Lesson 2:: Arithmetic & Geometric Sequences
Lesson 2:: Arithmetic & Geometric Sequences
Lesson 2:: Arithmetic & Geometric Sequences
xn = a + d(n-1) xn = a + d(n-1)
a=3 X50 = 3 + 4(50-1)
n = 50 X50 = 3 + 4(49)
d= 4 X50 = 3 + 196
X50 = ? X50 = 199
2. What is the thirty-second term of the arithmetic sequence -12,
-7, -2, 3, ... ?
xn = a + d(n-1) xn = a + d(n-1)
a = -12 X32 = -12 + 5(32-1)
n = 32 X32 = -12 + 5(31)
d= 5 X32 = -12 + 5(31)
X32 = ? X32 = -12 + 155
X32 = 143
3. The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 4 and the tenth
term is 67.
What is the common difference?
xn = a + d(n-1) xn = a + d(n-1) 7=d
a=4 67 = 4 + d(10-1)
n = 10 67 = 4 + d (9)
Xn = 67 67 = 4 + 9d
d=? 67 – 4 = 9d
63 = 9d
9 9
Recitation:
4. What is the 40th term of the arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11,
15, .. . ?
5. What is the 19th term of the arithmetic sequence 21, 18, 15,
12, ... ?
For example:
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, …
It’s rule is xn = 2n
Geometric Sequence
In general we can write a geometric sequence like this:
a, ar, ar2, ar3, …
1. 2, 8, 32, 128, … 1. r = 4
2. 1, 10, 100, 1000, … 2. r = 10
3. 1, -1, 1, -1, … 3. r = -1
4. 20, 16, 12, 8, 4, … 4. Not a geometric sequence.
Geometric Sequence
Write the explicit rule for the sequence Find the 12th term of this sequence.
3, 6, 12, 24, 48, … Substitute 12 in for “n.”
x12 = (3)(2)(12-1)
Start with the formula: xn = ar(n-1)
x12 = (3)(2)(11)
a is the first term = 3
r is the common ratio: 2 x12 = (3)(2048)
x12 = 6,144
The rule is:
xn = (3)(2)(n-1)
• (Order of operations states that we would take care of exponents before you multiply.)
More Examples:
What is the eleventh term of the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12,
24, ... ?
Solution:
xn = ar(n-1)
a=3 xn = ar(n-1) x11 = 3072
r=2 x11 = (3)(2)(11-1)
n = 11 x11 = (3)(2)(10)
x11 = ? x11 = (3)(1024)
More Examples:
What is the ninth term of the geometric sequence 81, 27, 9, 3, ... ?
Solution:
xn = ar(n-1)
a = 81 xn = ar(n-1) x9 = 81/6561 or 1/81
r = 1/3 x9 = (81)(1/3)(9-1)
n=9 x9 = (81)(1/3)(8)
x9 = ? x9 = (81)(1/6,561)
More Examples:
The first term of a geometric sequence is 5 and the sixth term is 160.
What is the common ratio?
Solution:
xn = ar(n-1)
a=5 xn = ar(n-1) 32 = r5
r=? 160 = (5)(r)(6-1) 2=r
n=6 160 = (5)(r)(5)
x6 = 160 160 = 5r5
5 5
Recitation:
1. What is the 20th term of the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, ... ?
2. Find the 8th term of a geometric sequence for which a = -3 and r = -2.
3. Find the next two terms of the arithmetic sequence 1/81, 1/27, 1/9,..