Chapter 5(C) - Part 1

IB Math Studies I

[ notes ]

5C: ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES

1st term
5 , 12 , 19 , 26 , 33 , ...
position: u1

u2

u3

u5 .... un

7
(common difference) d = 7
A sequence in which each term differs from the
previous by the same fixed number (common difference)
(a.k.a: arithmetic progression)
common
What's the
difference
+

u4

rule?

= 1 + ( 1)

Term
Number

one less than

1st
term the term number

Find the rule to the sequence above

What you need to find the rule:

1 = 1st term
= common difference
1 = 5
= 7

= 1 + ( 1)
= + ( )

IB Math Studies I

Chapter 5(C) - Part 1

[ notes ]

5C: ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES

Examples
1) Write the rule for: 13 , 18 , 23 , 28 , ...

2) Write the rule for: 24 , 12 , 0 , -12 , - 24 , ...

3) Find the first 5 terms of the sequence if: = 11 + 4( 1)

4) Find the first 5 terms of the sequence if: = 8 6( 1)

IB Math Studies I

Chapter 5(C)
[ notes ]

5C: ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES

Arithmetic Mean
5 , 14 , 23 , 32 , 42 , ...
a
b
c
14 + 32
+
23
=
=
2
2
Example

46
23 =
2
23 = 23

Suppose three consecutive terms of a sequence are: 3k+ 1 , k , -3

How can we find k?