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Sequences

Arithmetic Geometric Other Types of

Sequences Sequences Sequences

Finding the Next Term

Finding the Term

Finding the Arithmetic/Geometric Means

Finding the Sum of the First n Terms

Solving Real-Life Problems

 Activity 1 What’s next?

Each item below shows a pattern. Answer the given questions.

1. What is the next shape?

2. What is the next number?

What is the 10th number?

0, 4, 8, 12, 16, ____

3. What is the next number?

What is the 8th number?

9, 4, -1, -6, -11, ____

4. What is the next number?
What is the 12th number?

1, 3, 9, 27, 81, ________

5. What is the next number?

What is the 7th number?

160, 80, 40, 20, 10, ______

• The set of shapes and the set of numbers in the above

activity are called sequences.
• Were you able to find patterns and get the next number in
the sequence?
 The Greek Mathematician Pythagoras who lived during the sixth century BC
was the founder of the Pythagorean brotherhood. The grouped studied
numbers of geometric arrangements of points, such as the triangular
numbers, square numbers, and pentagonal numbers .

Triangular Numbers

1 3 6 10 15
Square Numbers

1 9
4
16

25
 Pentagonal Numbers

1 5
12 22

The order list of numbers, such as

Triangular numbers: 1, 3 , 6 , 10 , 15 ,…
Square Numbers : 1 , 4 , 9 , 16, 25 , …
Pentagonal Numbers: 1 , 5 , 12 , 22 , 35 , …

Are called sequences of numbers. A sequence may be generated from

shapes, patterns, or rules.
What is a sequence?

A sequence is a function whose domain is the finite set {1,2,3,…,n}

or the infinite set {1,2,3,…} and whose range is a subset of the real numbers.

Each number in the sequence is called term.

Example 1. n 1 2 3 4 5

a(n) 2 4 6 8 10
• This finite sequence has 5 terms. We may use the notation
, , … or , , , … to denote a(1), a(2), a(3),…, a(n), respectively.

We often encounter sequences that form pattern such

as that found in the next sequence.

Example 2 n 1 2 3 4

4 7 10 13
Number Sequence

A number sequence is a list of numbers having a first number, a second

number, a third number, and so on called the terms of the sequence.

Finite Sequence

is a function whose domain is the set positive of positive integers {1,

2, 3, 4,…,n}

Infinite Sequence

is a function whose domain is the set of all positive integers

{1, 2, 3, 4,…}

Example 1 FINDING THE NEXT TERM

Find the next two terms of each sequence.

a. 4, 7, 10, 13,…
b. 15, 7, -1, -9,…
c. 7, 14, 28, 56,…
d. 24, -12, 6, -3
Example 2
The diagram shows four patterns

1 2 3

4
Let the length of a matchstick equal to 2 cm, represents the
number of matchsticks in the nth pattern, and the perimeter
of the pattern.

a. Complete the following table.

n 1 2 3 4
7
12

b. Find

c. Find
Example 3

List all the indicated terms of each finite sequence.

a. = for

b. = for 1 n 4

Example 4

Find the 7th and the 10th term of the sequence whose nth term is given by:

a. = b. =
Example 5

A ball is dropped from a height

of 24 feet and always bounces off
to of the height from which it
falls. Express the heights from
which the ball falls as terms of a
sequence.
Example 6
= n+4

Example 7
= 12-3n

Example 8
=

Example 9
=

Example 10
Find the 6th term and the 15th term

=
 Activity 2 Term after Term

Find the first 5 terms of the sequence given the nth term.

1. = 3

2. =

3. =

4. =

5. =
 Finding the General Term or the nth
Term
If the terms are known, and we want to write a formula that will produce those terms,
it is often possible by examining the terms then looking for a pattern. Such a process
depends on the insight and on a trial-and-error method.

1. Find the general term of the sequence

3, 5, 7, 9, 11, …
Solution: The sequence of the given set of odd integers starts with 3. Since n
represents the set of natural numbers, we must express the sequence in terms of these
values of n.

Trial n Term Result

n +2 1 1+2 3 Right
2 2+2 4 Wrong

The second term must be 5, not 4. An odd integer is always 1 greater or less
than an even integer, giving the following:
 Trial n Term Result
2n+1 1 2(1)+1 3 Right
2 2(2)+1 5 Right

Upon inspection for n=3, 4, 5,…, the trial confirms that 2n+1

2. Give the formula that produces the terms of the given sequence
1, 2, 4, 8, …
Solution: Each term is a power 2.
1
2
4
8

So the nth term of this sequence is

3. Find the formula that produces the terms of the given
sequence
1, 3, 9, 27, …

Solution: This is the same as in no. 2, only each term is of power 3. So the
nth term is =

4. Given a sequence

Solution: To get the alternating sign, use the powers of -1. Any even power
of -1 is positive and any odd power of -1 is negative. We use as numerator.
The denominators are the squares of term numbers. So, the nth term of this
sequence
=
GENERAL TERM WHEN THE FIRST FEW TERMS OF THE GIVEN SEQUENCE
ARE LINEAR IN NATURE

Example 1. Find the general term of the sequence

5, 12, 19, 26, 33, …
Solution:
1. Prepare a table with row headings n and where n represents the
domain (set of positive consecutive integers) and represents the term that
corresponds to the elements of the domain.

2. Get the first difference

5 12 19 26 33

2. Is the first difference a constant?

3. If yes, form two equations by using 2 pairs of numbers from the table.
(an + b) =
4. Solve for a and b

5. Substitute a and b in the general form.

6. Check
Example 2. Find the general term of the sequence
1,5, 12, 22, 35…
Solution:
1. Prepare a table with row headings n and where n represents the
domain (set of positive consecutive integers) and represents the term that
corresponds to the elements of the domain.

2. Get the first difference

1 5 12 22 35

2. Is the first difference a constant?

3. If no, get the second difference.

4. Is the 2nd difference a constant?

5. If yes, form 3 equations by using 3 pairs of the numbers from the table.
(=)

6. Solve for a, b, and c.

7. Substitute a, b, and c in the general form.
( + bn + c = )

8. Check
Find the general term for each sequence. Then, find the 10 th term for each.

a. 7, 11, 15, 19, 23,…

b. , , , , , …

c. 1, 5, 12, 22, 35, …

d.

n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4 n=5