Define and Use

Sequences
• What is a sequence?
• What is the difference between
finite and infinite sequence?
• Identify the terms of the
sequence given its rule
• Generate rule of the sequence
 Sequence:
• A function whose domain is a set of counting
numbers (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:

•
Write the first six terms of f (n) = (– 3)n – 1.

f (1) = (– 3)1 – 1 = 1 1st term

f (2) = (–3)2 – 1 = –3 2nd term

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.
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 5 (– 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.
Identify the function that gives each
sequence.
1. 2, 4, 6, 8,… 6. 1 , 5, 9, 13, 17, …
2. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26,… 7. -1, 3, 7, 11, …
3. 1, -2, 4, -8, 16,… 8. 2.4, 3.3, 4.2, …
4. -3, -1, 1, 3, 5, … 9. 5x-3, 3x+1, x+5,
5. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, … 10. -2/3, 4/9, -8/27,
 Graphing a Sequence
• Think of a sequence as ordered pairs for
graphing. (n , an)

Term # Actual term

• For example: 3,6,9,12,15
would be the ordered pairs (1,3), (2,6),
(3,9), (4,12), (5,15) graphed like points in a
scatter plot. DO NOT CONNECT ! ! !
* Sometimes it helps to find the rule first
when you are not given every term in a
finite sequence.
Graphing

n 1 2 3 4
a 3 6 9 12
Retail Displays
You work in a grocery store and are stacking
apples in the shape of a square pyramid with 7
layers. Write a rule for the number of apples in
each layer. Then graph the sequence.
SOLUTION First Layer

STEP 1 Make a table showing the number of fruit

in the first three layers. Let an represent
the number of apples in layer n.
STEP 2 Write a rule for the number
of apples in each layer.
From the table, you can see
that an = n2.
SEATWORK 1 – 1
(paired work)