PATTERNS, SEQUENCES & SERIES

Before you begin working with grade 12 patterns, sequences and series, it is important to revise what
you learnt in grade 11 about quadratic sequences.
A quadratic sequence is a sequence in which the second difference is constant.
The general term of this sequence is 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛2 + 𝑏𝑛 + 𝑐
𝑎 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑏 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 ; 𝑐 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
EXAMPLE
Consider the pattern: 5; −2; −7; −10; …
1. Write down the next two terms
2. Determine an expression for the nth terms
3. Show that the sequence will never have a term with a value less than −11
SOLUTIONS
1. Begin by identifying the sequence. Since the sequence doesn’t have a common first difference or a
constant ratio, we check to see if the sequence is quadratic.

2
∴ 𝑑 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = =1
2

The next two terms : -11; 10

2.
To find 𝑏 and 𝑐 substitute 𝑛 = 1 into 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛2 + 𝑏𝑛 + 𝑐
Equation : 𝑇1 = 1(1)2 + 𝑏(1) + 𝑐 = 1 + 𝑏 + 𝑐
∴5=1+𝑏+𝑐
∴4=𝑏+𝑐
Now substitute 𝑛 = 2.
𝑇2 = 1(2)2 + 𝑏(2) + 𝑐 = 4 + 2𝑏 + 𝑐
∴ −2 = 4 + 2𝑏 + 𝑐
∴ −6 = 2𝑏 + 𝑐
Now solve equation 1 and 2 simultaneously
Equation 2 minus equation 1
4 = 𝑏+𝑐
−6 = 2𝑏 + 𝑐
4 − (−6) = (𝑏 + 𝑐) − (2𝑏 + 𝑐)
10 = 𝑏 + 𝑐 − 2𝑏 − 𝑐 10 = −𝑏 ∴ 𝑏 = −10
From first equation :
4=𝑏+𝑐 and 𝑏 = −10
∴ 4 = −10 + 𝑐 ∴ 14 = 𝑐
∴ 𝑐 = 14
The expression for the nth terms : ∴ 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑛2 − 10𝑛 + 14

3. 𝑛2 − 10𝑛 + 14 < −11

𝑛2 − 10𝑛 + 14 < −11
𝑛2 − 10𝑛 + 25 < 0
(𝑛 − 5)2 < −11
This is not true for any values of 𝑛 thus the sequence will not have a term less than −11. (A perfect
square always is positive.)
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCES AND SERIES
An arithmetic sequence or series is a linear number pattern in which the first difference is constant.
The general term formula allows you to determine any specific term of an arithmetic sequence.
And the sum of formula determines the sum of a specific number of terms of an arithmetic series.
The formulae are as follows:
𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
Where:
𝑎=𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 and
𝑑=𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = 𝟐 [𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏 )𝒅]

Where:
𝑎=𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 and
𝑑=𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 = [𝒂 + 𝒍]
𝟐
where 𝑙 is the last term and 𝑎=𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
Note:
𝑑 = 𝑇2 − 𝑇1
𝑇1 = 𝑎
𝑇2 = 𝑎 + 𝑑
𝑇3 = 𝑎 + 2𝑑 𝑒𝑡𝑐.
EXAMPLE 1
The 19th term of an arithmetic sequence is 11, while the 31st term is 5.
a. Determine the first three terms of the sequence.
𝑇19 = 𝑎 + 18𝑑 = 11 𝑇31 = 𝑎 + 30𝑑 = 5 ∴ 11 = 𝑎 + 18𝑑 5 = 𝑎 + 30𝑑 Now solve equation 1
and 2 simultaneously
Equation 2 minus equation 1
11 − 5 = (𝑎 + 18𝑑) − (𝑎 + 30𝑑) ∴
6 = 𝑎 + 18𝑑 − 𝑎 − 30𝑑
∴ 6 = −12𝑑
−6
∴ =𝑑
12
1
∴𝑑=−
2
 1
From first equation 𝑎 + 18𝑑 = 11 and 𝑑 = 2
1
∴ 𝑎 − 18 2 = 11
∴ 𝑎 − 9 = 11
∴ 𝑎 = 11 + 9
∴ 𝑎 = 20
1
If 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 and 𝑎 = 20 , 𝑑 = −
2
1
∴ 𝑇𝑛 = 20 − (𝑛 − 1)
2

b. Which term of the sequence is equal to −29?

𝑇𝑛 = −29
1
∴ 𝑇𝑛 = 20 − (𝑛 − 1) = −29
2
1
∴ 20 − (𝑛 − 1) = −29
2
1 1
∴ 20 − 𝑛 + = −29
2 2
1 1
∴ 20 + 29 + = 𝑛
2 2
1 1
∴ 49 + = 𝑛
2 2
98 1 1
∴ + = 𝑛
2 2 2
99 𝑛
∴ =
2 2
∴ 99 ∙ 2 = 2 ∙ 𝑛
∴ 198 = 2𝑛
198
∴𝑛= = 99
2
∴ 𝑇99 = −29
Example 2
Given:
1 2 3 4 180
+ + + +⋯+
181 181 181 181 181

a. Calculate the sum of the given series.

1 2 3 4 180
+ + + +⋯+
181 181 181 181 181
1 2 1 1 180
𝑎= ; 𝑑= − = ; 𝑙= ; 𝑛 = 180
181 181 181 181 181
Using formula :
𝒏
𝑺𝒏 =
[𝒂 + 𝒍]
𝟐
𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝟏 𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝟏𝟖𝟏 𝟏𝟖𝟎
∴ 𝑺𝒏 = [ + ]= ∙ = = 𝟗𝟎
𝟐 𝟏𝟖𝟏 𝟏𝟖𝟏 𝟐 𝟏𝟖𝟏 𝟐
b. Hence calculate the sum of the following series:

1 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 180
( )+ ( + ) + ( + + )+ ⋯+ ( + + ⋯+ )
2 3 3 4 4 4 181 181 181
Solution :
1 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 180
( )+ ( + ) + ( + + )+ ⋯+ ( + + ⋯+ )
2 3 3 4 4 4 181 181 181
1 3 6 1 2 180 1 1
= + + +⋯+ ( + +⋯+ ) = + 1 + 1 + 2 + ⋯ + 90
2 3 4 181 181 181 2 2
1 1
[ 𝑎 = ; 𝑑 = ; 𝑇𝑛 = 90]
2 2
Using genera formula: 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
1 1
∴ 90 = + (𝑛 − 1)
2 2
1 𝑛 1
∴ 90 = + −
2 2 2
𝑛
∴ 90 =
2
∴ 90 ∙ 2 = 𝑛
∴ 𝑛 = 180
180 1 181
∴ 𝑆180 = ( + 90) = 90 = 45 × 181 = 8145
2 2 2
Geometric Sequences and Series
A geometric sequence or series is an exponential number pattern in which the ratio is constant.
The general term formula allows you to determine any specific term of a geometric sequence.
You have also learnt formulae to determine the sum of a specific number of terms of a
geometric series.
The formulae are as follows:
𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏
𝒂(𝒓𝒏 −𝟏)
𝑺𝒏 = 𝒓−𝟏
, where 𝒓 ≠ 𝟏
𝑻𝟏
𝒓=
𝑻𝟐
𝑻𝟏 = 𝒂 ; 𝑻𝟐 = 𝒂𝒓; 𝑻𝟑 = 𝒂𝒓𝟐

Example 1
In a geometric sequence in which all terms are positive, the sixth term is √3 and the eighth term is √27.
Determine the first term and constant ratio.
𝑻𝟔 = √𝟑 and 𝑻𝟖 = √𝟐𝟕
𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏 ∴ 𝑻𝟔 = 𝒂𝒓𝟓 ∴ √𝟑 = 𝒂𝒓𝟓 and √𝟐𝟕 = 𝒂𝒓𝟕

𝒂𝒓𝟓 √𝟑
∴ 𝟕
=
𝒂𝒓 √𝟐𝟕
√𝟑
∴ 𝒓𝟓−𝟕 =
√𝟐𝟕
√𝟑
∴ 𝒓−𝟐 =
√𝟐𝟕
√𝟐𝟕 √𝟑 ∙ √𝟐𝟕 𝟗
∴ 𝒓𝟐 = = = =𝟑
√𝟑 √𝟑√𝟑 𝟑
∴ 𝒓𝟐 = 𝟑
∴ 𝒓𝟐 = 𝟑 ∴ 𝒓 = √𝟑 (terms are positive)
𝑻𝟔 = 𝒂𝒓𝟓
𝟓
√𝟑 = 𝒂 ∙ (√𝟑)
 √𝟑 𝟏 𝟓 𝟒 𝟏
∴𝒂= 𝟓
= 𝟑𝟐−𝟐 = 𝟑−𝟐 = 𝟑−𝟐 =
(√𝟑) 𝟗

𝟏
∴𝒂=
𝟗