Mathematics

EDEN MAE S. TABLIAGO

 Illustrating an
Arithmetic Sequence
Look at the sequences below. Can you
see the specific pattern?

2, 4, 6, 8, …
3, 6, 12, 24, …
5, 10, 15, 20, …
 Look at the sequences below. Can you
see the specific pattern?

2, 4, 6, 8, … by adding 2 to the preceding term.

3, 6, 12, 24, … by multiplying 2 to the preceding term.
5, 10, 15, 20, …by adding 5 to the preceding term.
Arithmetic Sequence
Arithmetic Sequence
Arithmetic Sequence
Arithmetic Sequence
{1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16,… }
d = xn – xn-1 d = xn – xn-1
=4–1 = -7 4
=3 =3

d = xn – xn-1 d = xn – xn-1
= 10 – 7 = 13 - 10
=3 =3
Arithmetic Sequence
Arithmetic Sequence
Arithmetic Sequence
 A. Finding several terms of a
sequence, given the general term:
 Example 1. Find the first four terms of the sequence an = 2n - 1
Solution:
To find the first term, let n = 1
an = 2n – 1 use the given the general term
a1 = 2(1) – 1 substitute n by 1
a1 = 2 – 1 perform the operation
a1 = 1 simplify
Repeat the same process for the second to the fourth terms.
Find the second term, n = 2 a2 = 2(2) – 1 = 4 – 1 = 3
Find the third term, n = 3 a3 = 2(3) – 1 = 6 – 1 = 5
Find the fourth term, n = 4 a4 = 2(4) – 1 = 8 – 1 = 7
Therefore, the first four terms of the sequence are 1, 3, 5, 7
Find the 5 to the 8 terms of the sequence
th th

bn = 3n + 2
 Find the 5th to the 8th terms of the sequence
bn = 3n + 2
To find the first term, let n = 5
bn = 3n + 2 use the given the general term
b5 = 3(5) + 2 substitute n by 5
b5 = 15 + 2 perform the operation
b5 = 17 simplify
Repeat the same process for the sixth to the eight terms.
Find the sixth term, n=6 b6 = 3(6) + 2 = 18 + 2 = 20
Find the seventh term, n=7 b7 = 3(7) + 2 = 21 + 2 = 23
Find the eighth term, n = 8 b8 = 3(8) + 2 = 24 + 2 = 26
Therefore, the first four terms of the sequence are 17, 20, 23, 26
B. Finding the general term, given
several terms of the sequence:
Write the general term of the sequence 5, 12, 19, 26, 33,..
Solution:
Notice that each term is 7 more than the previous term. We can search the pattern using a tabular form.

In the pattern, the number of times that 7 is added to 5 is one less than the nth term (n – 1). Thus,
an = 5 + 7( n − 1) equate an and 5 +7(n − 1)
an = 5 +( 7n – 7) apply distributive property of multiplication
an = 7n – 2 combine similar terms

Therefore, the nth term of the sequence is an = 7n – 2

Write the general term of the
sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ...
Write the general term of the sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ...
Solution:
Notice that each term is 2 times the previous term. We can search the pattern using a
tabular form.

Therefore, the nth term of the sequence is an = 2n,

 Common Difference (d)
To find the common difference (d), you can simply subtract
the second term ( a2) by the first term (a1) ,
( a2) - (a1) , or
the third term (a3) by the second term (a2) ,
(a3) - (a2) , or
the fourth term (a4) by the third term (a3) ,
(a4) - (a3) , or
 in general, a term (an) by its preceding term (an-1)

d = an – an-1
1. Determine if the sequence is arithmetic or not. If it is,
find the common difference and the next three terms of
the sequence. -4, 3, 10, 17, …
Solution:
a. To find out if the sequence is arithmetic, there must be a common
difference between any two consecutive terms in the sequence.
a2 – a1 = 3 – (-4) = 7
a3 – a2 = 10 – (3) = 7
a4 – a3 = 17 – 10 = 7
Because there is a common difference between consecutive terms,
the sequence is arithmetic.
 1. Determine if the sequence is arithmetic or not. If it is,
find the common difference and the next three terms of
the sequence. -4, 3, 10, 17, …
Solution:
b. The next three terms are obtained by adding 7 to the
preceding term, so that
a5 = a4 + 7 = 17 + 7 = 24
a6 = a5 + 7 = 24 + 7 = 31
a7 = a6 + 7 = 31 + 7 = 38
So the next three terms are 24, 31, 38.
Determine if the sequence is arithmetic or
not. If it is, find the common difference
and the next three terms of the sequence.

5, 8, 11, 14, …
1. Determine if the sequence is arithmetic or not. If it is,
find the common difference and the next three terms of
the sequence. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
Solution:
a. To find out if the sequence is arithmetic, there must be a common
difference between any two consecutive terms in the sequence.
a2 – a1 = 8 – 5 = 3
a3 – a2 = 11 – 8 = 3
a4 – a3 = 14 – 11= 3
Because there is a common difference between consecutive terms,
the sequence is arithmetic.
 1. Determine if the sequence is arithmetic or not. If it is,
find the common difference and the next three terms of
the sequence. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
Solution:
b. The next three terms are obtained by adding 3 to the
preceding term, so that
a5 = a4 + 3 = 14 + 3 = 17
a6 = a5 + 3 = 17+ 3 = 20
a7 = a6 + 3 = 20 + 3 = 23
So the next three terms are 17, 20, 23.
 Write the first five terms of the
arithmetic sequence with 5 as the first
term and with a common difference of -
2.
 Write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence
with 5 as the first term and with a common difference of
-2.
Solution:
First term: a1 = 5
Second term: a2 = a1 + (-2) = 5 – 2 = 3
Third term: a3 = a2+ (-2) = 3 – 2 = 1
Fourth term: a4 = a3 + (-2) = 1 – 2 = -1
Fifth term: a5 = a4 + (-2) = -1 – 2 = -3

As you notice, we add the common difference or the constant to the preceding term to
get the next term. So, the first five terms of the sequence are 5, 3, 1, -1, and -3.
 Write the first five terms of the
arithmetic sequence with 8 as the first
term and with a common difference of
-3.
 Write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence
with 8 as the first term and with a common difference of
-3.
Solution:
First term: a1 = 8
Second term: a2 = a1 + (-3) = 8 – 3 = 5
Third term: a3 = a2+ (-3) = 5 – 3 = 2
Fourth term: a4 = a3 + (-3) = 2– 3 = -1
Fifth term: a5 = a4 + (-3) = -1 – 3 = -4

As you notice, we add the common difference or the constant to the preceding term to
get the next term. So, the first five terms of the sequence are 8, 5, 2, -1, and -4.
Find the common difference an
arithmetic sequence whose
a2 = 1, a5 = 7
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a2 = 1, a5 = 7
Solution:
a. Remember that to find a term we add the common
difference (d) , to the preceding term, for instance,
a3 = a2 + d Equation 1
a4 = a3 + d Equation 2
a5 = a4 + d Equation 3
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a2 = 1, a5 = 7

b. Substitute a3 in Equation 1 to
Equation 2
a4 = a3 + d
a4 = (a2 + d) + d
a4 = a2 + 2d Equation 4
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a2 = 1, a5 = 7
c. Substitute in Equation 4 to Equation 3
a5 = a4 + d
a5 = (a2 + 2d) + d
a5 = a2 + 3d Equation 5
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a2 = 1, a5 = 7
d. Substitute the given in Equation 5
a5 = a2 + 3d
7 = 1 + 3d
e. Solve for in Equation 6.
7 = 1 + 3d
7 – 1 = 3d
6 = 3d
d=2 So, the common difference, is 2.
Find the common difference an
arithmetic sequence whose
a3 = 12, a6 = 24
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a3 = 12, a6 = 24
Solution:
a. Remember that to find a term we add the common
difference (d) , to the preceding term, for instance,
a4 = a3 + d Equation 1
a5 = a4 + d Equation 2
a6 = a5 + d Equation 3
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a3 = 12, a6 = 24

b. Substitute a4 in Equation 1 to
Equation 2
a5 = a4 + d
a5 = (a3 + d) + d
a5 = a3 + 2d Equation 4
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a3 = 12, a6 = 24
c. Substitute in Equation 4 to Equation 3
a6 = a5 + d
a6 = (a3 + 2d) + d
a6 = a3 + 3d Equation 5
 Find the common difference an arithmetic sequence
whose
a3 = 12, a6 = 24
d. Substitute the given in Equation 5
a6 = a3 + 3d
24 = 12+ 3d
e. Solve for in Equation 6.
24 = 12 + 3d
24 - 12 = 3d
12 = 3d
d=4 So, the common difference, is 4.
Find the common difference and the next
three terms of each arithmetic sequence
Common Difference Next 3 Terms
_________ 1. 24, 14, 4, ___, ___, ___
_________ 2. 6, 10, 14, ___, ___, ___
_________ 3. -7, 4, 15, ___, ___, ____
_________ 4. 21, 15, 9, ___, ___, ___
_________ 5. -8, -6, -4, ___, ___, __