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7 Number Sequences
ALGEBRA
You may encounter these number patterns when solving mathematical problems
based on counting patterns.
A number sequence is a set of numbers listed in a specific order, where the
numbers can be found by a specific rule.
The first term is denoted by u1, the second by u2, the third by u3, and so on.
The nth term is written as un.
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We often describe a number sequence in words, giving a rule which connects one
term with the next.
For example, 15, 11, 7, 3, -1, ...... can be described by the rule: Start with 15 and
each term thereafter is 4 less than the previous one.
The next two terms are u6 = -1 -4 = -5 and u7 = -5 -4 = -9:
We say that this sequence is linear because each term differs from the previous
one by a constant value.
Example 1
Look at this pattern of squares.
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Example 2
Solution
EXERCISE 2.7.1
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 given on the first page. (Refer pg.1)
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Example 3
Write down a rule to describe the sequence and hence find its next two terms:
a) 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ...... b) 2, 6, 18, 54, ...... c) 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ......
Solution
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Example 4
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.
Solution
Start with 7:
7 + 3 = 10
10 + 3 = 13
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 5
The nth term of a number sequence is given by the expression 2n2 + 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 12 + 1
=2+1
2
n=2 gives 2 2 + 1
= 8+1
2
n=3 gives 2 3 + 1
=18+1
2
n=4 gives 2 4 + 1
=32+1
The first four terms are 3, 9, 19, 33
b) When n=20, 2 202 +1 = 800 +1=801.
=3
=9
=19
=33
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EXERCISE 2.7.2
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By : Mr Sathya
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.
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Example 8
Find a formula for the nth term of the arithmetic sequence:
7, 10, 13, 16, 19,
Solution
The same method can be used for problems set in a more practical context, as in
the next example.
Example 9
The table shows the cost of hiring a van. It is made up of a fixed hire charge plus a
daily amount.
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Solution
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10
EXERCISE 2.7.3
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11