Finding patterns in the nth term of the sequences in Pascal’s triangle

Introduction

I first came across Pascal’s triangle in the 7th Grade when we were learning

sequences and series for the first time. Although, it was only briefly touched on by the

teacher and I noticed we never used it again. The Pascal’s triangle appeared now and

then in my high school years but never have I once understood its main purpose and

application. Until I came across it again in my Math Standard Level classes for series

and sequences. I started paying more attention to it as I finally found out that it follows a

certain pattern. Finding a certain connection or pattern has always provided me with joy

and this falls under that. This provided me the opportunity to satisfy my curiosity by

exploring Pascal’s triangle as a topic for my Internal Assessment. The exploration is

mostly focused on finding the nth term of the sequences in Pascal’s triangle by utilizing

polynomial regression. To the best of my knowledge, I looked for patterns that are of

mathematical concepts like harmonic progression, antiderivatives, the sum of

coefficients, denominators of the coefficients, non-unit fractions, and sum and product of

roots of polynomial equations. By investigating the different patterns in Pascal’s triangle

I was able to revisit essential topics that may help me revise for the mock exams.
Introduction to the nth term

We first learn of the nth term in the lesson of an arithmetic sequence. The general or nth

term of an arithmetic sequence is given as:

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑

This formula is used to find the general or nth of an arithmetic sequence. Although, this

won’t be the only formula that we will be using. The other formulas will be shown

throughout the paper.

Discussion of Pascal’s triangle

The introduction of Pascal’s triangle often goes hand in hand with the topic sequences

and series. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “a system of numbers

arranged in rows resembling a triangle with row consisting of the coefficients in the

expansion of (a + b)n for n = 0, 1, 2, 3,” and so forth (Merriam-Webster, n.d.).

The TED-Ed video entitled “The mathematical secrets of Pascal’s triangle” by Wajdi

Mohamed Ratemi explored the origin and basis of Pascal’s triangle. Before it was

referred to as “Pascal’s triangle”, it goes by the name “Staircase of Mount Meru” in

India, “Khayyam Triangle” for Iran, and “Yang Hui’s Triangle” in China. Pascal’s triangle

was named after the French mathematician Blaise Pascal and it was known by that

name in the Western world. Pascal’s triangle is full of patterns and secrets yet to be fully

uncovered. Given that Pascal’s triangle is infinite, it would possibly take forever to

uncover all of its patterns and secrets. With this information in mind, I decided to take a

look at Pascal’s triangle more closely to understand how patterns are generated.
Desmos Pascal’s triangle

The Pascal’s triangles found in this paper are created with Desmos.

Figure 1: Pascal’s triangle with 𝑛 = 10

Finding the nth term of the sequences in the Pascal’s triangle

Finding the nth term can be done in two ways: manually or with the help of the graphing

display calculator. I will attempt to find as many nth terms of the sequence in Pascal's

triangle to the best of my ability. In this attempt, I will be showing the process of how I

managed to solve for the nth term of the sequence manually and with the graphing

display calculator. It is of logical explanation that the nth term of the first sequence is

equivalent to 1, while the second is 𝑛.I won’t go over all the nth terms as it is not the

main focus of this paper. It is merely the starting point to find the patterns in Pascal's

triangle. First and foremost, I will be showing the process of how I got the nth term of

the fourth sequence of Pascal's triangle.

 Figure 2: These encircled numbers show the fourth sequence of Pascal’s triangle

Table 1: The table shows the numbers of each row of the fourth sequence of Pascal’s

triangle

L1 L2
(𝑛) (𝑃)

1 1

2 4

3 10

4 20

5 35

6 56

In finding the degree of the polynomial for the nth term of the fourth sequence, we must

first find the differences of the values in L2.

We can observe that it becomes equal on the third row which gives us a third degree

polynomial.The nth term of the fourth sequence should look like this equation:

3 2
𝑃 = 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑏𝑛 + 𝑐𝑛 + 𝑑

These can be easily solved with the use of the GDC by cubic regression. However, I will

show the process manually. First, substitute the values from table 1 to the equation

above. After substitution, the equations will be simplified.

3 2
1 = 𝑎(1) + 𝑏(1) + 𝑐(1) + 𝑑 ➝ 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 = 1

3 2
4 = 𝑎(2) + 𝑏(2) + 𝑐(2) + 𝑑➝ 8𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 2𝑐 + 𝑑 = 4

3 2
10 = 𝑎(3) + 𝑏(3) + 𝑐(3) + 𝑑➝ 27𝑎 + 9𝑏 + 3𝑐 + 𝑑 = 10

3 2
20 = 𝑎(4) + 𝑏(4) + 𝑐(4) + 𝑑➝64𝑎 + 16𝑏 + 4𝑐 + 𝑑 = 20

There are four equations for there are only four unknown variables: 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑. These

unknowns can be found using the graphing display calculator.

With the use of the simultaneous equation solver, I will input the coefficients in the

system matrix. It will look like this:

Which would give us the solution:

We can input these variables into the original equation, which gives us:

1 3 1 2 1
𝑃= 3
𝑛 + 2
𝑛 + 6
𝑛
Now that I have shown the process manually, I will show you how to find the nth term

with cubic regression using the graphing display calculator.

Referring back to Figure 2, we will use the same numbers however we need to add

more as the edit in stats requires 10 values.

After inputting the values, press stats and then go to calc. In calc, we can find

CubicReg. We have to make sure that Xlist corresponds to L1 while Ylist is L2, then we

calculate.
We cannot input these variables yet into our equation for it contains recurring decimals.

The graphing display calculator does not convert recurring decimals to fraction thus we

have to solve for it manually.

We can do so by applying the formula of the sum of geometric infinite sequences. We

can express 0.16666 into a sum of infinite sequences:

0. 16666...

0. 1 + 0. 06666...

0. 1 + 0. 06 + 0. 006 + 0. 0006 +...

Using the geometric infinite series formula, we can find the fraction of the recurring

decimal.

𝑈1
𝑆∞ = 1−𝑟

0.06 0.06
= 1−0.1
= 0.9

6
= 90

1 6 15
We can rewrite the 𝑟 = 0. 1 to 10
which will be added to 90
giving us 90
. It will be

1
simplified to 6
. This proves that the nth term is also

1 3 1 2 1
𝑃= 3
𝑛 + 2
𝑛 + 6
𝑛
I only solved for the nth term of eight sequences as the graphing display calculator can

only solve until quartic regression which is used to find the nth term for the fifth

sequence. The other nth terms were solved manually however it will not be shown as it

is a tedious process and is not the focus of the paper.

Finding patterns in the nth terms of Pascal’s triangle

Figure 4: The given nth terms until the eighth sequence of Pascal’s triangle

1 2 1
2
𝑛 + 2
𝑛

1 3 1 2 1
6
𝑛 + 2
𝑛 + 3
𝑛

1 4 1 3 11 2 1
24
𝑛 + 4
𝑛 + 24
𝑛 + 4
𝑛

1 5 1 4 7 3 5 2 1
120
𝑛 + 12
𝑛 + 24
𝑛 + 12
𝑛 + 5
𝑛

1 6 1 5 17 4 5 3 137 2 1
720
𝑛 + 48
𝑛 + 144
𝑛 + 16
𝑛 + 360
𝑛 + 6
𝑛

1 7 1 6 5 5 7 4 29 3 7 2 1
5040
𝑛 + 240
𝑛 + 144
𝑛 + 48
𝑛 + 90
𝑛 + 20
𝑛 + 7
𝑛

By arranging the nth terms in this way, we can easily see the patterns. It is to be noted

that the nth terms resemble half a triangle.

Pattern 1: Harmonic Progression

Figure 5: The encircled terms in a straight row show a harmonic progression

These terms are in harmonic progression for its nth term is equivalent to the reciprocal

of an arithmetic progression. The nth term of harmonic progression is as follows:

1
𝑎+(𝑛−1)𝑑

Where 𝑎 = 1 and 𝑑 = 1

1 1
1+(𝑛−1)
= 𝑛
Pattern 2: Antiderivative

Figure 6: The underlined terms will be used to demonstrate antiderivatives

1 2
With the underlined terms above we will be finding its antiderivative. For 2
𝑛 finding its

antiderivative follows a certain process. First, we add one to the exponent which would

3
give us 𝑛 and we will use the reciprocal of 3 to find the coefficient.

1 3
= 2
𝑛
 1
Thus giving us 3
and we multiply this to the original coefficient. The C stands for

constant and it is ignored as we are only proving that there is a pattern using

antiderivatives.

1 1 3
= 3
· 2
𝑛 +𝐶

1 3
Giving us 6
𝑛

1 2 1 3
∫ 2 𝑛 𝑑𝑛 = 6
𝑛 +𝐶

1 3 1 2 1 3
6
𝑛 is the term after 2
𝑛 and if we solve for the antiderivative for 6
𝑛 , it will give us:

1 3 1 4
∫ 6 𝑛 𝑑𝑛 = 24
𝑛 +𝐶

Referring back to Figure 6, it is clear that we can continue this pattern and we can

always get the first term of the nth term by continuing to find the antiderivative of the

term.

Pattern 3: The sum of the coefficients

Figure 7: The underlined values will be used to show the sum of coefficients
If you add the coefficients of the underlined nth terms above it will always equal to a

whole number which is 1 as shown in the solution:

1 1 17 5 137 1
720
+ 48
+ 144
+ 16
+ 360
+ 6
=1

Even if the fractions begin to be complicated, it will still be equivalent to 1 as shown:

1 1 5 7 29 7 1
5040
+ 240
+ 144
+ 48
+ 90
+ 20
+ 7
=1

Pattern 4: Denominators of the coefficients

Figure 8: The underlined values will be used to demonstrate a pattern in the

denominators of the coefficients.

I noticed that in the denominators of the coefficients there exists a pattern, the

denominator is multiplied by an increasing multiplier, given this pattern. We now know

1
that the next coefficient will be 1440
.

Pattern 5: Non-unit fractions

4
Figure 9: These encircled values with a common variable of 𝑛

The coefficients that I have dealt with were all unit fractions, however in this case I also

noticed that there is a pattern among the non-unit fractions. If I write the coefficients of

the encircled values above and I will make all the denominators the same as the LCD is

144.
 1 1 17 7 6 12 17 21
24 12 144 48
→ 144 144 144 144

Now that the coefficients are common denominators, we can see that in the numerator

that it increases by adding 6, 5, and 4. Following this pattern the next coefficient would

24
be added by 3 which would be 144
.

Sum and Product of Roots of Polynomial Equation

Figure 10: These encircled terms are all unit fractions

The topic sum and product of roots of polynomial equations is not discussed in Math

Standard Level. Instead, it is a Higher Level topic. In sum and product of roots, there

8 7 6
are terms like 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 ..... ℎ; The last term does not have a variable. To find the
sum and product of roots, the first, second, and last terms are used. Concerning this,

there is no way that I can find all the patterns in all the nth terms.

I will not have the time to explore the nth term until its last term, which makes it part of

my limitation. In Figure 10, I found three patterns that I encircled to represent the first,

second, and third terms in relation to the sum and product of roots. They were also

limited to the rule as well. I also noticed that they are all unit fractions – meaning that

the numerator is always one and the denominator is a positive integer.

Conclusion

All in all, I was able to find patterns in the nth terms of the sequences of Pascal's

triangle. In the process of finding the nth term, I realized that manually solving it is a

long, tedious process. It is considered a limitation that I was not able to find more nth

terms as it is to the best of my ability that I was able to get the nth term until the 8th

degree. After finding the nth terms and arranging them in a way that I could see

patterns. I noticed patterns like harmonic progression, antiderivatives, the sum of

coefficients, and the sum and product of roots of polynomial equations. There can be

many more patterns to be discovered however I have found a sufficient amount of

patterns that will satisfy my paper. Acknowledging the limitations of my exploration, it

can be further improved by investigating whether the numerators of the non-unit

fractions will be increasing with decreasing addends: 6, 5, and 4. Once it reaches 0,

what will happen. Will it continue infinitely with negative integers which is the most

plausible prediction. About Pascal’s triangle with its nature of being infinite; a possible

topic to also look at could be Goldbach's conjecture. The theory postulates that “every

even whole number greater than 2 is the sum of two prime numbers” (Weisstein, n.d.).
Despite the statement being ‘true’ it has yet to be proven until now. Students could

explore this topic as patterns also exist in Goldbach’s conjecture.

Bibliography

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https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/nth-term-of-an-arithm

etic-sequence

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Pascal's triangle. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary.

Retrieved February 8, 2021, from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pascal%27s%20triangle

Pascals Triangle. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2021, from

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/tkfqxalbhk

Ratemi, W. M. (2015, September). The mathematical secrets of Pascal’s triangle [Video

file]. Retrieved from

https://www.ted.com/talks/wajdi_mohamed_ratemi_the_mathematical_secrets_of

_pascal_s_triangle/up-next

Weisstein, E. W. (n.d.). Goldbach conjecture. Retrieved March 08, 2021, from

https://mathworld.wolfram.com/GoldbachConjecture.html