Grade 10 Mathematics

Quarter 1 – Competency #1

Generating Patterns
Finding the nth term given the
terms of the sequence.
By John Reimar S. Peña
 Question:
What about if the terms of the
sequence are given, how do we
find its nth term?
 Let’s have the first example.

Find the nth term of the

sequence whose terms are 5,
8, 11, 14,…
 Solution:
First step: Look for a pattern.

5, 8, 11, 14
+3 +3 +3
 Solution:
Second step: Write = 3n and substitute n = 1.
If n = 1, then = 3(1) = 3.
What is the 1st term again? 5
What must be added to 3 to get 5(1st term)? 2
What is the nth term of the
= 3n + 2?
given sequence?
 Solution:
Last step: Substitute other values of n to = 3n + 2.

If n = 2, then = 3(2) + 2 = 8.
If n = 3, then = 3(3) + 2 = 11.

If n = 4, then = 3(4) + 2 = 14.

 Conclusion:
Therefore, the nth term of
the sequence is = 3n + 2.
 Let’s have the second example.

Find the nth term of the

sequence whose terms are 1,
8, 15, 22,…
 Solution:
First step: Look for a pattern.

1, 8, 15, 22
+7 +7 +7
 Solution:
Second step: Write = 7n and substitute n = 1.
If n = 1, then = 7(1) = 7.
What is the 1st term again? 1
What must be added to 7 to get 1(1st term)? -6
What is the nth term of the
= 7n – 6?
given sequence?
 Solution:
Last step: Substitute other values of n to = 7n - 6.

If n = 2, then = 7(2) - 6 = 8.
If n = 3, then = 7(3) - 6 = 15.

If n = 4, then = 7(4) - 6 = 22.

 Conclusion:
Therefore, the nth term of
the sequence is = 7n - 6.
 Let’s have the third example.

Find the nth term of the

sequence whose terms are 5,
1, -3, -7…
 Solution:
First step: Look for a pattern.

5, 1, -3, -7
+(-4) +(-4) +(-4)
 Solution:
Second step: Write = -4n and substitute n = 1.
If n = 1, then = -4(1) = -4.
What is the 1st term again? 5
What must be added to -4 to get 5(1 st term)? 9
What is the nth term of the
= -4n + 9?
given sequence?
 Solution:
Last step: Substitute other values of n to = -4n + 9.

If n = 2, then = -4(2) + 9 = 1.
If n = 3, then = -4(3) + 9 = -3.

If n = 4, then = -4(4) + 9 = -7.

 Conclusion:
Therefore, the nth term of
the sequence is = -4n + 9.
 Let’s have the fourth example.

Find the nth term of the

sequence whose terms are 6,
36, 216, 1296…
 Solution:
First step: Look for a pattern.

6, 36, 216, 1296

x6 x6 x6
 Solution:
Second step: Write = and substitute n = 1.
If n = 1, then = = 6.
What is the 1st term again? 6
What is the nth term of the given sequence?
=?
 Solution:
Last step: Substitute other values of n to = .

If n = 2, then = = 36.
If n = 3, then = = 216.

If n = 4, then = = 1296.
 Conclusion:
Therefore, the nth term of
the sequence is = .
 Let’s have the fifth example.

Find the nth term of the

sequence whose terms are -9,
81, -729, 6561…
 Solution:
First step: Look for a pattern.

-9, 81, -729, 6561

x(-9) x(-9) x(-9)

 Solution:
Second step: Write = and substitute n = 1.
If n = 1, then == -9.
What is the 1st term again? -9
What is the nth term of the given sequence?
=?
 Solution:
Last step: Substitute other values of n to = .

If n = 2, then = = 81.
If n = 3, then = = -729.

If n = 4, then = = 6561.
 Conclusion:
Therefore, the nth term of
the sequence is = .
 Up next…
Illustrating an
arithmetic
sequence.