Scribd
Upload
25 views27 pages

Sequences

The document provides an overview of sequences, detailing three types: arithmetic, geometric, and quadratic sequences. It explains the formulas for finding terms in each type of sequence, along with examples and practice exercises. Additionally, it includes word problems and past exam questions related to these sequences.

Uploaded by

marsmontanaa
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
25 views27 pages

Sequences

The document provides an overview of sequences, detailing three types: arithmetic, geometric, and quadratic sequences. It explains the formulas for finding terms in each type of sequence, along with examples and practice exercises. Additionally, it includes word problems and past exam questions related to these sequences.

Uploaded by

marsmontanaa
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
You are on page 1/ 27

SEQUENCES

 A sequence is a list of numbers or terms written in a specific order.

 A sequence follows a particular pattern or set of rules to get from one term to another

 There are three types of sequences, namely:

1. Arithmetic sequences

2. Geometric sequence

3. Quadratic sequence
Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence where consecutive terms are


calculated by adding a constant value (positive or negative) to the
previous term. We call this constant value the common difference(𝑑).

The general term (sometimes known as the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term) for an


arithmetic sequence is given by:
𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂 + 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝒅
𝑎: first term or T1
𝑇𝑛 the value of the term in the 𝑛𝑡ℎ position
𝑛: the position of the term
𝑑: common difference
The common difference 𝑑 is found by subtracting the next term
from the previous term i.e.
𝑑 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇1 = 𝑇3 − 𝑇2 = 𝑇4 − 𝑇3 = 𝑇𝑛 − 𝑇𝑛−1
Example:

Consider the arithmetic sequence: 2; 6; 10; 14; …

a) What is the common difference?


b) State the values of the next two terms in the sequence.
c) Determine a formula for the nth term of the sequence.
d) Determine the value of the twenty fifth term.
e) Which term has a value of 46?
Practice Exercise on Arithmetic Sequences
1. Determine the general term of the following sequences
a) −1; 3; 7; …. b) 4; −2; −8 …. c) 1; −1; −3 ….

2. Determine the 38th term of the following arithmetic


sequences
21
a) −4; −8; −12 b) 6; ; 4.5 …… c) 𝑇𝑘 = −2𝑘 + 5
4

3. Which term of the arithmetic sequence −5; −2; 1 … is


equal to 94.

4. Given the arithmetic sequence: −13; −9; −5 …


a) Which term in the above sequence is 51
b) Calculate the 51𝑠𝑡 term

5. 4 − 2𝑥; 𝑥 − 1; 3𝑥 − 2 are the first three terms of an


arithmetic sequence
a) Determine the value of 𝑥 sequence.
b) Determine a formula for the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of the sequence
c) Determine the value of the 19𝑡ℎ term
Word Problems on Arithmetic Sequences
Examples

1. Determine the first three terms of the


following sequence of which the 3rd term of the
sequence is 23 and the 26th term of the sequence
is 230

2. The sixth term of an arithmetic sequence is


−5 and the sum of the second and eighth terms
is −2. Determine the first three terms in the
sequence.
Geometric Sequence
The general term for a geometric sequence is given by:
𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏
𝑎: first term or 𝑇1
𝑇𝑛 : the value of the term in the. 𝑛𝑡ℎ position
𝑛: the position of the term
𝑟: constant ratio

The constant ratio 𝑟 is found by diving the next term by the


previous term i.e.

𝑟 = 𝑇2 ÷ 𝑇1 = 𝑇3 ÷ 𝑇2 = 𝑇4 ÷ 𝑇3 = 𝑇𝑛 ÷ 𝑇𝑛−1
Example on Geometric Sequence

Consider the sequence 96; 48; 24; 12; …

a) State the values of the next three terms.


b) Determine a formula for the nth term of the sequence.
c) Determine the value of the 10th term.
3
d) Which term has a value of 64?
Practice Exercise on Geometric Sequences
1. Determine the general term of the following
geometric sequences:
1 2
a) 2; −1; ….. b) 2; 8; 32 c) − 3 ; 2; −6….
2

b) Determine the 9th term of the following geometric


sequence:
2
a) 128; 64; 32 ….. b) 0.25; 0.5; 1 …. c) 𝑇𝑘 = 3(3)6−𝑘

2. Which term of the geometric sequence 2; 6; 18 ….


is equal to 4374

3. Find the number of terms in the sequence


3 3 3
− ; ; − ; ……. 192
8 4 2
Word Problems on Geometric Sequences
Examples
1. The third term of a geometric sequence is 6 and
3
the sixth term is 32. Determine the first three
terms and the general term 𝑇𝑛 .

2. The first term of a geometric sequence is 3 and


the sum of the second and third terms is 60.
Determine the first three terms and the general
term 𝑇𝑛 given that the constant ratio is positive
Quadratic Sequence
A quadratic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the second difference between any two consecutive terms is
constant.The general term for a quadratic sequence is:

𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛2 + 𝑏𝑛 + 𝑐
Term: 𝑛=1 𝑛=2 𝑛=3 𝑛=4

𝑇𝑛 𝑎+𝑏+𝑐 4𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 𝑐 9𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 𝑐 16𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 𝑐

1st difference: 3𝑎 + 𝑏 5𝑎 + 𝑏 7𝑎 + 𝑏

2nd Difference 2𝑎 2𝑎

Note: The first differences of a quadratic sequence form an arithmetic sequence


Example:

Consider the following number pattern: 6; 17; 34; 57;


…………………….
(a) Show that it is a quadratic number pattern.
(b) Write down the next two terms of the number pattern.
(c) Hence determine the nth term as well as the 100th
term.
(d) Determine which term equals 162.
Practice Exercise on Quadratic Sequences

1. Consider the sequence 8; 18; 30; 44…


Write down the next two terms of the sequence
a) Calculate the nth term of the sequence
b) Which term of the sequence is 330?

2. Consider the sequence: 4; 9; 𝑥; 37………. is a quadratic


sequence. Calculate the value of x. Hence, or otherwise
determine the nth term of the sequence

3. The following numbers form a quadratic sequence:


3; 𝑥; 11; 𝑦; 35; Determine the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦.
PAST EXAM
PAPERS
2014 March Paper 1 Q 3
Given the arithmetic sequence: 𝑤 − 3 ; 2𝑤 − 4 ; 23 − 𝑤
3.1.1 Determine the value of 𝑤. (2)
3.1.2 Write down the common difference
of this sequence. (1)
3.2 The arithmetic sequence 4; 10; 16 ... is the
sequence of first differences of a quadratic sequence
with a first term equal to 3.
Determine the 50𝑡ℎ term of the quadratic sequence. (5)
2017 Senior Certificate Paper 1 Q 2.1.1 – Q 2.1.3
Given the geometric sequence: 3; 2; 𝑘.
2.1.1 Write down the value of the common ratio. (1)
2.1.2 Calculate the value of 𝑘. (2)
128
2.1.3 Calculate the value of 𝑛 if 𝑇𝑛 = 729 . (4)
2023 Eastern Cape June Paper 1 Q 3
Consider the following quadratic number pattern:
95; 72; 𝑦; 32; ….
3.1 Determine the value of 𝑦. (1)
3.2 If 𝑦 = 51, determine the general term of the
number pattern in the form 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛2 + 𝑏𝑛 + 𝑐 (4)
3.3 Determine 𝑇22 (1)
3.4 Which term in the number pattern will be equal
to 1 040? (4)
2011 March Paper 1 Q 4.2
The first two terms of a geometric sequence and an arithmetic
sequence are the same. The first term is 12. The sum of the
first three terms of the geometric sequence is 3 more
than the sum of the first three terms of the arithmetic
sequence. Determine TWO possible values for the common
ratio, 𝑟, of the geometric sequence. (6)

You might also like