Module 1 - Searching For Patterns, Sequence and Series
Module 1 - Searching For Patterns, Sequence and Series
Module 1 - Searching For Patterns, Sequence and Series
This module will teach you how to deal with a lot of number patterns. These
number patterns are called sequences. Go over the lessons and have fun in working
with the exercises.
It is expected that you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill related
to sequences and apply these in solving problems. Specifically, you should be able
to:
a) list the next few terms of a sequence given several consecutive terms.
b) derive by pattern searching, a mathematical expression (rule) for
generating the sequences.
c) generate the next few terms of sequences defined recursively.
d) describe an arithmetic sequence by any of the following:
C. Find the general term, an, for the given terms of the sequence.
1 1 1
7. 4, 8, 12, 16,… 9. , , ,...
2 6 12
8. -10, -20, -30, -40,…
a n 1
10. a1= -1, an = 3an – 1 11. a1 = 5, an =
n 1
E. Find the common difference and the next three terms of the given
arithmetic sequence.
Lesson 1
arranged from left to right in the order of increasing time. Continuing the set we have
2
Any such ordered arrangement of a set of numbers is called a SEQUENCE.
Year 1 2 3 4
Total amount 10 20 30 40
The list of numbers 10, 20, 30, 40 is called a sequence. The list 10,20,30,40
is ordered because the position in this list indicates the year in which that total
amount of interest is earned.
In general:
A sequence is a set of numbers written in a specific order:
The number a1 is called the 1st term, a2 is the 2nd term, and in general, an is the nth
term. Note that each term of the sequence is paired with a natural number.
Given at least the first 3 terms of a sequence, you can easily find the next term
in that sequence by simply discovering a pattern as to how the 3 rd term is derived
from the 2nd term, and the 2nd from the 1st term. You will find that either a constant
3
number is added or subtracted or multiplied or divided to get the next term or a
certain series of operations is performed to get the next term. This may seem hard at
first but with practice and patience in getting them, you will find that it’s very exciting.
Examples:
Solutions:
1. Notice that 5 is added to 17 to get 22, the same is added to 22 to get 27, and
the same (5) is added to 27 to get 32. So to get the next term add 5 to the
preceding term, that is, 32 + 5 = 37. The next term is 37.
2. Notice that 1 is the numerator of all the fractions in the sequence while the
denominators- 2, 5, 8, 11 form a sequence. 3 is added to 2 to get 5, 3 is also
added to 5 to get 8. So that 3 is added to 11 to get 14. The next term is
therefore 1/14.
4. It is easy to just say that the next term is 3 since the terms in the sequence is
alternately positive and negative 3. Actually the first, second, and third terms
were multiplied by -1 to get the second, third and fourth terms respectively.
Find the next number in the sequences and exchange it for the letter which
corresponds each sequence with numbers inside the box to decode the answer to
the puzzle.
5
24 14 13 10 19 17 44 52 47 26 26 48 25
Lesson 2
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ….
each term is paired with a natural number by the rule a n = 2n. Hence the sequence
can be written as
2, 4, 6, 8,… 2n,…
6
1st term 2nd term 3rd term 4th term nth term
a1 a2 a3 a4 an
Notice how the formula an = 2n gives all the terms of the sequence. For
instance, substituting 1, 2, 3, and 4 for n gives the 1 st four terms:
a1 = 2(1) = 2 a3 = 2(3) = 6
a2 = 2(2) = 4 a4 = 2(4) = 8
To find the 103rd term of this sequence, use n=103 to get a103 = 2(103) = 206.
Examples:
1. Find the 1st four terms of the sequence whose general term is given by
an = 2n – 1.
Solution:
To find the first, second, third and fourth terms of this sequence, simply
substitute 1, 2, 3, 4 for n in the formula an = 2n-1.
The 1st four terms of this sequence are the odd numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7. The
whole sequence can be written as
1, 3, 5, …, 2n – 1
Since each term in this sequence is larger than the preceding term, we say
that the sequence is an increasing sequence.
1
2. Write the 1st 4 terms of the sequence defined by an = .
n 1
Solution:
7
1 1
1st term = a1 = =
11 2
1 1
2nd term = a2 = =
2 1 3
1 1
3rd term = a3 = =
31 4
1 1
4th term = a4 = =
4 1 5
1
The sequence defined by an = can be written as
n 1
1 1 1 1 1
, , , , ……,
2 3 4 5 n 1
Since each term in the sequence is smaller than the term preceding it, the
sequence is said to be a decreasing sequence.
(1) n
3. Find the 1st 5 terms of the sequence defined by an = .
2n
Solution:
(1) 1 1
1st term = a1 = =-
21 2
(1) 2 1
2nd term = a2 = =
22 4
(1) 3 1
3rd term = a3 = =-
23 8
(1) 4 1
4th term = a4 = =
24 16
(1) 5 1
5th term = a5 = =-
25 32
(1) n
The sequence defined by an = can be written as
2n
8
1 1 1 1 1 (1) n
- , ,- , ,- ,…,
2 4 8 16 32 2n
Notice that the presence of (-1) in the sequence has the effect of making
successive terms alternately negative and positive.
It is often useful to picture a sequence by sketching its graph w/ the n values
as the x- coordinates and the an values as the y- coordinates.
Example 1
8
7
6
5
4
a
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Example 2
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
a
n
0.2
0.1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
9
Example 3
0.4
0.2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
a
n
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
n
You can also find a specific term, given a rule for the sequence, as seen in the
following example.
4. Find the 13th and 100th terms of the sequence whose general term is
given by
( 1) n
An =
n2
Solution: For the 13th term, replace n with 13 and for the 100 th term, replace n w/
100:
(1) 13 1
13th term = a13 = =
13 2 169
100
(1) 1
100th term = a100 = =
100 2 10000
A. Write the 1st 4 terms of the sequence whose nth term is given by the formula.
1. an = n + 1 2. an = 2 – 2n
3. an = n - 1 4. an = 2 n
5. an = 2n + 1 6. an = n² + 1
n
7. an = 3n - 1 8. an =
n 1
1
9. an = 1 - 2n 10. an = n –
n
11. an = 3n 12. an = (-1) n+1 n
10
13. an = n² - 1 14. an = (-1) n 2 n
1 n2 1
15. an = n² - 16. an =
n n
( 1) n 1 (1) n 1
17. an = 18. an =
n 1 n2 1
n 1
1 1
19. an = 2 20. an = n³ + 1
3 3
B. Find the indicated term of the sequence whose nth term is given by the formula.
22. an = 3n + 4 a12
23. an= n(n -1) a11
24. an= (-1) n - 1 n² a15
1 n
25. an= ( ) a8
2
26. an = 2n - 5 a10
n
27. an = a12
n 1
28. an = (-1) n - 1 (n - 1) a25
2 n
29. an = ( ) a5
3
30. an = (n + 2)(n + 3) a17
31. an = (n + 4)(n + 1) a7
( 1) 2 n 1
32. an = a6
n2
( 1) 2 n
33. an = a16
n4
3
34. an = n² - 2 a8
2
1
35. an = n + n² a6
3
Lesson 3
11
Finding the nth Term of a Sequence
In Lesson 2, some terms of a sequence were found after being given the
general term. In this lesson, the reverse is done. That is, given some terms of the
sequence, try to find the formula for the general term.
Examples:
1. Find a formula for the nth term of the sequence 2, 8, 18, 32,…
Solution:
Solving a problem like this involve some guessing. Looking over the first 4
terms, see that each is twice a perfect square:
2 = 2(1)
8 = 2(4)
18 = 2(9)
32 = 2(16)
By writing each sequence with an exponent of 2, the formula for the nth term
becomes obvious:
a1 = 2 = 2(1)²
a2 = 8 = 2(2)²
a3 = 18 = 2(3)²
a4 = 32 = 2(4)²
.
.
.
an = 2(n)² = 2n²
3 4 5
2. Find the general term for the sequence 2, , , ,….
8 27 14
Solution:
2
The first term can be written as . The denominators are all perfect cubes
1
while the numerators are all 1 more than the base of the cubes of the
denominators:
11
a1 = 2/1 = 3
1
12
2 1
a2 = 3/8 =
23
31
a3 = 4/27 =
32
4 1
a4 = 5/64 =
43
n 1
Observing this pattern, recognize the general term to be a n =
n3
3. Find the nth term of a sequence whose first several terms are given
1 3 5 7
, , , ,...
2 4 6 8
Solution:
Notice that the numerators of these fractions are the odd numbers and
the denominators are the even numbers. Even numbers are in the form
usually written in the form 2n, and odd numbers are written in the form 2n – 1
(an odd number differs form an even number by 1). So, a sequence that
2n 1
has these numbers for its first four terms is given by an = .
2n
4. Find the nth term of a sequence whose first several terms are given
-2, 4, -8, 16, -32,…
Solution:
Note: Finding the nth term of a sequence from the 1 st few terms is not always
automatic. That is, it sometimes takes a while to recognize the pattern. Don’t
be afraid to guess the formula for the general term. Many times an incorrect
guess leads to the correct formula.
Some pointers on how to find the general term of a sequence is given below.
13
Pointers on How to Find the General Term of a Sequence
1. Study each term of the sequence as it compares to its term number. Then
answer the following questions:
Also, though not all sequences can be defined by a formula, like for the
sequence of prime numbers, be assured that the sequences discussed or given here
are all obvious sequences that one can find a formula or rule for them.
14
10. The sequence for which a1 is 3 and each term is 10 less than the
preceding term.
Lesson 4
Some sequences do not have simple defining formulas like those in Lesson 3.
The nth term of a sequence may depend on some or all of the terms preceding it. A
sequence defined in this way is called recursive.
One has to be sure that the notations: a n and an – 1 is understood first before
going to the examples below. To illustrate: if the 24 th term is an, then it can be written
as a24. So that an – 1 means a24 – 1 = a23 or the 23rd term.
Examples:
Solution:
The defining formula asks that the preceding term, a n – 1, be identified first
before one can get the nth term, a n. Thus, one can find the second term from the
first term, the third term from the second term, the fourth term from the third term,
and so on. Since the first term is given as a1 = 1, proceed as follows:
a2 = 3(a1 + 2) = 3(1 + 2) = 9
15
a3 = 3(a2 + 2) = 3(9 + 2) = 33
a4 = 3(a3 + 2) = 3(33 + 2) = 105
a5 = 3(a4 + 2) = 3(105 + 2) = 321
Solution:
To find Fn, the preceding terms, Fn – 1 and Fn – 2 have to be found first. Since
the first two terms are given, then
F3 = F2 + F1 = 1 + 1 = 2
F4 = F3 + F2 = 2 + 1 = 3
F5 = F4 + F3 = 3 + 2 = 5
5
The Fibonacci sequence
In the branching of a tree 3
16
3. Find the 120th term of the sequence defined by an = 2n + 3.
Solution:
Notice that the 120th term from the example above is found without finding first
the preceding term, that is, the 119th term! Whereas with the recursively defined
sequence one has to find all the terms preceding the required term,
a n 1
4. Find the 4th term of the recursively defined sequence an = where a1 = -3.
2
Solution:
First term = a1 = -3
a 21 a 3
Second term = a2 = = 1 =
2 2 2
3
a a 3
Third term = a3 = 31 = 2 = 2 =
2 2 4
2
3
a 41 a 3 3
Fourth term = a4 = = = 4 =
2 2 8
2
3
The fourth term is - .
8
Find the first five terms of the given recursively defined sequences:
1. an = 2(an – 1 – 2) and a1 = 3
a
2. an = n 1 and a1 = -8
2
3. an = 2an – 1 + 1 and a1 = 1
1
4. an = 1 a and a1 = 1
n 1
5. an = an – 1 + an – 2 and a1 = 1, a2 = 2
6. an = an – 1 + an – 2 + an – 3 and a1 = a2 = a3 = 1
17
Lesson 5
Arithmetic Sequences
There are two main types of sequences. These are the arithmetic sequences
and the geometric sequences. This lesson will show what arithmetic sequences are.
The more detailed lesson on arithmetic sequences will be discussed in the next
module.
1. 4, 7, 10, 13,…
2. 33, 38, 43, 48,…
3. -2, -6, -10, -14,…
4. 100, 98, 96, 94,…
1 1
5. , 1, 1 , 2, …
2 2
Can you give the next two terms of the above sequences? How did you get
the next terms?
If you get 16 and 19 for a, then you are correct. Notice that a constant
number , 3, is added to each term to get the next term. In b, 5 is added to the
preceding term after the first, while in c, -4 is added to get the next term, in d, -2 is
added to the preceding term and in e, ½ is added to get the next term.
To find the common difference, d, simply subtract the first term from the
second term, a2 – a1, or the second term from the third term, a 3 – a2, or the third term
from the fourth term, a4 – a3; or in general,
d = a n – an – 1
Examples:
d = a2 – a1 = -4 – (-11) = 7
= a3 – a2 = 3 – (-4) = 7
= a4 – a3 = 10 – 3 = 7
a5 = a4 + 7 = 10 + 7 = 17
a6 = a5 + 7 = 17 + 7 = 24
a7 = a6 + 7 = 24 + 7 = 31
Example 1
40
30
20
10
an
0
0 2 4 6 8
-10
-20
n
2. Write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence with first term 5 and
common difference -2.
Solution:
The second term is found by adding -2 to the first term 5, getting 3. For the
next term, add -2 to 3, and so on. The first five terms are
5, 3, 1, -1, -3.
Remark: There is another way of finding the specified term of an arithmetic sequence
but it will be discussed in the next module. The same thing is true for the general
term of any arithmetic sequence.
1. 2, 5, 8, 11,…
2. 2, -4, 6, -8, 10,…
3. -6, -10, -14, -18,…
4. 40, 42, 44, 46,…
5. 1.2, 1.8, 2.4,…
6. 1, 5, 9, 13,…
1 1 1 1
7. , , , ,...
2 3 4 5
8. 5, 6, 7, 8 ,...
9. 98, 95, 92, 89,…
4 5
10. 1, , , 2,…
3 3
Let’s Summarize
3. To find the terms of a sequence given its rule, simply replace n with the
number of the specific term needed to be found.
4. Most sequences have a general term or rule that describes all the terms in
the sequence. There is no specific way of finding the general term of a
given sequence.
5. A sequence is defined recursively when the nth term can be found only
when the preceding term is found.
20
What have you learned
C. Find the general term, an, for the given terms of the sequence.
1 1 1 1
7. 3, 7, 11, 15,… 9. , , , ,...
2 4 8 16
8. 0, -4, -8, -12,…
F. Find the common difference and the next three terms of the given
arithmetic sequence.
21
Answer Key
1 5 7 8 9. 1
4, ,2, , an =
2 4 5 n n
2
Lesson 1
A.
1 F 3 I 5 I 7 F 9 F
2 F 4 F 6 I 8 F 10 F
B.
Because they can hold up traffic.
Lesson 2
A.
1 2, 3, 4, 5 12 1, -2, 3, -4
2 0, -2, -4, -6 13 0, 3, 8, 15
3 0, 1, 2, 3 14 -2, 4, -8, 16
4 2, 4, 8, 16 15 7 26 63
0, , ,
2 3 4
5 3, 5, 7, 9 16 3 8 15
0, , ,
2 3 4
6 2, 5, 10, 17 17 1 1 1
, , ,
1
2 3 4 5
7 2, 5, 8, 11 18 1 1 1 1
, , ,
2 5 10 17
8 1 2 3 4 19 2 2 2 2
, , , , , ,
2 3 4 5 9 27 81 243
22
9 -1, -3, -5, -7 20 4 11 67
, ,10,
3 3 3
10 3 8 15 21 4, 9, 16, 25
0, , ,
2 3 4
11 3, 9, 27, 81
B.
22 40 29 32
243
23 110 30 380
24 225 31 88
25 1 32 1
256 36
26 15 33 1
20
27 12 34 94
13
28 24 35 38
Lesson 3
A.
B. 1 an = n 6 an = 4n
2 an = -2n 7 an = -(n + 5)
3
1 aan == 2n
n +–11 8
10 aann =
=n2n
3 + 9
n
4
2 aan == -2n
3n + 1 9
11 an = n2 + 2
a n = 6n
n
5
3 aan == 7n
4n 10
12 aan ==3-10(n
n + 1)+ 3
n n
4 an = n + 2 13 an = (-2)n
5 an = 3n + 4 14 an = (-3)n
6 an = 5n – 1 15 1
an = n 1
2
7 an = 3n2 16 1
an =
3n
3
8 an = 2n 17 n
an =
( n 1) 2
9 an = 2n + 1 18 n
an =
3n 1
Lesson 4
1 3, 2, 0, -4, -12 4 1 2 3 5
1, , , ,
2 3 5 8
23
2 1 5 1, 2, 3, 5, 8
-8, -4, -2, -1, -
2
3 1, 3, 7, 15, 31 6 1, 1, 1, 3, 5
Lesson 5
1 9 10 11 12 9. 1
8, , , , an =
2 3 4 5 2n
2 1, 3, 9, 27, 81 10 -1, -5, -25, -125
3 3, 8, 13, 18, 23 11 6 3 3
6, , ,
5 20 220
4 -53 12 d = 9; 37, 46, 55
5 49 13 d = 1.5; 11.5, 13, 14.5
6 35/37 14 d = 2; 9, 11, 13
7 an = 4n – 1 15 d = -4; 31, 27, 23
8 an = 4(1 – n)
24