
Substitute n=1 in xn = dn + x0
= > x1 = d + x0
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=> d = x1 - x0 or x0 = x1 - d = > We can also write: xn = dn + (x1 – d) = x1 + (n-1)d
Arithmetic Sequence
An Arithmetic Sequence is a sequence where the difference between
consecutive terms are the same.
Key points
• Common Difference (d)
• First term (x1) or Zero term (x0)
• nth term: • xn = x0 + nd
• xn = x1 + (n-1)d since x1 = x0 + d
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To work out the rule for the nth term of an Arithmetic Sequence: xn = x0 + nd
6, 11, 16, 21, 26…
nth term = 5n + 1
+5 +5 +5 +5
Step 1: Find the Common Difference (d)
Step 2: Observe how much our table is shifted (x0)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
+1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
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To work out the rule for the nth -> xn = x1 + (n-1)d
term of an Arithmatic Sequence
→ xn = x0 + nd
3, 7, 11, 15, 19…
nth term = 4(n-1) + 3
+4 +4 +4 +4 = 4n - 1
Step 1: Find the common difference (d)
Step 2: Identify the Starting Term (x1)
Optional Step 3: Work out the Zero term (x0)
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4, 9, 14, 19, 24… -> xn = x1 + (n-1)d
→ xn = x0 + nd
First term (x1): 4
Common Difference (d): 5
Zero term (x0): -1
nth term (xn): 5n - 1
10th term (x10): 5(10) - 1 = 49
100th term (x100):5(100) - 1 = 499
Which term has a value of 64? 64 = 5n - 1
65 = 5n
n = 13 12
Book Practice - Activity 4 P49
Look at this pattern:
t=1 t=2 t=3
• For t =1 how many lines do we need?
• For t = 2?
• Etc.
t= 4 t=5
Fill in the table and answers to the questions:
triangles 1 2 3 4 • First term (x1): 3
• Common Difference (x1): 2
lines 3 5 7 9
• Zero term (x0): 1
• nth term (xn): 2n + 1
How many lines will we need to make 100 triangles? 2(100) + 1 = 201 lines
How many triangles can we make with 257 lines? 257 = 2(n) + 1 13
256=2n => n= 128 triangles
Book Practice – Ex 5 Q12 P55
Formula for an Arithmetic Sequence xn = x0 + nd or xn = x1 + (n-1)d
In 6 years, There are 52*6 = 312 weeks
x1=5, d=0.10 and we start from Week 0
⇒ 𝑥312 = 5 + 312 − 1 ⋅ 0.1 = $36.1
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Practice Ex 5* Q10 P56
Formula for an Arithmetic Sequence xn = x0 + nd or xn = x1 + (n-1)d
x1 =10, d=10 => xn=10+10(n-1)
xn = 67 000 => 10+10(n-1)=67 000=> n=67 000/10=6700
=> It will take Casper 6700 days.
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Practice Ex 5* Q11 P56
Formula for an Arithmetic Sequence xn = x0 + nd or xn = x1 + (n-1)d
x1= 3, d = 5 => xn=3+5(n-1)
xn= 5000 => 3+5(n-1)=5000=> n=(5000+2)/5=1000.4
=> Amanda’s inbox will reach its limit after 1001 days,
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