PATTERNS

AND
SEQUENCES
CONTENT & LEARNING STANDARDS
1.1 Patterns
1.1.1 Recognize and describe patterns of various number sets and objects based on real life situations, and hence
make generalisation on patterns.

1.2 Sequences
1.2.1 Explain the meaning of sequence.
1.2.2 Identify and describe the pattern of a sequence, and hence complete and extend the sequence.

1.3 Patterns and Sequences

1.3.1 Make generalisation about the pattern of a sequence using numbers, words and algebraic expressions.
1.3.2 Determine specific terms of a sequence.
1.3.3 Solve problems involving sequences.
 Leonardo of Pisa @ Fibonacci
The Fibonacci Numbers began with a question
posed by the Italian mathematician, Leonardo
of Pisa or Fibonacci in his book, ‘Liber Abaci’
about the population of rabbits.
The question posed was that if a pair of female
and male rabbits were placed in an enclosed
space, how many pairs of rabbits will be
reproduced in a year? If every pair of rabbits
reproduce a new pair every month, then the
increase in the population of the rabbits will
produce a number sequence as follows 0, 1,
1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ... . These numbers are known as
Fibonacci Numbers. The Fibonacci Numbers
are arranged by adding the number before it.
For example, the pairs of rabbits are 1 + 1,
then the population of the rabbits becomes 2.
Consequently, by adding the preceding number
1 and 2, the population of the rabbits becomes
3 and so forth.
DEFINITION
A sequence is a set of numbers (terms), in a definite order, where the
terms are obtained by some rules.

4 th
rm
te
3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, … Doubling the
1
st
m previous term each time
ter

1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, … Adding 7 to the

previous term each time
1, 10, 100, 1000, 10 000, 100 000,…
Multiplying the previous term by 10 each time.

1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, …

+2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7
Differences between consecutive terms determine the pattern. The
differences usually form a number sequence of their own.
ODD NUMBERS AND
EVEN NUMBERS
Determining Odd Numbers and Even Numbers
1) Odd numbers are numbers that cannot be divided by 2 exactly. 
For example:-

   1, 3, 5, 7, 9,...
2) Even numbers are numbers that can be divided 

   by 2 exactly.

    For example:-

    2, 4, 6, 8, 10,....
3) 0 is neither odd nor even.
Worked example
~

State whether each of the following numbers is an 

even number. 

(a) 17                    (c) 44

(b) 60                    (d) 95
• ~Worked example

1) List:

(a) the first five even numbers.

(b) all the odd numbers between 50 and 65.

2) Determine whether the answer for each of the

following is an odd or even number.

(a) 5 + 7
(b) 8 x 8
PASCAL TRIANGLE
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
THE TERM OF A
SEQUENCE
For example: 1, 3, 5, 7, …
(This is a sequence of odd numbers)

1st term = 2x1–1 =1 +2

2nd term = 2x2–1 =3
. =
3rd term .2 x 3 – 1 =5
+2

. .
. .
nth term = 2xn–1 = 2n - 1
NOTATION
1st term = u
1
2nd term = u 2
3rd term = u 3
. .
. .
. .
nth term = u n
OR
1st term = u
0
2nd term = u 1
3rd term = u 2
. .
. .
. .
nth term = u n-1
FINDING THE RULE FOR THE
GENERAL TERM ( TERM)
A recurrence relation defines the first term(s) in the sequence and the
relation between successive terms.

The difference between each term

and the next is the coefficient, A, of
the unknown, n.
Also, the constant term, b is the
difference between the first term
and the coefficient, A.
An + b
For example: 5, 8, 11, 14, …

u =5
1
u2 = u 1+3 = 8
u3 = u 2+3 = 11
.
.
.
un+1 = u n+3 = 3n + 2
For example: 5, 7, 9, 11, …

u =5
1
u2 = u 1+2 = 7
u3 = u 2+2 = 9
.
.
.
un+1 = u n+2 = 2n + 3
For example: 4, 7, 10, 13, …

u =4
1
u2 = u 1+3 = 7 Say, we want to find
u3 = u 2+3 = 10 the 50th term,
substitute n = 50
.
into the rule 3n + 1.
. Then,
. 50th term = 3 (50) + 1
= 151
un+1 = u n+3 = 3n + 1
GENERAL RULES
FROM PATTERNS
(PROBLEM SOLVING)
• Need to first formulate general rules from given number patterns.
• Example 1:
How many squares will be in the nth pattern?

Pattern
1 2 3 4 5
number
No. of
1 3 5 7 9
squares

The difference between consecutive patterns is 2 squares.

So, the coefficient, A ,is 2.

Subtract the coefficient 2 from the first number gives us 1 – 2 = -1.

So, the constant, b, is -1.

Therefore, the number of squares on the base of the nth pattern is 2n – 1.

An + b
Now, which pattern has 99 squares in it?

We need to find n from the rule, 2n – 1,

we have obtained.

2n – 1 = 99
2n = 99 + 1
n = 100 ÷ 2
n = 50

It is the 50th pattern that has 99 squares.

 What to look for
when looking for the rule
defining a sequence
Constant difference: coefficient of n is the difference
2nd level difference: compare with square numbers
2

(n = 1, 4, 9, 16, …)

3rd level
3 difference: compare with cube numbers
(n = 1, 8, 27, 64, …)
n-1
None of these helpful: look for powers of numbers
(2 = 1, 2, 4, 8, …)
Signs alternate: use (-1) and (-1) k
k

-1 when k is odd +1 when k is even

EXAMPLE 1:
Find the next three terms in the sequence 5, 8, 11, 14, …
EXAMPLE 2:
A sequence is defined by a recurrence relation of the form:
U n = An + b.
Given that U1 = 10, U2 = 19, U3 = 28, find the value of A and the
value of b and hence find U4 .
 
•  

4
Tuhan menjadikan alam semesta ini
penuh dengan keindahan dan keajaiban.

Selain daripada tumbuhan,

adakah anda rasa hidupan lain
juga mempunyai pola tertentu?

Sila berikan contoh.

Engage (Penglibatan)
Setiap hidupan mempunyai bentuk yang
tertentu. Pernahkah anda terfikir
mengapakah bentuk hidupan adalah
sedemikian rupa?

Mari kita siasat!

EXERCISES:
Pascal’s Triangle

Fibonacci Numbers

Patterns

Sequence Odd numbers

Term Even numbers