3. What is a sequence?
A sequence is a set of objects which is
listed in a specific order, one after another.
Each member or element in the sequence is
called term.
The terms in a sequence can be written as 𝒂
𝟏, 𝒂𝟐, 𝒂𝟑, 𝒂𝟒, ... ,𝒂𝒏, ... which means 𝑎1 is the first
term, 𝑎2 is the second term, 𝑎3 is the third
term, …, 𝑎𝑛 is the nth term, and so on.
4. Sequences can be classified as either finite
sequence or infinite sequence.
5. Finding terms of a sequence
A term in a sequence can be
identified using a general term.
A general term or the nth term
is usually expressed as an
equation.
6. How to find a term of a sequence
using a general term?
Consider the following steps:
1. Substitute the value of n.
2. Perform the operations.
3. Simplify.
7. Example:
Find the first five terms of the
sequence an = 5n – 2.
Remember that n denotes the position or
order of the terms.
8. Solution: Find the first five terms of the
sequence an = 5n – 2.
an = 5n – 2
For the first term, n = 1
an = 5n – 2
a1 = 5(1) – 2
a1 = 5 – 2
a1 = 3
9. Solution: Find the first five terms of the
sequence an = 5n – 2.
For the second term,
n = 2
an = 5n – 2
a2 = 5(2) – 2
a2 = 10 – 2
a2 = 8
For the third term,
n = 3
an = 5n – 2
a3 = 5(3) – 2
a3 = 15 – 2
a3 = 13
10. Solution: Find the first five terms of the
sequence an = 5n – 2.
For the fourth term,
n = 4
an = 5n – 2
a4 = 5(4) – 2
a4 = 20 – 2
a4 = 18
For the fifth term,
n = 5
an = 5n – 2
a5 = 5(5) – 2
a5 = 25 – 2
a5 = 23
11. Answer:
Find the first five terms of the
sequence an = 5n – 2.
The first five terms of the sequence
an = 5n – 2 are 3, 8, 13, 18, and 23.
12.
13. Determine the 6th, 8th and 13th
terms of the sequence an = 5 + 3n.
a6 = 23, a8 = 29, a13 = 44
14.
15.
16. Which of the following is a finite
sequence?
a. negative even numbers
b. even numbers below 100
c. even numbers greater than 1
d. even numbers between 10 and 50
17. What is next term in the
sequence 4, -10, 16, -22, ___?
a. 23
b. -23
c. 28
d. -28
18. A sequence is defined by the
equation an = 5n – 7. What is the
4th term?
a. 13
b. 2
c. 27
d. 47
19. Which of the following defines
an infinite sequence?
a. days of the week
b. weekdays
c. every other day
d. Fridays of July
20. What is the 11th term of the
sequence an = 6 + 3n?
a. 63
b. 39
c. 33
d. 17
21. Which equation correctly describes the
sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30,…?
a. an = n + 1
b. an = n2 + 1
c. an = 2n + 1
d. an = n(n + 1)
22. What are the first four terms of the
sequence an = n2 – 1?
a. 0, 3, 8, 15
b. 1, 3, 5, 7
c. 1, 5, 10, 16
d. 0, 2, 7, 12