How to find the

General Term of Sequence

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2 Conditions in finding the General Term of a Sequence
Note that this process applies only to sequences whose
nature is linear or quadratic.
Condition 1:
If the first difference is constant, use the equation in finding the
 

general rule of the sequence.

3, 6, 9, 12, 15

3 3 3 3 Difference is constant
Condition 2:
If the first difference is not constant and the second difference is
 

constant use the equation

2, 8, 18, 32
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6 10 14 Difference is not constant bC
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4 4 Difference is constant
Condition 1
Example

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 Find the general rule of the Pick 2 sets from the table
 

sequence 7, 9 11, 13, 15 and form 2 equations using

Solution:
 
Create a table of and values. General Equation:
1 2 3 4 5
  𝑎𝑛 +𝑏= 𝐴 𝑛
Equation 1: Equation 2:
7 9 11 13 15  𝑎𝑡 𝑛=1 𝐴 =7  𝑎𝑡 𝑛=2 𝐴 =9
𝑛 𝑛
 
Take the difference of .   𝑎𝑛 +𝑏= 𝐴 𝑛   𝑎𝑛+𝑏= 𝐴 𝑛
7, 9, 11, 13, 15  
𝑎 (1)+𝑏=7  
𝑎 (2)+𝑏=9
 
𝒂 +𝒃 =𝟕  
𝟐 𝒂+𝒃=𝟗
2 2 2 2
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The constant difference is 2. h
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Therefore, the general rule of uTb
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the given sequence is linear. Yo
 Solve using systems of linear equation Check the general rule by
Elimination Method: substituting the values.
 
2 𝑎+𝑏=9Equation 2: 1 2 3 4 5
 
( − ) 𝑎 +𝑏=7 Equation 1: 7 9 11 13 15
 
𝒂 =𝟐   𝐴 =2 𝑛+5
𝑛
Substitute the value of in
 
  𝐴 =2 ( 1 ) +5=¿7
1
equation 1 or equation 2   𝐴 =2 ( 2 ) +5=¿
9
2
 
𝑎 +𝑏 =7 Equation 1:   𝐴 =2 ( 3 ) +5= ¿
11
 
2 +𝑏 =7 3
  𝐴 =2 ( 4 ) +5= 13¿
 
𝑏 =7 +2 4
  𝐴 =2 ( 5 ) +5= 15
 
𝒃 =𝟗 5 ¿
Substitute the values of and in
 
Therefore, the
 
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the general equation general rule of the h
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 𝑎𝑛+𝑏= 𝐴 𝑛  2 𝑛+5= 𝐴 𝑛 sequence is bC
C n
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eu SiJrE
uTb
 2 ( 𝑛 ) +5= 𝐴 To SirE
  𝑨 =𝟐 𝒏+𝟓 Yu
𝑛 𝒏 Yo
Condition 2
Example

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 Find the general rule of the The 2nd difference is 1.
sequence 2, 3, 5, 8, 12 Therefore, the general rule of the
Solution: given sequence is quadratic.
 
Create a table of & values.
1 2 3 4 5
2 3 5 8 12
Take the difference of . If
 

the first difference is not

constant take the second.
2, 3, 5, 8, 12
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1 1 1
 Equation 2:
1 2 3 4 5 𝑎𝑡 𝑛=2 𝐴2 =3
 

2 3 5 8 12   𝑎𝑛2 +𝑏𝑛+𝑐= 𝐴 𝑛
2
Pick 3 sets of values from the
 
𝑎 (2) +𝑏 ( 2 ) +𝑐=3
table and form 3 equations. 𝑎 ( 4 ) +2 𝑏+𝑐=3
 

General Equation:  
(2) 4
𝑎𝑛2 +𝑏𝑛+𝑐= 𝐴 𝑛
 
Equation 3:
Equation 1: 𝑎𝑡 𝑛=3 𝐴3 =5
 

𝑎𝑡 𝑛=1 𝐴1 =2
  𝑎𝑛2 +𝑏𝑛+𝑐= 𝐴 𝑛
 
2
𝑎𝑛 +𝑏𝑛+𝑐= 𝐴 𝑛
  2 𝑎 (3) +𝑏 ( 3 ) +𝑐=5
 

2
𝑎 (1) +𝑏 ( 1 )+ 𝑐=2
 
 
𝑎 ( 9 )+3 𝑏+ 𝑐=5
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𝑎 ( 1 ) +𝑏+𝑐 =2 (3) 9 n:e
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Solve using systems of linear Substitute the value
 

equation Substitute the of & in equation 1

 

Elimination Method: value of in or 2

 
4 (2) equation 4 or
(-) (1)
  Equation 1:
5  
𝑎+𝑏 +𝑐=2
 
(4)  1
Equation 4:
1
 
(3) − +𝑐 =2
2 2
(-) (1)
   
 
(5)    
𝒄= 𝟐
 
 
(4)
 
(-) (5)  

(4)  
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 Substitute the value of ,
  Check the general rule by
, & in the general substituting the values.
equation. 1 2 3 4 5
2 2 3 5 8 12
𝑎𝑛 +𝑏𝑛 +𝑐= 𝐴 𝑛
  1 2 1   1 2
𝐴1 = ( 1 −1+ 4 ) =¿  𝟐
𝑛 − 𝑛+2= 𝐴 𝑛 2
2 2   1 2
  1 2 1 𝐴2 = ( 2 − 2+ 4 )=¿  𝟑
𝐴𝑛 = 𝑛 − 𝑛+2 2
2 2   1 2
𝐴3 = ( 3 − 3+4 )=¿  𝟓
2
  1 2   1 2
𝐴𝑛 = (𝑛 − 𝑛+ 4) 𝐴 4= ( 4 −4 +4 )=¿  𝟖
2 2 e l:
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𝐴5 = ( 5 − 5+4 )=¿ 12 beha J
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