June 5 , 2015

FRIDAY

I. To find the rule for finding the nth term of an arithmetic sequence.
To use the general rule of arithmetic sequence in solving situations involving this sequence.

II. Arithmetic Sequence

Ref: Practical Work in HS math , p.107 – 111

III. A. Discussion of the assignment

B. Activity

Create a sequence with 5 terms involving arithmetic sequence.

Set your own general rule.
Find the 10th term.
Is it possible to have just one general rule that will describe every terms in any arithmetic
sequence?

B. Analysis

Form a team of 3 or 2 members.

The “ Honeycomb “ problem.

Create a ‘house ‘ of a honeycomb by using the matchsticks.

Begin by one ‘house’. How many matchsticks will you need?
Set the second ‘house’. How many matchsticks did you add?
Set the 3rd ‘house’. Count the number of matchsticks are used?
What would be the next pattern and how many matchsticks will there be?
What kind of sequence is formed?

C. Abstraction

What if we consider the 10th pattern , how many matchsticks will there be?
Is there another way of arriving at the answer?
Can you derive the general rule that will describe this sequence?

Deriving the Equation for the nth Term of an arithmetic Sequence

Consider the sequence derived from the activity : 6 , 11 , 16 , 21 , 26 , . . .

Since it is an arithmetic sequence , what is the constant addend ? Call it the common
difference , d . What is the first term ? Represent it by an . Now , observe this:
A1 = 6
A1 = 6 A 4 = a3 + 5
= a1 + 2 ( 5 ) + 5 A2 = a1 + 1 ( 5 )
A2 = 11 = a1 + 3 ( 5 )
=6+5 A3 = a1 + 2 ( 5 )
A2 = a1 + 5 A5 = a4+5
A 4 = a1 + 3 ( 5 )
= a1 + 3 ( 5 ) + 5
= a 1 +4(5)
A3 = 16= a2 + 5 A 5 = a1 + 4 ( 5 )
= a1 + 5 + 5
= a1 + 2 ( 5 ) A n = a1 + ( n – 1 ) 5
Note that , a1 is the first term , 5 is the common difference or the supposed constant addend ,while
n is the number of terms. Therefore , A n = a1 + ( n – 1 ) d .

Do you think this rule will work for any arithmetic sequence?
Try it in your own created arithmetic sequence.

The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is given by the formula ,

A n = a1 + ( n – 1 ) d and n ≥ 1

Where a n is the nth term , a 1 is the first term , n is the number of terms and

d is the common difference or the constant addend.

E. Application

1. If the first three terms of an arithmetic sequence are 3 , 7 , 11 , what is the 15th term ?

2. Find the 30th term of the arithmetic sequence with a1 = 3 and the common difference is 2.

3. If the 2nd term of an arithmetic sequence is 7 and the 4th term is 1 , what is the 1st and the

15th term?

4. If the 1st term of an arithmetic sequence is – 2 , a 12 = 42 and the number of terms is 12.

What is the common difference.

5. An auditorium has 35 rows of seats. The back row has 85 seats , the next row at front has

83 seats , the next row has 81 and so on . How many seats are in the first row?

IV. Assignment

Practice Activity

( to be photocopied )