02

PROBLEM SOLVING WITH

PATTERNS
 Sequence
is a function whose domain is the set
of positive integers. It also means an
order list of numbers. Each number in
a sequence is called a term.

Ex.

5, 14, 27, 44, 65, ...

 Difference Table
is made by listing the terms of a sequence and its differences.

Ex.
5 14 27 44 65 _____
90

9 25
13 17 21 ____

4 4 4
Nth Term Formula
is a formula with 'n' in it which enables you to find any term of a
sequence without having to go up from one term to the next.

Ex.
an = 3n2 + n
____, ____, ____, ____, ____

a1 = 3 (1)2 + 1 = 3 (1) + 1 = 4
a2 = 3 (2)2 + 2 = 3 (4) + 2 = 14
a3 = 3 (3)2 + 3 = 3 (9) + 3 = 30
a4 = 3 (4)2 + 4 = 3 (16) + 4 = 52
a5 = 3 (5)2 + 5 = 3 (25) + 5 = 80
Ex.
What is the nth term of the sequence 4, 10, 16, 22, 28, ...?

an = a1 + (n – 1) d General rule for nth term

an = 4 + (n – 1) 6
an = 4 + 6n – 6
an = 6n – 2
• What is the nth term for the number
of tiles in the nth figure? Which figures will consist of
an = a1 + (n – 1) d exactly 320 tiles?

a1 = 2 d=3 How many tiles are in the eight an = 3n – 1

figure of the sequence? 3n – 1 = 320
an = 2 + (n – 1) 3 3n = 320 + 1
an = 2 + 3n - 3 a8 = ? 3n = 321
an = 3n – 1 n = 107
an = 3n – 1
a8 = 3 (8) - 1
a8 = 24 - 1
a8 = 23
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