3.1.2
Finding Terms
Sequences
Sequences
Is 30 part of the sequence given by the expression n² + 5? What about 40?


We find n = ± 5
We find n = ± 5
- n can only be positive so discard the negative answer.


We find n = ± 5.91...
We find n = ± 5.91...
- n can only be positive so discard the negative answer.
Arithmetic Sequence
Arithmetic Sequence
Terms in arithmetic sequences change by a constant amount each time.


Arithmetic sequence
Arithmetic sequence
- An arithmetic sequence is a sequence that has the property that the difference between any two consecutive terms is a constant.
- This difference is called the common difference, and is represented by the symbol d.


Nth term
Nth term
- Given the first term and the common difference of an arithmetic sequence, we can find the nth term of the sequence an by using the following equation:
- Where n ≥ 2.
Finding the Sum of Sequences
Finding the Sum of Sequences
It is often useful to find the sum of the terms in a sequence.


Notation
Notation
- The sum of the first n terms of a sequence Sn is written as:
- Sn = a1 for all sequences.


Sum of first n terms
Sum of first n terms
- The equation for Sn is:
1Numbers
1.1Integers
1.3Decimals
1.4Powers & Roots
1.5Set Language & Notation
1.6Percentages
1.7Ratio & Proportion
2Equations, Formulae & Identities
2.1Algebraic Manipulation
2.2Expressions & Formulae
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Quadratic Equations
2.5Proportion
3Sequences, Functions & Graphs
3.1Sequences
3.3Graphs
3.4Common Graphs
4Geometry
4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles
4.2Polygons
4.5Circle Properties
4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem
4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes
4.83D Shapes & Volume
5Vectors & Transformation Geometry
6Statistics & Probability
6.1Statistical Measures
6.2Graphical Representation of Data
Jump to other topics
1Numbers
1.1Integers
1.3Decimals
1.4Powers & Roots
1.5Set Language & Notation
1.6Percentages
1.7Ratio & Proportion
2Equations, Formulae & Identities
2.1Algebraic Manipulation
2.2Expressions & Formulae
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Quadratic Equations
2.5Proportion
3Sequences, Functions & Graphs
3.1Sequences
3.3Graphs
3.4Common Graphs
4Geometry
4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles
4.2Polygons
4.5Circle Properties
4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem
4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes
4.83D Shapes & Volume
5Vectors & Transformation Geometry
6Statistics & Probability
6.1Statistical Measures
6.2Graphical Representation of Data
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