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Finding The NTH Term of A Linear Sequence - Answers

The document provides examples of finding the nth term of linear sequences. It gives the first few terms of sequences and shows how to determine the expressions for the nth term. It also demonstrates how to use the nth term expression to determine if a given number will appear in the sequence. Key steps include finding the common difference between terms and setting up and solving equations to relate the nth term variable to other terms.

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Joel Okoh
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175 views3 pages

Finding The NTH Term of A Linear Sequence - Answers

The document provides examples of finding the nth term of linear sequences. It gives the first few terms of sequences and shows how to determine the expressions for the nth term. It also demonstrates how to use the nth term expression to determine if a given number will appear in the sequence. Key steps include finding the common difference between terms and setting up and solving equations to relate the nth term variable to other terms.

Uploaded by

Joel Okoh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Finding the nth term of a Linear Sequence

Answers
1. Find the nth term for each of these linear sequences:

a. 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, … b. 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, …

6n + 1 4n – 3

c. 1, -6, -13, -20, -27, … d. -7, -5, -3, -1, 1, …

-7n + 8 2n – 9

e. -11, -16, -21, -26, -31, …

-5n – 6

2. Find the nth term for each of these linear sequences:

a. 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, … b. -0.75, -0.5, -0.25, 0, 0.25, …

0.5n + 4 0.25n – 1

c. 6.6, 8.2, 9.8, 11.4, 13, … d. -10.6, -9.2, -7.8, -6.4, -5, …

1.6n + 5 1.4n – 12

e. 2.3, 1.5, 0.7, -0.1, -0.9, …

-0.8n + 3.1

3. The first five terms of a sequence are 12, 20, 28, 36, 44.
a. Find an expression for the nth term.

8n + 4

b. Will the number 104 appear in the sequence? Explain your answer.

8n + 4 = 104

8n = 100

n = 12.5
104 will not appear in the sequence as n is not an integer.

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Finding the nth term of a Linear Sequence Answers
4. The first five terms of a sequence are -5, -11, -17, -23, -29.
a. Find an expression for the nth term.

-6n + 1

b. Will the number -61 appear in the sequence? Explain your answer.

-6n + 1 = -61

-6n = -62

n = 10.333…
-61 will not appear in the sequence as n is not an integer.

5. The first five terms of a sequence are -7.7, -7.4, -7.1, -6.8, -6.5.
a. Find an expression for the nth term.

0.3n – 8

b. Will the number 16 appear in the sequence? Explain your answer.

0.3n – 8 = 16

0.3n = 24

n = 80
16 will appear in the sequence. It is the 80th term.

Challenge
The first four terms of a linear sequence are (2x – 12), (3y + 8), (6x – 12), (3y + 16).
a. Find the differences between the successive terms in the sequence.

2x – 12 3y + 8 6x – 12 3y + 16

– 2x + 3y + 20 + 6x – 3y – 20 – 6x + 3y + 28

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Finding the nth term of a Linear Sequence Answers
b. Hence, or otherwise, find the nth term of the sequence.

-2x + 3y + 20 = -6x + 3y + 28

-2x + 20 = -6x + 28

4x + 20 = 28

4x = 8

x=2

Substitute x = 2 into the common difference:

-2x + 3y + 20 = 6x – 3y – 20

-2(2) + 3y + 20 = 6(2) – 3y – 20

3y + 16 = -3y – 8

6y = -24

y = -4

(2x – 12), (3y + 8), (6x – 12), (3y + 16)

-8, -4, 0, 4

nth term = 4n – 12

OR:

2x – 12 3y + 8 6x – 12 3y + 16

+ 4x +8

Difference between individual terms = 4 (or 2x)

-12 2x – 12 3y + 8 6x – 12 3y + 16

– 2x

Zero term = -12

nth term = 4n – 12

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