SEQUENCES

F5 EXTENDED MATHS
REVIEW OF LINEAR SEQUENCES
A number pattern which increases (or decreases) by the same
amount each time is called a linear sequence.

Example 1
Find the rule of the sequence 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, …
First difference = 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3
Rule = 3n – 1

Example 2
Find the rule of the sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, …..
First difference = 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2
Rule = 2n + 3
 Example 3
(i) Write down the rule of the sequence
11, 7, 3, -1, -5, -9, -13, ……
First difference = -4, -4, -4, -4, -4, -4
Rule = -4n + 15
(ii) Find the 0th term(term before 𝟏𝒔𝒕 term) of
the sequence
0th term = 11— — 4 = 15
 Practice work
Find the next three terms and the rule of the following
sequences:
1. 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, …
2. 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, …
Examples

nth term = 5n - 3. Find the term in the sequence that has a value of 122.

5n − 3 = 122 add 3 to both sides

5n = 125 divide both sides by 5

n = 25

Answer: the 25th term

Examples

nth term = 6n + 15. Find the term in the sequence that has a value of 303.

6n + 15 = 303 take 15 from both sides

6n = 288 divide both sides by 6

n = 48

Answer: the 48th term

Examples

nth term = 50 - 6n. Find the term in the sequence that has a value of -184.

50 − 6n = −184 take 50 from both sides

−6n = −234 divide both sides by −6

n = 39

Answer: the 39th term

nth term = 8n - 3. Show that the number 203 is not in the sequence.

8n – 3 = 203
8n = 203 + 3

8n = 206

n = 25.75
Since n is a decimal, 203 is not in the sequence
 Non linear sequences
The sequence 5, 7, 10, 14, … is called a non-linear sequence because the
difference between the terms is not the same.
5 7
10 14
+2 +3 +4

You should be able to recognise and use the following non-linear sequences.

Square numbers

1 4 9 16 nth term = n2
 Cube numbers

1 8 27 64 nth term = n3

Powers or Exponential or Geometric sequence

For example
nth term = 2n 2, 4, 8, 16, …

nth term = 3n 3, 9, 27, 81, …

nth term = 4n 4, 16, 64, 256, …

Cube numbers

1 8 27 64 nth term = n3

Powers or Exponential or Geometric sequence

For example 2, 4, 8, 16, … nth term = 2n

3, 9, 27, 81, … nth term = 3n

4, 16, 64, 256, … nth term = 4n

1 Find the nth term of the sequence 1, 3, 9, 27, …
Term position 1 2 3 4

The rule involves

powers of 3.
Term Value 1 3 9 27
(= 30) (= 31) (= 32) (= 33)

subtract 1 from the term position to find the power

nth term = 3n−1
Examples

2 Find the nth term of the sequence 4, 7, 12, 19, …

Term position 1 2 3 4
The rule involves
4 7 12 19 square numbers.

(= 12 + 3) (= 22 + 3) (= 32 + 3) (= 42 + 3)

square the term position and add 3

nth term = n2 + 3
 Examples

3 Find the nth term of the sequence 0, 7, 26, 63, …

Term position 1 2 3 4
The rule involves
cube numbers.
0 7 26 63
(= 13 − 1) (=23 − 1) (= 33 − 1) (= 43 − 1)

cube the term position and subtract 1

nth term = n3 − 1
Non linear sequence(Quadratic sequences)
Example 1
The nth term of a sequence is 2n2 + 4n − 1 write
down the first four terms of the sequence.
Solution
Substitute the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 into the
formula to generate the first four terms
5, 15, 29, 47, …
Finding the nth term of a quadratic sequence
Example
Find the nth term of the sequence 5, 11,21,35,53, 75, ………
nth term = 𝒂𝒏𝟐 + 𝒃𝒏 + 𝒄
First difference = 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34
Second difference = 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
2𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 4
a= = =2 c = 0𝑡ℎ term = 3
2 2
a + b + c = 1𝑠𝑡 ⇒b = 1𝑠𝑡 – (a) – (b) = 5 – 2 – 3 = 0 ⇒ b = 0
⇒ 𝑛𝑡ℎ term = 2𝒏𝟐 + 𝟎𝒏 + 3 = 2𝒏𝟐 + 3
 Example 1(method 2)
(a) Find the next three terms and the 0th term of the sequence 5, 11, 21,
35, 53, 75, …
(b) Find the rule of the sequence
Solution
(a) 101, 131, 165
(b) First difference = 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34
Second difference = 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
0th term = 5 - 2 = 3
Rule: will be in the form: an2 + bn + c
Note: a is always half of the second difference.
a = 2, by solving b + c = 3 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐 + 𝒃 𝟏 + 𝒄 = 𝟓 and
2b + c = 3 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 + 𝒃 𝟐 + 𝒄 = 𝟏𝟏 simultaneously
b = 0 and c = 3
Therefore Rule = 2n2 + 3
 Example 3
Write down the next three terms in the following sequence. Find
also the rule of the sequence. 9, 13, 19, 27...
Next three terms = 37, 49, 63
First difference = 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14
Second difference = 2, 2, 2, 2, 2
Rule: The rule will be in the form an2 + bn + c
Note: a is always half of the second difference.
To find b and c, form two simple linear equations and solve
them simultaneously. a = 1, solve b + c = 𝟖 (𝒏 = 𝟏) and 2b + c = 9
(𝒏 = 𝟐) simultaneously, b = 1 and c = 7
Therefore the rule = n2 + n + 7
Examples

4 The table shows the first four terms in three sequences A, B and C.

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4

Sequence A 3 6 11 18
Sequence B 3 9 27 81
Sequence C 0 3 16 63

a Find the nth term of sequence A.

Answer: nth term = n2 + 2
b Find the nth term of sequence B.
Answer: nth term = 3n
c Find the nth term of sequence C.
You need to notice that: sequence C = sequence B − sequence A

Answer: nth term = 3n − (n 2 + 2) = 3n − n2 − 2

 Practice Work

1. The rule of a sequence is 4n2 – n + 2. write

down the first three terms of the sequence.
2. Write down the next three terms of the
sequence; 5, 11, 19, 29...
Find the nth term of the sequence.
3. Find the nth term of the sequence
2, 10, 22, 38...
Example 4
Find the nth term of the sequence;
-1, -8, -21, -40, -65, …
Solution
First difference = -7, -13, -19, -25
Second difference = -6, -6, -6
Rule will be in the form an2 + bn + c
a = -3, by solving b + c = 2 and 2b + c = 4
simultaneously b = 2 and c = 0
Therefore the rule = -3n2 + 2n
 Other non-linear sequences and their nth term
• 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, …. n2
• 0, 1, 4, 9, 16 …… 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝟐 …… square no seq. starting with 0
• 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, … n3
• 0, 1, 8, 27, 64 ….. 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝟑 ……….. cube no seq. starting with 0
• 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, … 2n
• 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, … 2n – 1
• 3, 9, 27, 81, … 3n
• 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, … 3n – 1
• 22, 25 , 28 , 211 , … 23n – 1
 Further non-linear sequences

Example
1 The nth term of the sequence 8, 16, 26, 38, … is given by the formula
nth term = n2 + bn + c. Find the values of b and c.

The first term is 8, so substitute n = 1 into the formula

12 + b  1+ c = 8
b+c =7
The second term is 16, so substitute n = 2 into the formula
22 + b  2 + c = 16
2b + c = 12
Solving b+c =7 2b + c = 12 and
simultaneously gives b = 5 and c = 2.
There are the first four diagrams in a sequence. Each diagram is made from small sequences and crosses
 March 2018 P42 Q11
The table shows the first five terms of sequences A, B and C.

𝟐𝟓
𝟗

𝟏𝟔

(a) Complete the table.

(b) Find an expression for the nth term of
(i) sequence A,
(ii) sequence B.
(c) Find the value of n when the nth term of sequence A is 576.
Solution:
(b) (i) 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝟐
(c) 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝟐 = 𝟓𝟕𝟔
(ii) 𝒏 + 𝟑
𝒏 − 𝟏 = 𝟓𝟕𝟔
𝒏 − 𝟏 = 𝟐𝟒
𝒏 = 𝟐𝟓
 March 2018 P42 Q11 contd.
(d) (i) Find an expression for the nth term of sequence C. Give your answer
in its simplest form. (ii) Find the value of the 30th term of sequence C.
Solution:
(d) (i) 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝟐 − 𝒏 + 𝟑
= 𝒏𝟐 − 𝟐𝒏 + 𝟏 − 𝒏 − 𝟑 𝟐𝟓

= 𝒏𝟐 − 𝟑𝒏 − 𝟐 𝟗

(ii) 𝟑𝟎 𝟐 − 𝟑 𝟑𝟎 − 𝟐 𝟏𝟔

= 𝟖𝟎𝟖
 March 2019 P42 Q11
• (a) The table shows the first five terms of sequence A and sequence B

𝟕𝟕

𝟐𝟒𝟑

(i) Complete the table for the 6th term of each sequence. [2]
(ii) Find the nth term of
(a) sequence A,
(b) sequence B.
Solution:
(ii) (a) 𝟐𝒏𝟐 + 𝟓
(b) 𝟑𝒏−𝟏
 March 2019 P42 Q11 contd
(b) The nth term of another sequence is 𝟒𝒏𝟐 + 𝒏 + 𝟑.
Find
(i) the 2nd term,
(ii) the value of n when the nth term is 498.
Solution:
(b) (i) 𝟒 𝟐 𝟐 + 𝟐 + 𝟑 = 𝟐𝟏
(ii) 𝟒𝒏𝟐 + 𝒏 + 𝟑 = 𝟒𝟗𝟖
𝟒𝒏𝟐 + 𝒏 − 𝟒𝟗𝟓 = 𝟎
By solving the quadratic equation;
𝟒𝟓
𝒏 = 𝟏𝟏 𝒐𝒓 −
𝟒
Therefore 𝒏 = 𝟏𝟏
 June 2011 P41 Q10
• The first and the nth terms of sequences A, B and C are shown in the table below.
• (a) Complete the table for each sequence.
• (b) Find
• (i) the 8th term of sequence A,
• (ii) the 12th term of sequence C.
• (c) (i) Which term in sequence A is equal to 15 625?
• (ii) Which term in sequence C is equal to 10 000?
• Solution:
• (b) (i) 𝟓𝟏𝟐
• (ii) 𝟏𝟔𝟗
• (c) (i) 𝒏𝟑 = 𝟏𝟓𝟔𝟐𝟓 𝟖 𝟐𝟕 𝟔𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟓

𝟑
• 𝒏 = 𝟏𝟓𝟔𝟐𝟓 = 𝟐𝟓 𝟖 𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟔 𝟐𝟎

• (ii) 𝒏 + 𝟏 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟗 𝟏𝟔 𝟑𝟔
𝟐𝟓
• 𝒏 + 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
• 𝒏 + 𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎
• 𝒏 = 𝟗𝟗
 June 2011 P41 Q10 contd
• (d) The first four terms of sequences D and E are shown in the table
below.
• Use the results from part (a) to find the 5th and the nth terms of the
sequences D and E.

𝟖 𝟐𝟕 𝟔𝟒 𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝟖 𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟔 𝟐𝟎
𝟗 𝟏𝟔 𝟐𝟓 𝟑𝟔
• Solution:

𝟏𝟒𝟓 𝒏𝟑 + 𝟒𝒏

𝟏𝟔 𝒏−𝟏 𝟐
 June 2018 P41 Q12
Marco is making patterns with grey and white circular mats.
Solution:

(b) 𝟑𝒏 + 𝟑

The patterns form a sequence.

Marco makes a table to show some information about the patterns. (c) 𝟑𝒏 + 𝟑 = 𝟐𝟒
𝒏=𝟕
𝟏𝟖 For the 7th term;
Total number of mats = 𝟒𝟓
𝟐𝟖

• (a) Complete the table for Pattern 5. [2]

• (b) Find an expression, in terms of n, for the number of grey mats in Pattern n. [2]
• (c) Marco makes a pattern with 24 grey mats.
• Find the total number of mats in this pattern. [2]
 June 2018 P41 Q12 Contd.
(d) Marco needs a total of 6 mats to make the first pattern. He needs a total of 16 mats to
𝟏
make the first two patterns. He needs a total of 𝒏𝟑 + 𝒂𝒏𝟐 + 𝒃𝒏 mats to make the first n
𝟔
patterns. Find the value of a and the value of b. [6]
Solution:
(d) When 𝒏 = 𝟏
𝟏 𝟑 𝟐
𝟏 +𝒂 𝟏 +𝒃 𝟏 =𝟔
𝟔
𝟑𝟓
𝒂+𝒃=
𝟔
𝟔𝒂 + 𝟔𝒃 = 𝟑𝟓 ---- (1)
When 𝒏 = 𝟐 By solving (1) and (2) simultaneously
𝟏 𝟑 𝟐 𝟑 𝟏𝟑
𝟐 +𝒂 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒃 = 𝟏𝟔 𝒂= , 𝒃=
𝟔 𝟐 𝟑
𝟖
+ 𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 = 𝟏𝟔
𝟔
𝟒𝟒
𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 =
𝟑
𝟏𝟐𝒂 + 𝟔𝒃 = 𝟒𝟒 ---- (2)
 June 2019 P42 Q11

• The sequence of diagrams above is made up of small lines and dots.

• (a) Complete the table. [4]
• (b) For Diagram 𝒏 find an expression, in terms of 𝒏, for the number of small lines.
[2]

𝟒𝟎 𝟓𝟒 𝟏
𝒂= 𝟐 =𝟏
𝟐𝟔 𝟑𝟒 𝟐
When 𝒏 = 𝟏: 𝒃 + 𝒄 = 𝟑 --- (1)
Solution: When 𝒏 = 𝟐: 𝟐𝒃 + 𝒄 = 𝟔 --- (2)
By solving the simultaneous equation;
(b) First differences = The rule will be in 𝒃 = 𝟑, 𝒄 = 𝟎
𝟔, 𝟖, 𝟏𝟎, 𝟏𝟐, 𝟏𝟒, the form; 𝒂𝒏𝟐 + 𝒃𝒏 + 𝒄
Second differences = 𝟐, 𝟐, 𝟐, 𝟐, … . . Rule: 𝒏𝟐 + 𝟑𝒏
 June 2019 P42 Q11 contd.
(c) Diagram 𝒓 has 10 300 small lines. Find the value of 𝒓.
[2]
(d) The number of dots in Diagram 𝒏 is 𝒂𝒏𝟐 + 𝒃𝒏 + 𝟏.
• Find the value of 𝒂 and the value of 𝒃.
[2]
• Solution:
• (c) The rule for the number of small lines = 𝒏𝟐 + 𝟑𝒏
• 𝒓𝟐 + 𝟑𝒓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟑𝟎𝟎
• 𝒓𝟐 + 𝟑𝒓 − 𝟏𝟎𝟑𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎
• By solving the quadratic equation; 𝒓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎
• (d) From the table, using the number of dots in the diagram;
• When 𝒏 = 𝟏; 𝒂 + 𝒃 + 𝟏 = 𝟒
• 𝒂 + 𝒃 = 𝟑 --- (1)
• When 𝒏 = 𝟐; 𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 + 𝟏 = 𝟖
• 𝟒𝒂 + 𝟐𝒃 = 𝟕 --- (2)
𝟒𝟎 𝟓𝟒
• By solving the simultaneous equations;
𝟏 𝟓 𝟐𝟔 𝟑𝟒
• 𝒂= , 𝒃=
𝟐 𝟐
 June 2019 P43 Q10
• (a) 19, 15, 11, 7, ....
• (i) Write down the next two terms of the sequence. [2]
• (ii) Find the 𝒏th term of this sequence.
[2]
• (iii) Find the value of 𝒏 when the 𝒏th term is −𝟔𝟓. [2]
• (b) Another sequence has 𝒏th term 𝟐𝒏𝟐 + 𝟓𝒏 − 𝟏𝟓.
• Find the difference between the 4th term and the 5th term of this sequence. [2]
Solution:
(a) (i) 𝟑, −𝟏
(ii) First differences = −𝟒, −𝟒, −𝟒, −𝟒, …
Rule: −𝟒𝒏 + 𝟐𝟑 or 𝟐𝟑 − 𝟒𝒏
(iii) −𝟒𝒏 + 𝟐𝟑 = −𝟔𝟓
𝒏 = 𝟐𝟐
(b) 4th term = 𝟐 𝟒 𝟐 + 𝟓 𝟒 − 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟑𝟕
5th term = 𝟐 𝟓 𝟐 + 𝟓 𝟓 − 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟔𝟎
Difference = 𝟔𝟎 − 𝟑𝟕 = 𝟐𝟑
 June 2017 P41 Q9
(a) The 𝒏th term of a sequence is 𝟖𝒏 − 𝟑.
(i) Write down the first two terms of this sequence. [1]
(ii) Show that the number 203 is not in this sequence. [2] (b) (i) First differences = 𝟔
(b) Find the nth term of these sequences. Rule: 𝟔𝒏 + 𝟕
(i) 13, 19, 25, 31, … [2] (ii) First differences = 𝟒, 𝟔, 𝟖,
(ii) 4, 8, 14, 22, … [2] Second differences = 𝟐, 𝟐, 𝟐, …
(c) … , 20, 50, … The rule be in the form 𝒂𝒏𝟐 + 𝒃𝒏 + 𝒄
The second term of this sequence is 20 and the third term is 50. 𝟏
𝒂= 𝟐 =𝟏
The rule for finding the next term in this sequence is subtract 𝒚 then multiply by 5. 𝟐
When 𝒏 = 𝟏: 𝒃 + 𝒄 = 𝟑 – (1)
Find the value of 𝒚 and work out the first term of this sequence. [4] When 𝒏 = 𝟐: 𝟐𝒃 + 𝒄 = 𝟒 – (2)
Solution:
By solving the simultaneous
(a) (i) When 𝒏 = 𝟏: 𝟖 𝟏 − 𝟑 = 𝟓 Equations; 𝒃 = 𝟏, 𝒄 = 𝟐
When 𝒏 = 𝟐: 𝟖 𝟐 − 𝟑 = 𝟏𝟑
(ii) 𝟖𝒏 − 𝟑 = 𝟐𝟎𝟑
𝒏 = 𝟐𝟓. 𝟕𝟓 Rule: 𝒏𝟐 + 𝒏 + 𝟐
𝒏 must be a positive whole number therefore 203 is not in the sequence.
(c) 𝟓 𝟐𝟎 − 𝒚 = 𝟓𝟎 Let the first term be 𝒙
𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎 𝟓 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟐𝟎
𝒙 = 𝟏𝟒
 June 2017 P43 Q11

The table shows the first four terms in sequences A, B, C and D.

Complete the table. [12]

𝟒𝟕
𝒏+𝟑 𝟐

𝟔𝟒
𝟑𝒏 + 𝟐

𝟏𝟕 𝒏+𝟑 𝟐 − (𝟑𝒏 + 𝟐)

𝟕 𝒏+𝟐
𝟔 𝒏+𝟏
 June 2013 P41 Q10
Find the sum of the number of dots
in
(i) Star 10 and Star 11,
[1]
(ii) Star n and Star (n + 1),
[1]
(iii) Star (n + 7) and Star (n + 8).
[1]
• The diagrams show a sequence of stars made of lines and dots.
• (a) Complete the table for Star 5, Star 7 and Star n. [4] Solution:

(i) 𝟏𝟎𝟏 + 𝟏𝟏𝟏 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐

50 70 10𝒏 (ii) 𝟏𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏 + (𝟏𝟎 𝒏 + 𝟏 + 𝟏)

51 71 10𝒏 + 1 𝟏𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏 + 𝟏𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟏
(b) The sums of the number of dots in two consecutive stars are shown in the table. 𝟐𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏𝟐
(iii) 𝟐𝟎 𝒏 + 𝟕 + 𝟏𝟐
𝟐𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏𝟒𝟎 + 𝟏𝟐
𝟐𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏𝟓𝟐
 June 2013 P41 Q10 contd
(c) The total number of dots in the first 𝒏 stars is given by the expression 𝟓𝒏𝟐 + 𝟔𝒏 .
(i) Show that this expression is correct when 𝒏 = 𝟑. [2]
(ii) Find the total number of dots in the first 10 stars.
(d) The total number of dots in the first n stars is 𝟓𝒏𝟐 + 𝟔𝒏 .
The number of dots in the (𝒏 + 𝟏)th star is 𝟏𝟎(𝒏 + 𝟏) + 𝟏.
𝟐
Add these two expressions to show that the total number of dots in the first (𝒏 + 𝟏) stars is 𝟓 𝒏 + 𝟏 + 𝟔(𝒏 + 𝟏) .
You must show each step of your working. [4]
Solution:
(c) (i) When = 𝟑,
𝟓 𝟑 𝟐 + 𝟔 𝟑 = 𝟔𝟑
Same as 𝟏𝟏 + 𝟐𝟏 + 𝟑𝟏 = 𝟔𝟑
(ii) When 𝒏 = 𝟏𝟎, 𝟓 𝟏𝟎 𝟐 + 𝟔 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟓𝟔𝟎
(d) 𝟓𝒏𝟐 + 𝟔𝒏 + (𝟏𝟎 𝒏 + 𝟏 + 𝟏)
𝟓𝒏𝟐 + 𝟔𝒏 + 𝟏𝟎𝒏 + 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟏
𝟓𝒏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝒏 + 𝟓 + 𝟔𝒏 + 𝟔
By completing of squares;
𝟓 𝒏 + 𝟏 𝟐 + 𝟔(𝒏 + 𝟏)