Look at the sequence of circles below.

The diagram shows a sequence of circles. Each circle has some points marked
around its circumference. Each point is joined to every other point by a line.
The lines and regions are then counted. The lines and regions are not all the same
size.
Task 1
Describe a rule for how the number of points increases in this sequence.
Task 2
Describe a rule for how the number of lines increases.
Task 3
Describe a rule for how the number of regions increases.
Number sequences
1
Pattern 1
1 point
0 lines
1 region
Pattern 2
2 points
1 line
2 regions
Pattern 3
3 points
3 lines
4 regions
Pattern 4
4 points
6 lines
8 regions
1
1 1
2
2
3
4
1 1
2 2
3
1
2
4
3
1
3
2
5
6
7
8
4
CHAPTER 10
In this chapter you will learn how to:
recognise and use common number sequences
use rules to generate number sequences
find a general formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence.
You will also be challenged to:
investigate Fibonacci numbers.
Starter: Circles, lines and regions
153
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Task 4
Now draw pattern 5 and pattern 6, and see if your rules seem correct. You
should space out the points so that no triple intersections can occur, otherwise
you lose a region, for example:
10.1 Number sequences
Here are some number sequences that occur often in mathematics.
You may encounter these number patterns when solving mathematical
problems based on counting patterns.
EXAMPLE
Look at this pattern of squares.
a) How many squares would there be in pattern 5?
b) Find a formula for the number of squares in pattern n.
c) Use your formula to find the number of squares in pattern 100.
Chapter 10: Number sequences
154
No Yes
Name of sequence First six terms Formula for the nth term
Positive integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, n
Even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 2n
Odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 2n 1
Square numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, n
2
Cube numbers 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, n
3
Powers of 2 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 2
n
Powers of 10 10, 100, 1000, 10 000, 100 000, 10
n
1 000 000,
Triangular numbers 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21,
n(n
2
1)

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4

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SOLUTION
The number of squares forms a pattern 2, 4, 6, 8, that is, the even numbers.
a) Pattern 5 contains 2 5 10 squares.
b) Pattern n contains 2n squares.
c) Pattern 100 contains 2 100 200 squares.
Some number sequences are disguised versions of the common ones, perhaps
with a constant number added or multiplied.
EXAMPLE
Find the next three terms in this number sequence. Find also a formula for the
nth term.
101, 104, 109, 116, 125,
SOLUTION
101, 104, 109, 116, 125, are all 100 more than the square numbers.
The next three terms are 100 36, 100 49 and 100 64,
that is, 136, 149, 164
The nth term is 100 n
2
EXERCISE 10.1
Write down the next two terms in each of these number sequences, and explain how each term is worked out.
Give an expression for the nth term in each case.
They are all related to the list of common sequences in the table above.
1 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 2 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15,
3 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 4 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,
5 2, 8, 26, 80, 242, 6 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001,
7 10, 30, 60, 100, 150, 210, 8 2, 8, 18, 32, 50, 72,
9 Look at this pattern of triangles.
a) How many triangles would there be in pattern 7?
b) Find a formula for the number of triangles in pattern n.
10.1 Number sequences
155
Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4
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10 Look at this pattern of spots.
a) Find an expression for the number of spots in pattern n.
b) How many spots would there be in pattern 30?
10.2 Describing number sequences with rules
It can be very useful to be able to describe number sequences using rules. One
way of doing this is to say how each term is connected to the next one in the
sequence. (This is sometimes called a term-to-term rule, because it explains
the link between one term and the next.)
EXAMPLE
A number sequence is defined as follows:
The first term is 3.
Each new term is double the previous one.
Use this rule to generate the first five terms of the number sequence.
SOLUTION
Start with 3:
3 2 6
6 2 12
etc.
The first five terms of the sequence are 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, .
EXAMPLE
A number sequence is defined as follows:
The first term is 7.
Each new term is 3 more than the previous one.
Use this rule to generate the first six terms of the number sequence.
Chapter 10: Number sequences
156
Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3 Pattern 4
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SOLUTION
Start with 7:
7 3 10
10 3 13
etc.
The first six terms of the sequence are 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, .
If you wanted to work out the 100th number in a sequence, it would be very
tedious to have to write out all 100 numbers, one at a time. In this case it is
better if you can use an algebraic expression for the nth term. (This is
sometimes called a position-to-term rule, since you can work out the value of
any term as long as you know its position in the sequence.)
EXAMPLE
The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 2n
2
1.
a) Write down the first four terms of the sequence.
b) Find the value of the 20th term.
SOLUTION
a) n 1 gives 2 1
2
1 2 1 3
n 2 gives 2 2
2
1 8 1 9
n 3 gives 2 3
2
1 18 1 19
n 4 gives 2 4
2
1 32 1 33
The first four terms are 3, 9, 19, 33
b) When n 20, 2 20
2
1 800 1 801.
EXERCISE 10.2
1 A number sequence is defined as follows:
The first term is 5.
Each new term is 2 more than the previous one.
Use this rule to generate the first five terms of the number sequence.
2 A number sequence is defined as follows:
The first term is 1.
To find each new term, add 1 to the previous term, and double this total.
Use this rule to generate the first four terms of the number sequence.
3 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 8n 1.
a) Write down the values of the first five terms.
b) Work out the value of the 20th term.
10.2 Describing number sequences with rules
157
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4 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression
3n
2
1
.
a) Write down the values of the first six terms.
b) Work out the value of the 23rd term.
5 Andy has been doing a mathematical investigation. He gets this sequence of numbers:
12, 15, 18, 21, 24,
a) Describe Andys pattern in words.
b) Find the tenth term in Andys number sequence.
6 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 100 n.
a) Write down the values of the first five terms.
b) Work out the value of the 50th term.
7 In a certain number sequence, the first term is 3. Each new term is found by multiplying the previous term
by 3.
a) Write down the first five terms of the number sequence.
b) What name is given to this particular number sequence?
8 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the formula 7n 3.
a) Work out the first three terms.
b) Find the value of the 10th term.
c) One of the numbers in the sequence is 1053. Which term is this?
9 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression
n(n
2
1)
.
a) Write down the values of the first four terms.
b) Work out the value of the 30th term.
c) Explain why all the terms in this sequence are integers.
d) What name is often given to the number sequence generated by this rule?
10 David is working with a number sequence. The nth term of his sequence is given by the expression 6n 7.
He gets the number 2770 as one of his terms. Show that David must have made a mistake.
10.3 Arithmetic sequences
A number sequence in which the terms go up in equal steps is called an
arithmetic sequence. The graph of an arithmetic sequence is a straight line, so
it may alternatively be called a linear sequence. The size of the step is called
the common difference.
EXAMPLE
For each sequence, say whether it is arithmetic or not. State the value of the
common difference for each arithmetic sequence.
a) 2, 3, 5, 8, 12,
b) 2, 5, 8, 11, 14,
c) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16,
d) 40, 36, 32, 28, 24,
Chapter 10: Number sequences
158
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SOLUTION
a) 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, is not an arithmetic sequence (the terms go up by 1, then 2,
then 3, etc.).
b) 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, is an arithmetic sequence with common difference 3.
c) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, is not an arithmetic sequence (the terms go up by 1, then 2,
then 4, etc.).
d) 40, 36, 32, 28, 24, is an arithmetic sequence with common difference 4.
An arithmetic sequence may be generated by an algebraic rule that gives a
general formula for the nth term of the sequence.
EXAMPLE
Each of these rules describes the nth term of a number sequence. Write out the
first four terms of each sequence, and hence pick out the ones that are
arithmetic sequences.
a) 3n 1 b) n
2
n c) 5n 1 d) 10 n
SOLUTION
a) 3n 1 gives 4, 7, 10, 13, which is an arithmetic sequence with common
difference 3.
b) n
2
n gives 2, 6, 12, 20 which is not an arithmetic sequence.
c) 5n 1 gives 4, 9, 14, 19, which is an arithmetic sequence with common
difference 5.
d) 10 n gives 9, 8, 7, 6, which is an arithmetic sequence with common
difference 1.
Some examination questions may require you to carry out this process in
reverse. You will be given some numbers in an arithmetic sequence and asked
to find a formula that generates them.
The formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence will always be of the
form an b. Here a and b represent coefficients, or numbers, whose values are
to be determined. They may be positive, negative or zero.
The value of a is easy to spot it is simply the value of the common difference.
A good way to find b is to compute the value of the zeroth term, i.e. compute
the value of an imaginary term one place before the actual first term. This will
automatically generate the required value of b.
10.3 Arithmetic sequences
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EXAMPLE
Find a formula for the nth term of the arithmetic sequence:
7, 10, 13, 16, 19,
SOLUTION
Let the required formula be an b.
The common difference is 10 7 3, so a 3.
Insert the zeroth term:
(4), 7, 10, 13, 16, 19,
Hence b 4.
Thus the nth term is given by the formula 3n 4
The same method can be used for problems set in a more practical context, as in
the next example.
EXAMPLE
The table shows the cost of hiring a van. It is made up of a fixed hire charge
plus a daily amount.
a) Work out the cost of hiring the van for 10 days.
b) Express C in terms of n.
c) Carlos hired the van and paid 530. For how many days did he hire the van?
SOLUTION
a) Continuing the pattern in the table:
So the cost for 10 days is 320
Chapter 10: Number sequences
160
Number of days for which Charge for hire
the van is hired (n) (C) in
1 50
2 80
3 110
4 140
5 170
6 200
7 230
8 260
9 290
10 320
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b) The common difference is 30, so the formula must be of the form
C30n b.
The sequence begins (20), 50, 80, 110, 140, .
Therefore b 20.
The formula is therefore C30n 20
c) Now if C 530, the formula gives:
30n 20 530
30n 530 20
30n 510
Dividing by 30, n 17.
Thus Carlos hired the van for 17 days
EXERCISE 10.3
1 The first five terms in an arithmetic sequence are:
12, 17, 22, 27, 32,
a) Find the value of the 10th term.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
2 The first four terms in an arithmetic sequence are:
58, 50, 42, 34,
a) Find the value of the first negative term.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
Here are some arithmetic sequences. For each one, find, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of the
sequence.
3 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 4 2, 7, 12, 17, 22, 5 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,
6 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 7 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 8 12, 10, 8, 6, 4,
9 Nina has been making patterns with sticks. Here are her first three patterns.
a) Work out the number of sticks in pattern 6.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
c) Explain how the coefficients in your formula are related to the way the sticks fit together.
10 The tenth term of an arithmetic sequence is 68 and the 11th term is 75.
a) Write down value of the common difference for this sequence.
b) Work out the value of the first term.
c) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
Check that your formula works when n 10 and n 11.
10.3 Arithmetic sequences
161
Pattern 1
4 sticks
Pattern 2
7 sticks
Pattern 3
10 sticks
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REVIEW EXERCISE 10
Find the next three terms in each of these number sequences. For those that form arithmetic sequences,
write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
1 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 2 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 3 2, 5, 8, 11,
4 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 5 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6 100, 99, 97, 94, 90,
7 A number sequence is defined as follows:
The first term is 7.
To get each new term, multiply the previous one by 3 and subtract 15.
Work out the first four terms of this sequence.
8 The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression
n
2

2
3n
.
a) Work out the first five terms of this sequence.
b) Do the first five terms form an arithmetic sequence?
9 Timothy has been drawing patterns. Here are his first three patterns.
a) Write down the number of sticks in pattern 5.
b) Work out the number of sticks in pattern 12.
c) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence.
10 Here are the first five terms of a sequence.
30, 29, 27, 24, 20,
a) Write down the next two terms in the sequence.
Here are the first five terms of a different sequence.
1, 5, 9, 13, 17,
b) Find, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of the sequence. [Edexcel]
11 Here are some patterns made with crosses.
The table shows the number of crosses in pattern numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Write down a formula for the number of crosses, C, in terms of the pattern number, n. [Edexcel]
Chapter 10: Number sequences
162
Pattern 1
6 sticks
Pattern 3
16 sticks
Pattern 2
11 sticks
Pattern number 1 Pattern number 2 Pattern number 4 Pattern number 3
Pattern number (n) 1 2 3 4
Number of crosses (C) 5 8 11 14
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12 Here are the first five numbers of a simple sequence.
1, 5, 9, 13, 17
a) Write down the next two numbers of the sequence.
b) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term of this sequence. [Edexcel]
13 Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence.
6, 11, 16, 21, 26
Find an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term of this sequence. [Edexcel]
14 The table shows some rows of a number pattern.
a) Complete row 4 of the table.
b) Complete row 8 of the table.
c) Work out the sum of the first 100 whole numbers.
d) Write down an expression, in terms of n, for the sum of the first n whole numbers. [Edexcel]
15 The diagram shows patterns made of dots.
The number of dots in each pattern is shown in the table below.
a) Copy and complete the table.
Review exercise 10
163
Row 1 1
1
2
2

Row 2 1 2
2
2
3

Row 3 1 2 3
3
2
4

Row 4
Row 5
Row 6
Row 7
Row 8
Pattern
number 1 2 3 4
Pattern number 1 2 3 4 5 6
Number of dots 2 5 9 14
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b) (i) Work out the number of dots in pattern number 10.
(ii) Give a reason for your answer.
The first four triangular numbers are 1, 3, 6, 10.
An expression for the nth triangular number is
n(n
2
1)
.
c) Use this to write down an expression for the number of dots in pattern number m.
d) Work out the number of dots in pattern number 99. [Edexcel]
Chapter 10: Number sequences
164
Key points
1 Common number sequences include the positive integers, the even numbers and
the odd numbers. Others you should learn to recognise are:
Square numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36,
Cube numbers 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216,
Powers of 2 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32,
Powers of 10 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10 000, 100 000,
Triangular numbers 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21,
2 Some number sequences may be defined in words, by stating how each term is
connected to the previous one. This type of definition can be inefficient in practice,
since to find the 50th term, for example, you have to find all the intermediate terms
too.
3 Some number sequences may also be described by means of an expression that
allows you to find the nth term of the sequence directly. This type of rule is quite
efficient, because you can find any term in the sequence directly, without having to
compute all the intermediate ones.
4 An arithmetic sequence is one that goes up in equal steps; the formula for the nth
term of such a sequence will be of the form an b. The coefficient a is equal to the
step size, and b is equal to the value of the imaginary zeroth term.
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Internet Challenge 10
165
Internet Challenge 10
Fibonacci numbers
Fibonacci numbers are used to model the behaviour of living systems. Fibonacci numbers also lead to the
Golden Ratio, widely used in classical art and architecture. In this challenge you will need to use a
spreadsheet at first, before looking on the internet to complete your work.
Here is the Fibonacci number sequence:
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, .
1 Type these numbers into a computer spreadsheet, such as Excel. (It is a good idea to enter them in a
vertical list, rather than a horizontal one.)
2 Each term (apart from the first two) is found by adding together the two previous ones, for example,
13 8 5. Use your spreadsheet replicating functions to automatically generate a list of the first
50 Fibonacci numbers.
3 Divide each Fibonacci number by the one before it, for example 8 5 1.6. Set up a column on your
spreadsheet to do this up to the 50th Fibonacci number. What do you notice?
The quantities you found in question 3 approach a limit called the Golden Ratio, .
4 Using your spreadsheet value for , calculate 1 and

1
. What do you notice?
Now use the internet to help answer the following questions. Find pictures where appropriate.
5 How was the Golden Ratio used by the builders of the Parthenon in Athens?
6 Whose painting of The Last Supper was based on Golden Ratio constructions?
7 Which painter was said to have attacked every canvas by the golden section?
8 When was Fibonacci born? When did he die?
9 Is there a position-to-term rule for Fibonacci numbers, that is, is there a formula for finding the nth
number?
10 What sea creature has a spiral shell that is often (mistakenly) said to be based on a Golden Ratio spiral?
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