MATHEMATICS 10

WEEK 1

SEQUENCE
• What is a sequence?

A collections of objects that is ordered so that there

is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd,… member.

• What is the difference between finite and infinite?

Finite means there is a last term.

Infinite means the sequence continues without
stopping.
 Sequence:
• A function whose domain is a set of consecutive
integers (list of ordered numbers separated by
commas).
• Each number in the list is called a term.
• For Example:
Sequence 1 Sequence 2
2,4,6,8,10 2,4,6,8,10,…

Term 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Term 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Domain – relative position of each term (1,2,3,4,5)
Usually begins with position 1 unless otherwise
stated.
Range – the actual “terms” of the sequence
(2,4,6,8,10)
 Sequence 1 Sequence 2
2,4,6,8,10 2,4,6,8,10,…

A sequence can be finite or infinite.

The sequence has The sequence
a last term or final continues without
term. stopping.
(such as seq. 1) (such as seq. 2)
Both sequences have an equation or general rule: an
= 2n where n is the term # and an is the nth term.
The general rule can also be written in function
notation: f(n) = 2n
Examples:
Examples:
Write the first six terms of f (n) = (– 3)n – 1.
Write the first six terms of f (n) = (– 3)n – 1.

f (1) = (– 3)1 – 1 = 1 1st term

2nd term
f (2) = (– 3)
2–1
= –3
f (3) = (– 3)3 – 1 = 9 3rd term

f (4) = (– 3)4 – 1 = – 27 4th term

f (5) = (– 3)5 – 1 = 81 5th term

f (6) = (– 3)6 – 1 = – 243 6th term

You are just substituting numbers into

the equation to get your term.
 Find the first 5 terms of the sequence
given the nth term.
Examples: Write a rule for the nth term.

2 2 2 2
a. , , , ,... b. 3,5,7,9,...
5 25 125 625

2 2 2 2
1
, 2 , 3 , 4 ,...
5 5 5 5

Look for a pattern…

Example: Write a rule for the nth term.

Think:
 Describe the pattern, write the next term, and
write a rule for the nth term of the sequence
(a) – 1, – 8, – 27, – 64, . . .

SOLUTION

a. You can write the terms as (– 1)3, (– 2)3, (– 3)3,

(– 4)3, . . . . The next term is a5 = (– 5)3 = – 125.

A rule for the nth term is an = (– n)3.

Describe the pattern, write the next term, and
write a rule for the nth term of the sequence
(b) 0, 2, 6, 12, . . . .

SOLUTION
b. You can write the terms as 0(1), 1(2), 2(3),
3(4), . . . .
The next term is f (5) = 4(5) = 20.

A rule for the nth term is f (n) = (n – 1)n.

WORKSHEET 1
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