FINDING THE NTH TERM

OF THE ARITHMETIC
SEQUENCE
& COMPUTING THE
ARITHMETIC MEANS
Let us investigate on how to determine the nth term of a
sequence. In the table:
=3= 3
=3+5= 8
=3+5+5= 13
=3+5+5+5= 18
.
.
.
=3+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5= 63
=3+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5= 68 = 3 + 5 +
5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5+5= 73
These terms can be written in the following manner as a short
cut.
=3= 3
= 3 + 5 (1) = 8
= 3 + 5 (2) = 13
= 3 + 5 (3) = 18
.
.
.
= 3 + 5 (12) = 63
= 3 + 5 (13) = 68
= 3 + 5 (14) = 73
Thus, if we find for the 16th term of the arithmetic sequence, then
= 3 + 5 (15) = 78. 3 is the first term
5 is the common difference
15 is one less the number of term.
With these, we can derive that pattern that the nth term of the
sequence is = + d (n-1),
where: is the term that corresponds to nth position,
is the first term, and
d is the common difference .

The nth term of an arithmetic sequence with first term a1 and

common difference d is given by: = + d (n-1)
1) Find the 21st erm of the arithmetic sequence: 6,9 12, 15,… 
2) In the arithmetic sequence: 7, 10, 13, 16, . . .;
find n if = 304.
Solution:
a. From the sequence, = 7, d = 3, and = 304. b. Using the
formula, substitute these values.
= + d (n-1)
304 = 7 + 3 (n – 1)
304 = 7 + 3n – 3
304 = 4 + 3n
300 = 3n
n = 100
c. 304 is the 100th term of the sequence.
3) After one second, a rocket is 30 ft above the ground. After
another second, it is 85 feet above the ground. Then after
another second, it is already 140 feet above the ground. If it
continues to rise at this rate, how many feet above the ground
will the rocket be after 16 seconds?
Solution:
a. From the problem we let the given be
= 30 = 85 = 140
A. Find the specified nth term of each arithmetic sequence.
___________1. 2, 5, 8, …; 9th term
___________ 2. 3, 5 7, …; 20th term
___________ 3. 1, , 0, …; 16th term
___________ 4. 5, 11, 17, …; 9th term
___________ 5. 26, 22, 18, …; 40th term
____________6. 103rd term of the arithmetic sequence if = -5
and d = -4
____________7. 19th term of the arithmetic sequence if = 25
and d = -2
____________8. 25th term of the arithmetic sequence if = 1 2
and d = − 3
FIND THE ARITHMETIC MEANS
Arithmetic
Extremes
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24
Arithmetic
Means
 The formula for, d can be used to find the
arithmetic means if more than one arithmetic
means will be inserted between two arithmetic
extremes.

d=
A. What is the arithmetic mean
between 10 and 24?
Solution:
a. Using the average formula, get the
arithmetic mean of 10 and 24.
b. Thus, = 17 is the arithmetic mean
Activity 1: Using the example above,
solve for the arithmetic mean of
each of the pairs of arithmetic
extremes.
1) 86, _____, 45
2) 135, _____, 170
3) 50, _____, - 30
4) 125, _____, 60
5) 43, _____, 89
B. Insert three arithmetic means
between 8 and 16.
Solution:
a) If three arithmetic means will be
inserted between 8 and 16, then = 8
and = 16.
8, _____, _____, _____, 16
b) Using the formula for d, compute for
the common difference.
d=
=
=
=2
c) The arithmetic means are ,
= +d = +d
=8+2 = 12 + 2
= 10 = 14
= +d
= 10 + 2  The arithmetic
means are 10, 12
= 12
and 14.
1) Insert two arithmetic means between and
4.
2) Find the missing terms of the arithmetic
sequence: _____, 6, _____, _____, 30.
Activity 2: Find the missing terms of the
following sequence.
1) 15, _____, _____, _____, _____, 45
2) _____, 7, 13, _____, _____
3) _____, 4, _____, 18, _____
4) _____, 9, _____, _____, 36
5) 16, _____, _____, _____, 32