LC Generate and describe patterns SSP_M10AL – Ia – 1

Name:__________________________________Grade/Section:_____________Score:______________

SEQUENCES
Writing the first nth elements of the sequence whose general element is given.
Example:

1. Write the first 4 elements of an=3n 2. Write the first 5 elements of an=2n-1
a1=3(1)=3 a1=2(1)-1=2-1=1
a2=3(2)=6 a2=2(2)-1=4-1=3
a3=3(3)=9 a3=2(3)-1=6-1=5
a4=3(4)=12 a4=2(4)-1=8-1=7
a5=2(5)-1=10-1=9
Answer: {3,6,9,12} Answer: {1,3,5,7,9}

3. Write the first 3 elements of an=n2-5 4. Write the first 3 elements of an=5n2-5
a1=(1)2-5=1-5=-4 a1=5(1)2-5=5(1)-5=0
a2=(2)2-5=4-5=-1 a2=5(2)2-5=5(4)-5=15
a3=(3)2-5=9-5=4 a3=5(3)2-5=5(9)-5=40

Answer: {-4,-1,4} Answer: {0,15,40}

I. Write the first 5 elements of the sequence whose general term is given.
1. an=2n+1 ____, ____, ____, ____, _____
2. an=1-3n ____, ____, ____, ____, _____
3. an=5n+2 ____, ____, ____, ____, _____
4. an=6n-5 ____, ____, ____, ____, _____
5. an=4n-12 ____, ____, ____, ____, _____

II. Write the first 4 elements of the sequence whose general term is given.

1. an= n2-2 ____, ____, ____, ____

2. an= 2-n3 ____, ____, ____, ____
3. an= n2+3 ____, ____, ____, ____
4. an= n4-1 ____, ____, ____, ____
5. an= n2-8 ____, ____, ____, ____

III. Write the first 4 elements of the sequence whose general term is given.

1. an= 4n2-2 ____, ____, ____, ____

2. an= 2-3n3 ____, ____, ____, ____
3. an= 3n2+3 ____, ____, ____, ____
4. an= 2n4-1 ____, ____, ____, ____
5. an= 3n+2 ____, ____, ____, ____

References: e-math Intermediate Algebra pp. 411,413

Discrete Mathematics pp. 118-119

 LC Generate and describe patterns SSP_M10AL – Ia – 1

Example: Find the nth term or the general tem of each sequence.

1. 1, 4, 7, 10,..
Since the difference between 4 and 1 is 3, consider 3n, then substitute 1 for n as the first term,
since 3(1)=3 and the first term given is 1 which is lesser than 3 by 2, subtract 2 from 3n.
Answer: an= 3n – 2

If the first difference between consecutive terms is d, then an= dn + c, where c may be either positive
or negative. Note that constant term, c, is given by c= first term – first difference.

2. 7, 12, 17, 22, 27,…

The difference between each term is always 5, so the formula will be, a n= 5n + c.
The first term can be used to form an equation to determine c:
2= 5(1) +c
2= 5 + c
C= -3
So the formula will be, an= 5n -3.

Task A. Calculate the difference between the successive terms.

1. 1,6,11,16,… ____
2. 2,4,6,8,10,… ____
3. 5,7,9,13,… ____
4. 6,12,18,24,… ____
5. 5,8,11,14,17,… ____

Task B. Determine the formula/ general term for each sequence in Task A.
1. _________________________
2. _________________________

3. _________________________

4. _________________________

5. _________________________

Task C. Solve what is asked!

One number is missing from the following sequence: 22, 31, 40, ___, 58, 67, 75

a. What is the missing number? ____

b. Calculate the difference between successive terms. ____
c. Determine the general term/ formula that generates the sequence. ________

References: e-math Intermediate Algebra pp. 411,413

Discrete Mathematics pp. 118-119