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PROBLEM
S O LV I N G W I T H
PATT E R N S
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
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Terms of a Sequence
An ordered list of numbers
such as 5, 14, 27, 65, … is
called a sequence. The
number in a sequence that are
separated by comma are
called terms.
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Find the first term and the common difference of each:
1.) 4,9,14,19,
First term (a): 4
24
Common difference (d): a2 a1 = 9 – 4 = 5
2.) First
34,term27,
(a):
20,13,6, 1, 8,....
34
Common difference (d): -7
BE CAREFUL: ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE DIFFERENCE
IS THE SAME BETWEEN EACH TERM !
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Difference Table
It shows the difference
between successive terms of
the sequence.
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Example:
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Example:
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Example:
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Exercise:
Use a difference table to predict the
next term in the sequence.
2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207
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Exercise:
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Check your progress!
Use a difference table to predict the
next term in the sequence.
1, 14, 51, 124, 245, 426
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Find the next four terms of 0, 7, 14, …
Arithmetic Sequence, d = 7
21, 28, 35, 42
Find the next four terms of -3x, -2x, -x, …
Arithmetic Sequence, d = x
0, x, 2x, 3x
Find the next four terms of 5k, -k, -7k, …
Arithmetic Sequence, d = -6k
-13k, -19k, -25k, -31k
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How do you find any term in this sequence?
To find any term in an arithmetic sequence, use the formula
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
where d is the common difference
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Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)
a1 First term
an nth term
n number of terms
Sn sum of n terms
d common difference
nth term of arithmetic sequence an a1 n 1d
n
sum of n terms of arithmetic sequence Sn a1 an
2
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Find the 14th term of the
arithmetic sequence
4, 7, 10, 13,……
an a1 (n 1)d
a14 4 (14 1)3
4 (13)3
4 39
43
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THANK
YO U
