1A Arithmetic Sequences Notes

Learning Target: Write an expression for an arithmetic sequence, and calculate the nth term.

Sequences

Finite Sequence:

Examples:
Infinite Sequence:

Examples:

Term Notation
• The first term in a sequence is denoted _______.
• Each subsequent term is denoted _______, where _____ is the term number in the sequence.
• 𝑎𝑎2 is the second term, 𝑎𝑎3 is the third term, 𝑎𝑎6 is the sixth term
• Ex: Given {1, 5, 9, 13, 17, _____, ______, ______, ______, ______, ______. . . }, identify the following term values:
𝑎𝑎1 : _______ 𝑎𝑎2 : _______ 𝑎𝑎4 : _______ 𝑎𝑎9 : _______ 𝑎𝑎11 : _______

Arithmetic
Sequence
Common
Difference

Directions: Determine whether the sequence is arithmetic. If yes, identify the common difference and give the
next three terms.
1. {5, 8, 11, 14, 17, . . . } 2. {23, 16, 9, 2, −5, … }

3. {1, 2, 3, 5, 8, . . . } 4. {−6, −8, −10, −12, −14, . . . }

5. {−20, −10, − 5, 0, 5, . . . } 6. {− 35, −23, −11, 1, 13, . . . }

Comparing linear function to new notation of an Arithmetic Sequence

Tony is bored at home during the shelter in place. He decided to continue his education on his own by reading books.
His goal is to read 3 books a month. He is going to keep track of how many books he has read in total. During the
months of January and February, he had already read 2 books. The shelter in place started in the month of March.

Months in Total # Books Months in Total # Books Terms Sequence

Shelter in Place Shelter in Place
Jan-Feb 0 𝑎𝑎0
Mar 1 𝑎𝑎1
April 2 𝑎𝑎2
May 3 𝑎𝑎3
June 4 𝑎𝑎4
July 5
Aug 6
Sept 7

Writing a linear equations Writing an Arithmetic Sequence Explicit formula

𝑦𝑦 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 + 𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛 = 𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑑𝑑(𝑛𝑛 − 1)
Where 𝑚𝑚 = slope (rate of change) Where 𝑎𝑎1 = first term
𝑏𝑏 = y - intercept (starting position) 𝑑𝑑 = is the common difference

If Tony continue reading after the shelter in place was lifted, answer the following questions.

a) How many books would he have read by the end of the b) How many books would he have read by the end of the
14th month? 24th month (2 years from now!!!)?
Directions: Write a rule for each sequence, then find the indicated term.
7. {−5, −1, 3 , 7, … } ; 𝑎𝑎24 8. {20, 11, 2, −7, −16, … } ; 𝑎𝑎15

9. {−6, −9, −12, −15, … } ; 𝑎𝑎38 10. {8, 9.5, 11, 12.5, … } ; 𝑎𝑎48

Directions: If the given terms are part of an arithmetic sequence, write a rule for the sequence, then find 𝑎𝑎12 .
11. 𝑎𝑎1 = 3 and 𝑎𝑎3 = −7 12. 𝑎𝑎1 = −17 and 𝑎𝑎24 = 6