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SEQUENCES
These are sequences where the difference
between successive terms of a sequence
is always the same number. This number
is called the common difference.
3, 7, 11, 15, 19
d=4
a=3
an an 1 4
The first term in the sequence would be a1 which is
sometimes just written as a.
+4 +4 +4 +4
3, 7, 11, 15, 19
d=4
a=3
an a n 1 d
a5 3 5 1 4 3 16 19
4n 1
4n 2
2n 8
Check it out by putting in the first few positive
integers and verifying that it generates our sequence.
6, 4, 2, 0, -2, . . .
a 3, a 35
a1 3
d=2
3a4 a1 3d(2)
The fourth term is 3 and the 20th term is 35. Find the first
term and both a term generating formula and a recursive
formula for this sequence.
a4 3, a20 35
d=2
a1 3
2n 5
makes the common difference 2
a4 2 4 5 3
a20 2 20 5 35
an an 1 2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + . . . + 96 + 97 + 98 + 99 + 100
sum is 101
n
S n a1 an
2
first term
last term
n
S n a1 an
2
first term
last term
2n 1
2n - 1 = 59 n = 30
30
S30 1 59 900
2