Tracking B

Sequences Grade C / B

By the end of this lesson you will:

- find the nth term for linear sequences
- use the nth term to find any term in a sequence
Key words: sequences, nth term, linear, difference

Write down the first 4 terms for

each sequence...
a)2n
b)2n + 1
c)2n + 5
d)2n – 3
e)- 2n
f)4 – 2n
Can you suggest why they are called linear sequences?

10

tn= 2n + 1
4

2
tn= 3n - 4

0 1 2 3 4 5
 A linear number sequence is a sequence of numbers that has a
constant difference between adjacent terms. Consider the first five
terms of the number sequence shown:

position  1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th ................................nth

terms  5, 8, 11, 14, 17,………………..?
difference 3 3 3 3
 +2

Can you see how the numbers of this

sequence are related to those in the 3 times
n 3n 3n ?+ 2
table?
1 3 5
2 6 8
Adjacent numbers in the 3 times table also
differ by 3. The terms in this sequence are 2 3 9 11
bigger than the numbers in the 3 times table. 4 12 14
5 15 17
tn= 3n + 2
 For each of the number sequences below, find a rule for the nth
term (tn) and work out the value of t100 .

Question 1 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, tn= 5n + 3 t100 = 5 x 100 + 3 = 503

Question 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, tn= 3n - 2 t100 = 3 x 100 - 2 = 298

2
Question 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, tn= 7n - 5 t100 = 7 x 100 - 5 = 695
3
Question 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, tn= 6n + 3 t100 = 6 x 100 + 3 = 603
4
Question -1, 4, 9, 14, 19, tn= 5n - 6 t100 = 5 x 100 - 6 = 494
5
Question -3, 1, 5, 9, 13, tn= 4n - 7 t100 = 4 x 100 - 7 = 393
6
Question 6, 18, 30, 42, 54, tn= 12n - 6 t100 = 12 x 100 - 6 = 1194
7
Number sequences can be
4
used to solve problems How many
involving patterns in 3 squares of
diagrams. chocolate (S) will
2 the 10th diagram
(D) contain?
1

1 3 5 7
S = 2D - 1 S10 = 2 x 10 - 1 = 19

How many wooden braces (B) will there be, in the 20th panel (P)?

1 2 3

4 7 10

B = 3P + 1 B20 = 3 x 20 +1= 61
 3

2 How many stone

slabs (S) will the
1 15th diagram (D)
contain?

1 5 9

S = 4D - 3 S15 = 4 x 15 – 3 = 57

How many steel braces (B) will there be, in the 28th panel (P)?

1 2 3

6 11 16
B = 5P + 1 B28 = 5 x 28 + 1 = 141