Sequences

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

Sequences Revision

Sequences

A sequence is a list of numbers that follow a pattern. We can define this pattern with an \color{red}nth term rule or a recurrence relation. We will also define the terms increasing sequence, decreasing sequence and periodic sequence. We will also define an arithmetic and geometric progression, both of which will be studied in more detail later on.

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

nth Term and Recurrence Relation

One way to define a sequence is with an \color{red}nth term rule. This is a formula in n, and the sequence is generated by n=1, n=2, n=3, etc.

 

Example: 4n-3 defines the sequence 1,5,9,13... because 4\times 1-3=1, 4\times 2-3=5, 4\times 3-3=9 and so on.

A recurrence relation instead defines the next term using previous ones. We first define u_{n} as the \color{red}nth term, then the sequence is defined by a formula in terms of u_{n-1}.

 

Example: The sequence above, 1,5,9,13... has recurrence relation u_{n}=u_{n-1}+4

Note: A recurrence relation alone is not enough to specify a sequence. For example, u_{n}=u_{n-1}+4 defines both 1,5,9,13... and 1000,1004,1008,1012... as well as any other sequence that goes up by 4 each time. To uniquely define a sequence, we need to specify a term, e.g. u_{1}=1

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions

An arithmetic progression is a sequence that is created by adding the same amount each time. The first term of the sequence is called a and the amount we add is called the difference d.

The sequence is a,a+d,a+2d,a+3d...

u_{n}=a+(n-1)d

 

A geometric progression is a sequence that is created by multiplying by the same amount each time. The first term of the sequence is called a and the amount we multiply by is called r.

The sequence is a,ar,ar^{2},ar^{3}...

u_{n}=ar^{n-1}

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

Properties of Sequences

Sequences can be

  • Increasing: u_{n}>u_{n-1}
  • Decreasing: u_{n}<u_{n-1}
  • Periodic: The sequence repeats in a cycle. The number of terms in the cycle is the order of the sequence.

Some sequences are none of these.

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR
A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

Example 1: Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions

a) 3,7,11,15,19 is an arithmetic progression. Find a and d, and predict the next term.

b) 6,30,150,750,3750 is a geometric progression. Find a and r, and predict the next term.

[4 marks]

a) a=\text{first term}=3

d=\text{difference}=7-3=4

\begin{aligned}u_{n}&=3+4(n-1) \\[1.2em] u_{6}&=3+4(6-1)\\[1.2em]&=3+4\times 5\\[1.2em]&=3+20\\[1.2em]&=23\end{aligned}

 

b) a=\text{first term}=6

r=\text{ratio}=\dfrac{30}{6}=5

\begin{aligned}u_{n}&=6\times 5^{n-1}\\[1.2em] u_{6}&=6\times 5^{6-1}\\[1.2em]&=6\times 5^{5}\\[1.2em]&=6\times 3125\\[1.2em]&=18750\end{aligned}

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

Example 2: Properties of Sequences

Prove that the sequence defined by 8n-7 is increasing.

[2 marks]

u_{n}=8n-7

u_{n-1}=8(n-1)-7

\begin{aligned}u_{n}-u_{n-1}&=8n-7-(8(n-1)-7)\\[1.2em]&=8n-7-(8n-8-7)\\[1.2em]&=8n-7-(8n-15)\\[1.2em]&=8n-7-8n+15\\[1.2em]&=8>0\end{aligned}

Hence, u_{n}>u_{n-1} so the sequence is increasing.

A LevelAQAEdexcelOCR

Sequences Example Questions

nth term: u_{n}=3n-2

Recurrence relation: u_{n}=u_{n-1}+3 and u_{1}=1

i) u_{n}=64+1.5(n-1)

 

\begin{aligned}u_{7}&=64+1.5(7-1)\\[1.2em]&=64+1.5\times 6\\[1.2em]&=64+9\\[1.2em]&=73\end{aligned}

 

ii) u_{n}=64\times 1.5^{n-1}

 

\begin{aligned}u_{7}&=64\times 1.5^{7-1}\\[1.2em]&=64\times 1.5^{6}\\[1.2em]&=64\times 11.390625\\[1.2em]&=729\end{aligned}

i) A, B, G

ii) D, E

iii) F

iv) A

v) E, G

vi) C

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