Arithmetic or Geometric?

Sequences Practice
Arithmetic Sequences
A sequence in which each term is
the previous term plus a constant
(rate of change).

Example:
5, 12, 19, 26, …
Rate of change = +7

Pictures:
These are all examples of an
arithmetic sequence. Describe why
you think these photos represent a
pattern of numbers that have a
constant rate of change.
Geometric Sequences
A sequence in which each term is a
constant (growth factor) times the
previous term.

Example:
3, 9, 27, 81, …
Growth Factor = 3

Pictures:
These are all examples of a
geometric sequence. Describe why
you think these photos represent a
pattern of numbers that have a
growth factor.
 Practice 1:
 Here are the first two terms of some different arithmetic sequences:
 -2, 4
 
 11, 111

 5, 7.5

 5, -4

 What are the next three terms of each sequence?

 Practice 2:
 For each sequence, decide whether it could be arithmetic, geometric, or neither.
 200, 40, 8, . . .

 2, 4, 16, . . .

 10, 20, 30, . . .

 100, 20, 4, . . .

 6, 12, 18, . . .
 Practice 3:
 Complete each arithmetic sequence with its missing terms, then state the rate of change for each
sequence.
 -3, -2, ___, ___, 1

 ___, 13, 25, ___, ___

 1, .25, ___, -1.25, ___

 92, ___, ___ ,___, 80

 Practice 4:
 A sequence starts with the terms 1 and 10.
 Find the next two terms if it is arithmetic: 1, 10, ___, ___.

 Find the next two terms if it is geometric: 1, 10, ___, ___.

 Find two possible next terms if it is neither arithmetic nor geometric: 1, 10, ___, ___.
 Practice 5:
 Complete each geometric sequence with the missing terms. Then find the growth factor for each.
 ___, 5, 25, ___, 625

 -1, ___, -36, 216, ___

 10, 5, ___, ___, 0.625

 ___, ___, 36, -108, ___

 ___, 12, 18, 27, ___

 Practice 6:
 The first term of a sequence is 4.
 Choose a growth factor and list the next 3 terms of a geometric sequence.

 Choose a different growth factor and list the next 3 terms of a geometric sequence.
 Practice 7:
 Here is a rule that can be used to build a sequence of numbers once a starting number is chosen: Each number
is two times three less than the previous number. 
 Starting with the number 0, build a sequence of 5 numbers.

 Starting with the number 3, build a sequence of 5 numbers.

 

 
 Can you choose a starting point so that the first 5 numbers in your sequence are all positive? Explain your reasoning.
 Other Sequences….
Sequences don’t all have to be arithmetic or geometric.
They could be a combination of both or neither.

For Example: (from Practice #2)

2, 4, 16, …

Fibonacci Sequence:
The Fibonacci Sequence tarts with 0, 1 and each subsequent
term is found by adding the two numbers before it:
0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,…
If you make squares with those widths, you make a spiral
that is the golden ratio.
Fibonacci Sequence