SAMPLE

CHAPTER

INTERNATIONAL
GCSE ALAN SMITH
SOPHIE GOLDIE
(9–1)

Mathematics
for Edexcel Specification A

THIRD
EDITION

1
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 INTERNATIONAL
GCSE ALAN SMITH
(9–1) SOPHIE GOLDIE

Mathematics
for Edexcel Specification A

THIRD
EDITION
Contents
1 Fractions, decimals and rounding 4.4 Multiplying two brackets together
Starter: Half and half 4.5 Factorising – common factors
1.1 Equivalent fractions 4.6 Factorising – quadratic expressions
1.2 Multiplying and dividing with 4.7 Factorising – harder quadratic
fractions expressions
1.3 Decimals and fractions 4.8 Factorising – difference of two squares
1.4 Rounding and approximation 4.9 Generating formulae
1.5 Rounding calculator answers 4.10 Changing the subject of a formula
1.6 Upper and lower bounds Key points
Key points Internet Challenge 4
Internet Challenge 1
5 Algebraic equations
2 Ratios and percentages Starter: Triangular arithmagons
Starter: How many per cent? 5.1 Expressions, equations and
2.1 Working with ratios identities
2.2 Simple percentages 5.2 Simple equations
2.3 Percentage increase and decrease 5.3 Harder linear equations
2.4 Reverse percentage problems 5.4 Equations and brackets
2.5 Compound interest 5.5 Equations with fractional
Key points coefficients
Internet Challenge 2 Key points
Internet Challenge 5
3 Powers and roots
Starter: Roman numerals 6 Graphs of straight lines
3.1 Basic powers and roots Starter: Matchstick puzzles
3.2 Higher powers and roots 6.1 Coordinates in all four quadrants
3.3 Fractional (rational) indices 6.2 Graphs of linear functions
3.4 Negative powers 6.3 Gradient and intercept of linear
3.5 The laws of indices functions
3.6 Standard index form 6.4 Equations and graphs
3.7 Calculating with numbers in 6.5 Parallel and perpendicular lines
standard form Key points
3.8 Factors, multiples and primes Internet Challenge 6
3.9 Highest common factor, HCF
3.10 Lowest common multiple 7 Simultaneous equations
Key points Starter: Fruity numbers
Internet Challenge 3 7.1 Solving simultaneous equations by
inspection
4 Working with algebra 7.2 Solving simultaneous equations by
Starter: Right or wrong? algebraic elimination
4.1 Substituting numbers into formulae 7.3 Solving simultaneous equations by
and expressions a graphical method
4.2 Working with indices 7.4 Setting up and solving problems
4.3 Expanding brackets using simultaneous equations

4
 Contents

Key points 12.2 Sectors of a circle

Internet Challenge 7 12.3 Circumference and area in reverse
12.4 Surface area and volume of a cylinder
8 Inequalities 12.5 Exact calculations using pi
Starter: Treasure hunt 12.6 Volume and surface area of cones
8.1 Whole-number solutions to and spheres
inequalities Key points
8.2 Using algebra to solve linear Internet Challenge 12
inequalities
8.3 Illustrating inequalities on a 13 Geometric constructions
number line Starter: Round and round in circles
8.4 Graphs of linear inequalities in 13.1 Constructing triangles from given
two variables information
8.5 Quadratic inequalities 13.2 Constructions with line segments
Key points 13.3 Bearings
Internet Challenge 8 Key points
Internet Challenge 13
9 S Number sequences and seies
Starter: Circles, lines and regions
14 Transformation and similarity
9.1 Number sequences
Starter: Monkey business
9.2 Describing number sequences
14.1 Reflections
with rules
14.2 Rotations
9.3 Arithmetic sequences
14.3 Combining transformations
9.4 Arithmetic series
14.4 Enlargements
Key points
14.5 Similar shapes and solids
Internet Challenge 9
Key points
10 Travel and other graphs Internet Challenge 14
Starter: Animal races
10.1 Distance–time graphs 15 Pythagoras’ theorem
10.2 Modelling with graphs Starter: F
 inding squares and square
Key points roots on your calculator
Internet Challenge 10 15.1 Introducing Pythagoras’ theorem
15.2 Using Pythagoras’ theorem to
11 Working with shape and space find a hypotenuse
Starter: Alphabet soup 15.3 Using Pythagoras’ theorem to
11.1 Corresponding and alternate angles find one of the shorter sides
11.2 Angles in triangles and quadrilaterals 15.4 Pythagoras’ theorem in three
11.3 Angles in polygons dimensions
11.4 Areas and perimeters of simple 15.5 Pythagoras’ theorem on a
shapes coordinate grid
11.5 Surface area and volume Key points
Key points Internet Challenge 15
Internet Challenge 11
16 Introducing trigonometry
12 Circles, cylinders, cones and spheres Starter: A triangular spiral
Starter: Three and a bit … 16.1 The sine ratio
12.1 Circumference and area of a circle 16.2 The cosine ratio

5
Contents

16.3 The tangent ratio 21.3 Graphical representation of direct

16.4 Choosing the right trigonometrical and inverse proportion
function 21.4 Compound measures
16.5 Finding an unknown angle Key points
16.6 Multi-stage problems Internet Challenge 21
16.7 Angles of elevation and depression
Key points 22 Quadratic equations, curves and
Internet Challenge 16 inequalities
Starter: Solutions of equations
17 Circle theorems 22.1 Solving quadratic equations –
Starter: Circle vocabulary factorising
17.1 Tangents, chords and circles 22.2 Completing the square
17.2 Angle properties inside a circle 22.3 Solving quadratic equations –
17.3 Further circle theorems formula
19.4 Intersecting chords 22.4 Problems leading to quadratic
Key points equations
Internet Challenge 17 22.5 Quadratic curves
22.6 Solving inequalities
18 Sets Key points
Starter: Does it all add up? Internet Challenge 22
18.1 Introducing set notation
18.2 Venn diagrams 23 Advanced algebra
18.3 Further Venn diagrams Starter: How many shapes?
Key points 23.1 Working with surds
Internet Challenge 18 23.2 Algebraic fractions
23.3 Cancelling common factors in
19 Working with data rational expressions
Starter: Lies, damned lies and statistics 23.4 Simultaneous equations, one
19.1 Calculations with frequency tables linear and one quadratic
19.2 Solving problems involving the mean 23.5 Changing the subject of an
19.3 Histograms equation where the symbol
19.4 Cumulative frequency occurs twice
19.5 Median and quartiles for a 23.6 Algebraic proofs
discrete data set Key points
Key points Internet Challenge 23
Internet Challenge 19
24 Functions and function notation
20 Probability Starter: Number crunchers
Starter: Dice throws 24.1 Introducing functions and
20.1 Theoretical and experimental probability function notation
20.2 Mutually exclusive outcomes 24.2 Domain and range
20.3 Independent events 24.3 Inverse functions
20.4 Tree diagrams 24.4 Composite functions
Key points Key points
Internet Challenge 20 Internet Challenge 24
21 Direct and inverse proportion
Starter: A sense of proportion
21.1 Direct proportion
21.2 Inverse proportion
6
 Contents

25 Further trigonometry 27.3 Multiplying a vector by a number

Starter: How tall is the church? (scalar multiplication)
25.1 The sine rule 27.4 Using vectors
25.2 The cosine rule Key points
1
25.3 Area of a triangle using }2}ab sin C, Internet Challenge 27
and segments of circles
25.4 Trigonometry in 3-D 28 Calculus
Key points Starter: Steeper and steeper
Internet Challenge 25 28.1 Gradient of a curve
28.2 Gradient of a curve –
26 Graphs and transformations differentiation
Starter: Making waves 28.3 Harder differentiation
26.1 Plotting and using graphs of curves 28.4 Maximum and minimum points
26.2 Graphs of sine, cosine and tangent on curves
functions 28.5 Further problems on maximum
Key points and minimum
Internet Challenge 26 28.6 Distance, velocity and
acceleration
27 Vectors Key points
Starter: Knight’s tours Internet Challenge 28
27.1 Introducing vectors
27.2 Adding and subtracting vectors

7
 Chapter 9: Number sequences

CHAPTER 9

Number sequences
In this chapter you will learn how to:
• recognise and use common number sequences
• use rules to generate number sequences
• find a general formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence
• find the sum of an arithmetic series. Highlighted content is new
for this edition.
You will also be challenged to:
• investigate Fibonacci numbers. Each chapter begins with a
STARTER: a problem-solving
exercise, activity or puzzle
Starter: Circles, lines and regions designed to stimulate thinking
and discussion about some
Look at the sequence of circles below. of the ideas that underpin the
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 15
content of the chapter.
5 5

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 24 4 4

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 12 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 36 863 86 86 8
3 3 3 3
7 77 7
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 42 4 2 4 4 2 2 42 4 2 4 4
Pattern
Pattern
1Pattern
1 Pattern
1 1 Pattern
Pattern
2Pattern
2 Pattern
2 2 Pattern 3Pattern
Pattern 3 Pattern
3 3 Pattern
Pattern
4Pattern
4 Pattern
4 4
1 point
1 point
1 point
1 point 2 points
2 points
2 points
2 points 3 points
3 points
3 points
3 points 4 points
4 points
4 points
4 points
0 lines
0 lines
0 lines
0 lines 1 line1 line1 line1 line 3 lines
3 lines
3 lines
3 lines 6 lines
6 lines
6 lines
6 lines
1 region
1 region
1 region
1 region 2 regions
2 regions
2 regions
2 regions 4 regions
4 regions
4 regions
4 regions 8 regions
8 regions
8 regions
8 regions

The diagram shows a sequence of circles. Each circle has some points marked
around its circumference. Each point is joined to every other point by a line.

The lines and regions are then counted. The lines and regions are not all the same
size.

Task 1
Describe a rule for how the number of points increases in this sequence.

Task 2
Describe a rule for how the number of lines increases.

Task 3
Describe a rule for how the number of regions increases.

8
 9.1 Number sequences

Task 4
Now draw pattern 5 and pattern 6, and see if your rules seem correct. You
should space out the points so that no triple intersections can occur, otherwise
you lose a region, for example:

No Yes

9.1 Number sequences

Here are some number sequences that occur often in mathematics.

Name of sequence First six terms Formula for the nth term
Positive integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, … n
Even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, … 2n
Odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, … 2n – 1
Square numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, … n2
Cube numbers 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, … n3
Powers of 2 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 … 2n
Powers of 10 10, 100, 1000, 10 000, 100 000, 10n
1 000 000, …

You may encounter these number patterns when solving mathematical problems
based on counting patterns.

EXAMPLE
Look at this pattern of squares.

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4

a) How many squares would there be in pattern 5?

b) Find a formula for the number of squares in pattern n.
c) Use your formula to find the number of squares in pattern 100.

9
Chapter 9: Number sequences

SOLUTION
The number of squares forms a pattern 2, 4, 6, 8, that is, the even numbers.
a) Pattern 5 contains 2 3 5 5 10 squares.
b) Pattern n contains 2n squares.
c) Pattern 100 contains 2 3 100 5 200 squares.

Some number sequences are disguised versions of the common ones, perhaps
with a constant number added or multiplied.

EXAMPLE
Find the next three terms in this number sequence. Find also a formula for the
nth term.
101, 104, 109, 116, 125, …

SOLUTION
101, 104, 109, 116, 125, … are all 100 more than the square numbers.
The next three terms are 100 1 36, 100 1 49 and 100 1 64,
that is, 136, 149, 164
The nth term is 100 1 n2

Questions to
EXERCISE 9.1 test students’
Write down the next two terms in each of these number sequences, and explain understanding on each
how each term is worked out. Give an expression for the nth term in each case. sub-topic.

They are all related to the list of common sequences in the table on the previous page.

1 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, … 2 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, …

3 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, … 4 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, …

5 2, 8, 26, 80, 242, … 6 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, …

7 10, 30, 60, 100, 150, 210, … 8 2, 8, 18, 32, 50, 72, …

9 Look at this pattern of triangles.

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4

a) How many triangles would there be in pattern 7?

b) Find a formula for the number of triangles in pattern n.

10
 9.2 Describing number sequences with rules

10 Look at this pattern of spots.

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4

a) Find an expression for the number of spots in pattern n.

b) How many spots would there be in pattern 30?

Each sub-topic
9.2 Describing number sequences with rules within each chapter
is introduced, and
It can be very useful to be able to describe number sequences using rules. explained through
One way of doing this is to say how each term is connected to the next one easy-to-follow worked
in the sequence. (This is sometimes called a term-to-term rule, because it examples with
explains the link between one term and the next.) solutions.

EXAMPLE
A number sequence is defined as follows:
• The first term is 3.
• Each new term is double the previous one.
Use this rule to generate the first five terms of the number sequence.

SOLUTION
Start with 3:
33256
6 3 2 5 12
etc.
The first five terms of the sequence are 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ….

EXAMPLE
A number sequence is defined as follows:
• The first term is 7.
• Each new term is 3 more than the previous one.
Use this rule to generate the first six terms of the number sequence.

11
Chapter 9: Number sequences

SOLUTION
Start with 7:
7 1 3 5 10
10 1 3 5 13
etc.
The first six terms of the sequence are 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, ….

If you wanted to work out the 100th number in a sequence, it would be very
tedious to have to write out all 100 numbers, one at a time. In this case it
is better if you can use an algebraic expression for the nth term. (This is
sometimes called a position-to-term rule, since you can work out the value of
any term as long as you know its position in the sequence.)

EXAMPLE
The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 2n2 1 1.
a) Write down the first four terms of the sequence.
b) Find the value of the 20th term.

SOLUTION
a) n 5 1 gives 2 3 12 1 1 5 2 1 1 5 3
n 5 2 gives 2 3 22 1 1 5 8 1 1 5 9
n 5 3 gives 2 3 32 1 1 5 18 1 1 5 19
n 5 4 gives 2 3 42 1 1 5 32 1 1 5 33
The first four terms are 3, 9, 19, 33
b) When n 5 20, 2 3 202 1 1 5 800 1 1 5 801.

EXERCISE 9.2
1 A number sequence is defined as follows:
• The first term is 5.
• Each new term is 2 more than the previous one.
Use this rule to generate the first five terms of the number sequence.

2 A number sequence is defined as follows:

• The first term is 1.
• To find each new term, add 1 to the previous term, and double this total.
Use this rule to generate the first four terms of the number sequence.

3 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 8n 2 1.

a) Write down the values of the first five terms.
b) Work out the value of the 20th term.

12
 9.3 Arithmetic sequences

3n 1 1
4 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression .
2
a) Write down the values of the first six terms.
b) Work out the value of the 23rd term.

5 Andy has been doing a mathematical investigation. He gets this sequence of numbers:
12, 15, 18, 21, 24, …
a) Describe Andy’s pattern in words.
b) Find the tenth term in Andy’s number sequence.

6 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 100 2 n.

a) Write down the values of the first five terms.
b) Work out the value of the 50th term.

7 In a certain number sequence, the first term is 3. Each new term is found by multiplying the previous term
by 3.
a) Write down the first five terms of the number sequence.
b) What name is given to this particular number sequence?

8 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the formula 7n 1 3.

a) Work out the first three terms.
b) Find the value of the 10th term.
c) One of the numbers in the sequence is 1053. Which term is this?

9 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression n(n 1 1) .

2
a) Write down the values of the first four terms. Problem-solving
b) Work out the value of the 30th term. question.
c) Explain why all the terms in this sequence are integers.
d) What name is often given to the number sequence generated by this rule?

10 David is working with a number sequence. The nth term of his sequence is given by the expression 6n 1 7.
He gets the number 2770 as one of his terms. Show that David must have made a mistake.

9.3 Arithmetic sequences

A number sequence in which the terms go up or down in equal steps is called an arithmetic sequence.
The size of the step is called the common difference.
• The first term of an arithmetic sequence is a.
• The common difference is d. When d is negative, each term is
Callout boxes add
clarity: new for this
less than the preceding term. edition.
EXAMPLE
For each sequence, say whether it is arithmetic or not.
For each arithmetic sequence state the value of the first term, a, and the common difference, d.
a) 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, …
b) 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, … Higher objective 3.1 A is covered
c) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, … ‘understand and use common difference (d)
d) 40, 36, 32, 28, 24, … and first term (a) in an arithmetic sequence’.

13
Chapter 9: Number sequences

SOLUTION
a) 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, … is not an arithmetic sequence. Call-out boxes
The terms go up by 1, then 2, add clarity: new for
then 3 and so on. this edition
b) 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, … is an arithmetic sequence.
First term a 5 2 and common difference d 5 3
c) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, … is not an arithmetic sequence. The terms go up by 1, then 2,
then 4 and so on.
d) 40, 36, 32, 28, 24, … is an arithmetic sequence.
First term a 5 40 and common difference d 5 24

You can find the rule to give the nth term of an arithmetic sequence using the first term, a, and the
common difference, d.
Look at the arithmetic sequence with first term a 5 3 and common difference d 5 4.
Term number 1 2 3 … 20 … n
Term 3 7 11 … 79 … 3 1 (n 2 1) 3 4

The first term is 3. To find The 3rd term is The 20th term is The nth term is
each term, add 4 to the 3 1 2 lots of 4. 3 1 19 lots of 4. 3 1 (n 2 1) lots of 4.
previous term.

Now look at the general arithmetic sequence with first term a and common difference d.
Term number 1 2 3 … 20 … n
Term a a1d a 1 2d … a 1 19d … a 1 (n 2 1)d

The first term is a. To The 20th term is The nth term is

find each term, add d to a 1 19 lots of d. a 1 (n 2 1) lots of d.
the previous term.

The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is

This material covers the new Edexcel
a 1 (n 2 1)d IGCSE Higher objective 3.1 B
where a is the first term and d is the common difference. ‘know and use nth term = a + (n −1)d’

EXAMPLE
a) Find a formula for the nth term of the arithmetic sequence:
7, 10, 13, 16, 19, …
b) Find the 50th term of the sequence.
c) The nth term of the sequence is 205.
Find the value of n.

14
 9.3 Arithmetic sequences

SOLUTION
a) a 5 7 and d 5 3
nth term is a 1 (n 2 1)d
nth term 5 7 1 (n 21)33
5 7 1 3(n 2 1)
5 7 1 3n 2 3
5 3n 1 4
b) Substitute n 5 50 into the formula for the nth term.
So the 50th term 5 33 50 1 4 5 154
c) 3n 1 4 5 205
3n 5 201
n 5 67
So the 67th term is 205.

EXERCISE 9.3
1 The first five terms in an arithmetic sequence are:
12, 17, 22, 27, 32, …
a) Find the value of the 10th term.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.

2 The first four terms in an arithmetic sequence are:

58, 50, 42, 34,…
a) Find the value of the first negative term.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.

Here are some arithmetic sequences. For each one, find, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of the
sequence.

3 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, … 4 2, 7, 12, 17, 22, … 5 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, …

6 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, … 7 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, … 8 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, …

9 Nina has been making patterns with sticks. Here are her first three patterns.

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3

4 sticks 7 sticks 10 sticks

a) Work out the number of sticks in pattern 6.

b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
c) Explain how the coefficients in your formula are related to the way the sticks fit together.

15
 Chapter 9: Number sequences

10 The tenth term of an arithmetic sequence is 68 and the eleventh term is 75.
a) Write down value of the common difference for this sequence.
b) Work out the value of the first term.
c) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
Check that your formula works when n 5 10 and n 5 11.

9.4 Arithmetic series

When you add terms of a sequence it is called a series.
So 1, 4, 7, … is an arithmetic sequence.
Write the
1 1 4 1 7 1 … is an arithmetic series.
series out
There is a neat method you can use to add the terms in an arithmetic series.
forwards
Look at this method of adding all the numbers from 1 to 100.
…
1 1 2 1 3 1 4 … 1 98 1 99 1 100
… then 100 1 99 1 98 1 97 … 1 3 1 2 1 1
backwards.
101 1 101 1 101 1 101 … 1 101 1 101 1 101

Add together You now have 100

the sequences terms which are all
the same!

The sum of both series is 100 3 101 5 10 100

So the sum of the numbers from 1 to 100 is ½ 3 10 100 5 5050

You can use the same method to find the sum of the terms, Sn, of any arithmetic series with first term a and
common difference d.
Write the series out
forwards …

Sn 5 a 1 (a 1 d) 1 (a 1 2d) 1 … 1 (a 1 (n 2 1) d)

Sn 5 (a 1 (n 2 1) d) 1 (a 1 (n 2 2) d) 1 (a 1 (n 2 3) d ) 1 … 1 a … then backwards.

2 3 Sn 5 2a 1 (n 21 )d 1 2a 1 (n 21) d 1 2a 1 (n 21) d 1 … 1 2a 1 (n 2 1) d

So you have n terms which are all the same; the sum of these terms is:
2 3 Sn 5 n 3 (2a 1 (n 2 1)d
This is the sum of two identical series, so you need to halve it: This material covers the
n new Edexcel IGCSE Higher
Sn 5 (2a 1 (n 2 1)d )
2 You will be given this objective 2.2 E
formula in the exam. ‘use algebra to support and
construct proofs’.

16
 9.4 Arithmetic series

EXAMPLE
The first term of an arithmetic series is 40 and the common difference is 2½.
Find the sum of the first 21 terms of the arithmetic series.

SOLUTION
n
Substitute a  40 , d  2½ and n  21 into Sn  2 (2a 1 (n 2 1)d )

21
3 (2 3 40 1 (21 2 1) 3 (2 2 ))
1
S21 
2
 10.5 3 (80 1 20 3 2 2 )( 1
)
 10.5 3 (80 2 10)
 735

Some problems are more complicated – be prepared to solve simultaneous equations when tackling
questions on arithmetic sequences and series.

EXAMPLE
The 6th term of an arithmetic series is 20.
The 11th term of the same arithmetic series is 35.
Find the sum of the first 100 terms of this arithmetic series.

SOLUTION
The nth term of an arithmetic series is a 1 (n 2 1)d.
The 6th term is 20, so a 1 5d  20
and the 11th term is 35, so a 1 10d  35
You now have two equations and two unknowns, so you can solve them simultaneously to find a and d.
a 1 10d  35 Subtract to eliminate a.
− a 1 5d  20
5d  15 so d  3

Now substitute d  3 into a 1 5d  20

a 1 5 3 3  20 so a  5
You can use the formula for the sum of a series, substitute a  5, d  3 and n  100 into
n
Sn  2 (2a 1 (n 2 1)d )
100
S100  3 (2 3 5 1 (100 2 1) 3 3)
2
 50 3 (10 1 99 3 3)
 50 3 307
 15350

17
Chapter 9: Number sequences

EXERCISE 9.4 New Exercise to cover new

1 Find the sum of the first 20 terms of each of the following series. specification objectives.
a) first term is 5, common difference is 3
b) first term is 3, common difference is 5
c) first term is 3, common difference is 25
d) first term is 5, common difference is 23

2 The first three terms in an arithmetic sequence are 7, 9, 11.

Find
a) an expression for the nth term of the sequence
b) the 20th term
c) the sum of the first 50 terms.

3 Find the sum of the whole numbers from 1 to 1000.

4 Find the sum of the first 100 multiples of 3.

5 The first term in an arithmetic series is 3.

The sum of the first three terms is 21.
a) Find the common difference.
The last term is 99.
b) How many terms are in the series? Questions 5–8 involve
c) Find the sum of all the terms of the series. problem solving.
6 The 12th term of an arithmetic series is 62.
The 20th term of the series is 102.
Find the sum of the first 20 terms of this arithmetic series.

7 The 6th term of an arithmetic series is 20.

The 11th term of the series is 35.
Find the sum of the first 100 terms of this arithmetic series.

8 The second term of an arithmetic series is 95 and the fourth term is 91.
a) Find the first term and the common difference.
b) Find the sum of the first 100 terms.
c) Sn is the sum of the first n terms.
What is the maximum value of Sn?

REVIEW EXERCISE 9 Review exercises test

Find the next three terms in each of these number sequences. For those
understanding for the
that form arithmetic sequences, write down, in terms of n, an expression
chapter as a whole.
for the nth term of this sequence.

1 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, … 2 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, … 3 2, 5, 8, 11, …

4 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … 5 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, … 6 100, 99, 97, 94, 90, …

7 A number sequence is defined as follows:

• The first term is 7.
• To get each new term, multiply the previous one by 3 and subtract 15.
Work out the first four terms of this sequence.

18
 Review exercise 9

8 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression

n2 1 3n .
2
a) Work out the first five terms of this sequence.
b) Do the first five terms form an arithmetic sequence?

9 Timothy has been drawing patterns. Here are his first three patterns.

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3

6 sticks 11 sticks 16 sticks

a) Write down the number of sticks in pattern 5.

b) Work out the number of sticks in pattern 12.
c) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.

10 Find i) the nth term and ii) the sum of the first 20 terms of each of the following arithmetic series.
a) first term is 9, common difference is 4
b) first term is 4, common difference is 9
c) first term is 90, common difference is –4
d) first term is 50, common difference is –9

11 The first three terms in an arithmetic sequence are 15, 19, 24.
Find
a) an expression for the nth term of the sequence New questions for this
b) the 20th term edition.
c) the sum of the first 50 terms.

12 Find the sum of the first 50 multiples of 5.

13 The first term in an arithmetic series is 3.

The sum of the fifth term and the sixth term is 42.
a) Find the common difference.
The last term is 499.
b) How many terms are in the series?
c) Find the sum of all the terms of the series.

14 The 11th term of an arithmetic series is 55.

The 21st term of the series is 50.
Find the first term and the sum of the first 100 terms of this arithmetic series.

15 Here are the first five terms of a sequence.

30, 29, 27, 24, 20, … Past-paper questions
a) Write down the next two terms in the sequence. are indicated.
Here are the first five terms of a different sequence.
1, 5, 9, 13, 17, …
b) Find, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of the sequence. [Edexcel]

19
Chapter 9: Number sequences

16 Here are the first five numbers of a simple sequence.

1, 5, 9, 13, 17
a) Write down the next two numbers of the sequence.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence. [Edexcel]

17 Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence.

6, 11, 16, 21, 26
Find an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term of this sequence. [Edexcel]

A summary of essential
points from the chapter.
Key points
1 Common number sequences include the positive integers, the even numbers and
the odd numbers. Others you should learn to recognise are:
Square numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, …
Cube numbers 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, …
Powers of 2 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, …
Powers of 10 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10 000, 100 000, …
Triangular numbers 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, …

2 A term-to-term rule is a rule which explains how to find the next term in a
sequence using the term before.
3 A position-to-term rule is a rule that gives an expression for the nth term of a
sequence.
4 In an arithmetic sequence there is a constant difference between successive
terms.
5 The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is
a + (n − 1)d
where a is the first term and d is the common difference.
6 A series is the sum of a sequence.
5, 7, 9, … is an arithmetic sequence.
5+7+9… is an arithmetic series.
7 The sum Sn of the first n terms of an arithmetic series is

Sn = n (2a + (n − 1)d)
2
where a is the first term and d is the common difference.

20
 Internet Challenge 9

Internet Challenge 9
Fibonacci numbers
Fibonacci numbers are used to model the behaviour of living systems. Fibonacci numbers also lead to
the Golden Ratio, widely used in classical art and architecture. In this challenge you will need to use a
spreadsheet at first, before looking on the internet to complete your work.
Here is the Fibonacci number sequence:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ….

1 Type these numbers into a computer spreadsheet, such as Excel. (It is a good idea to enter them in a
vertical list, rather than a horizontal one.)

2 Each term (apart from the first two) is found by adding together the two previous ones, for example,
13 5 8 1 5. Use your spreadsheet replicating functions to automatically generate a list of the first
50 Fibonacci numbers.

3 Divide each Fibonacci number by the one before it, for example 8 4 5 5 1.6. Set up a column on your
spreadsheet to do this up to the 50th Fibonacci number. What do you notice?
The quantities you found in question 3 approach a limit called the Golden Ratio, f.

1
4 Using your spreadsheet value for f, calculate 1 2 f and
f .What do you notice?

Now use the internet to help answer the following questions. Find pictures where appropriate.

5 How was the Golden Ratio used by the builders of the Parthenon in Athens? Links to
mathematics
6 Whose painting of ‘The Last Supper’ was based on Golden Ratio constructions? outside of the
classroom.
7 Which painter was said to have ‘attacked every canvas by the golden section’?

8 When was Fibonacci born? When did he die?

9 Is there a position-to-term rule for Fibonacci numbers, that is, is there a formula for finding the nth
number?

10 What sea creature has a spiral shell that is often (mistakenly) said to be based on a Golden Ratio spiral?

Each chapter concludes with an Internet Challenge, for students to work

through either at school or at home.
This problem solving or research activity frequently goes beyond the strict
boundaries of the IGCSE specification, providing enrichment and leading to
a deeper understanding of mainstream topics.
The Challenges may look at the history of mathematics and mathematicians, or
the role of mathematics in the real world.
When doing these, it is hoped that students will not just answer the
written questions, but also take the time to explore the subject a little deeper.

21
Chapter 9: Number sequences

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 9.3 Arithmetic sequences

International GCSE (9-1) Mathematics

Practice for Edexcel Third Edition
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 INTERNATIONAL
Chapter 9: Number sequences

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