Patterns and Algebra Sequences, Polynomials,

and Polynomial Equations

SEQUENCES and SERIES

Lesson 1

Introduction

The concepts of sequences and series play an important role in many branches of
mathematics and even in the fields of biology, accountancy, physics, investments, and arts. Naturally,
a sequence is a list of objects or events following an order. For example, knowing the sequence of
events in a crime scene will help us or the investigators understand the nature of the crime (Orines, et
al, 2019).

In this lesson, we will focus on sequences and series of a more mathematical in nature such
as the sequences of numbers following a given pattern. So let’s get started!

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. generate and describe patterns

2. define and illustrate a sequence and a series
3. find the next few terms of a sequence
4. find the general or nth term of a sequence; and
3. evaluate the series in summation notation.

Try this!

Activity 1 : What’s next???

Each item below shows a pattern. Write the letter of the next term in the pattern on
the space provided before each number.

_____ 1) A10, C8, E6, G4, ? a) H2 b) I2 c) J0

_____ 2) 4, 11, 18, 25, ? a) 30 b) 32 c) 37

_____ 3) 3, 6, 12, 24, ? a) 36 b) 42 c) 48

th
_____ 4) 51, 47, 43, 39, . . . what is the 7 number? a) 35 b) 31 c) 27

_____ 5) , , , , ? a) b) c)

1
 Patterns and Algebra Sequences, Polynomials,
and Polynomial Equations

Think ahead!

Based on the Activity 1, answer the following:

1. What pattern where you able to generate in order to determine the next term in number 1?

________________________________________________________________

in number 2? ________________________________________________________________

in number 3? ________________________________________________________________

in number 4? ________________________________________________________________

in number 5? ________________________________________________________________

2. Following a pattern, what do you think are the next three numbers in 1, 4. 9, 16, 25, _____,
_____, _____ ?

Read and Ponder

A sequence is a function whose domain is the finite set {1, 2, 3, . . . , n} or the infinite
set {1, 2, 3, . . .}. It is also a succession of numbers in a specific order where each number in a
sequence is called a term.

Illustration :
In the sequence 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, . . . the first term denoted by a1 is 3 or we write it as a1 = 3.
The second term (a2) is 4, the third term (a3) is 7, the fourth term (a4) is 11, and the fifth term (a5) is
18. To get the next term, we must generate a pattern. Notice that in the sequence, in order to get the
next term, we simply add an odd number in sequence.
3 4 7 11 18

+1 +3 +5 +7

So the next three terms of the sequence are 29, 47, and 76 or we can write them as a6 = 18 + 9 = 29,
a7 = 29 + 11 = 47, and a8 = 47 + 13 = 76.

A sequence can be finite or infinite. A finite sequence is a sequence with definite

number of terms. While an infinite sequence is a sequence with no definite number of terms. It
is usually followed by three dots ( . . . ) termed as ellipsis.

Illustrtation :

8, 11, 14, 17, 20 Since, there are five terms in the sequence, then it is a finite
sequence. Also, in a finite sequence, we could easily identify the first term
and the last term which is denoted by an.

2
 Patterns and Algebra Sequences, Polynomials,
and Polynomial Equations

3, 6, 9, 12, . . . The presence of the ellipsis implies that the sequence will extend
thoroughly without a bound. Hence, it is an infinite sequence since we cannot determine the exact
number of terms included in the sequence. Also, we cannot determine the last term of the sequence.

The first and the last terms of a sequence are called extremes while the terms between
the first and the last terms are called the means.

Illustration :
In the sequence 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, the extremes are 3 and 13, while the means are 5,
7, and 9.

Example 1) Determine the means and extremes of the first nine (9) terms of the sequence 8, 13, 18,
23, 28, . . .

Solution : Expand the given sequence to a9 since there should be nine terms using a pattern which is
adding by 5.
8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48
a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a8 a9

Hence, the extremes are 8 and 48, while the means are 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, and 43.

A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of natural numbers or a set of

consecutive positive integers (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .).

Example 2) Use the functional notation an = 3n + 2, where n is a natural number, to write the first five
terms of the sequence.

Solution : If n = 1  a1 = 3 (1) + 2
=3+2
=5

If n = 2  a2 = 3 (2) + 2
=6+2
=8

If n = 3  a3 = 3 (3) + 2
=9+2
= 11

If n = 4  a4 = 3 (4) + 2
= 12 + 2
= 14

If n = 5  a5 = 3 (5) + 2
= 15 + 2
= 17

Therefore, the sequence is 5, 8, 11, 14, 17.

Example 3) Write an infinite sequence of an = n – 4.

Solution : If n = 1 a1 = 1 – 4 = - 3
n=2 a2 = 2 – 4 = - 2
n=3 a3 = 3 – 4 = - 1
n=4 a4 = 4 – 4 = 0
Hence, the infinite sequence is – 3, - 2, - 1, 0, . . .

3
 Patterns and Algebra Sequences, Polynomials,
and Polynomial Equations

A sequence can also be written in a general form of the nth term of a sequence.

Example 4) Determine the nth term of the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, . . .

Solution : Using n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . n 1 2 3 4 5
an 1 3 5 7 9

a1 = 2 – 1 = 2(1) – 1 = 1 +2 +2 +2 +2
a2 = 4 – 1 = 2(2) – 1 = 3
a3 = 6 – 1 = 2(3) – 1 = 5
a4 = 8 – 1 = 2(4) – 1 = 7
a5 =10 – 1 = 2(5) – 1 = 9

Therefore, the general form for the nth term is an = 2n – 1 for every n 1.

A series is the indicated sum of the terms of a sequence denoted by Sn.

Example 5) Find the indicated value for each series.

(i) 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + . . . , S8
(ii) 4 + 2 + 0 + (-2) + (-4) + . . ., S10

Solution :
(i) Expand the sequence to eight terms 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14 + 16
Hence, S8 = 72.

(ii) S10 = 4 + 2 + 0 + (-2) + (-4) + (-6) + (-8) + (-10) + (-12) + (-14) = - 50

Example 6) Find the sum of the first ten natural numbers.

Solution : S10 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 = 55

The inconvenience of writing many terms can be minimize using the summation notation
denoted by 𝜮 (upper case sigma), a Greek letter equivalent to S (sum).
5
Illustration : The sequence 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 can be written as 2𝑛 . This is read as “the
summation of 2n from n = 1 to n = 5. 𝑛=

Note : The variable n is the index of the summation and 2n is the general rule which indicates that
each term of the series is of this form.

Example 7) Write each in expanded form. Then find its value.

a. b. 5

3𝑛 (𝑛 − 1)
𝑛=
𝑛=

Solution : Replace n consecutively with the integers from the lower index to the upper index of the
summation.

a. 3𝑛 = 3(1) + 3(2) + 3(3) + 3(4) = 3 + 6 + 9 + 12 = 30

𝑛=

5
2 2 2 2 2 2
b. (𝑛 − 1) = (3 – 1) + (4 – 1) + (5 – 1) = (2) + (3) + (4) = 4 + 9 + 16 = 29
𝑛=