ARITHMETIC AND

GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES
U2.9.1
3/20/15

Patterns in Nature

Famous Fibonacci Sequence

Wowsers! Cool Nature!

Fibonachos

Numerical patterns are called sequences

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Warm-Up 2.9.1
Describe the pattern and determine the
next number in the list
1, 3, 5, 7,
13, 18, 23, 28,
7, 4, 1, -2, -5,
-22, -15, -8, -1,
1, 3, 9, 27,
256, 64, 16, 4,
4, 8/3, 16/9, 32/81,
1/2, -1/4, 1/8, -1/16,

Definitions
Arithmetic Sequence: is one in which each
member of the sequence has a constant factor
added or subtracted to get the next member.
Ex.: 2,4,6,8,12,14
Geometric Sequence: is one in which each
member of the sequence is multiplied or
divided by a constant factor to get the next
number.
Ex.: 2,6,18,54,162,486,1458

Who is Who

Arithmetic Sequence: basics to know

Common Difference : is the constant difference between the
numbers of the sequence is the number we added or subtracted
Explicit Formula or rule: Is the formula used to find the nth
term of a sequence

an a1 (n 1)d

nth term: is the number of terms in the sequence

Recursive formula or rule: a formula used to find the next term
of a sequence when the previous term is known

an an 1 d
Arithmetic Sequences are linear functions!!!

http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sequ
ences-sums-arithmetic.html

Mathisfun.com

Recursion= Iteration

Arithmetic Recursion Formula:

an = an 1 + d

where : an 1 = the _ previous _ term

Ex.: a = 2
1

d
=
2

a1 = 2
a2 = a1 + d = 2 + 2 = 4
a3 = a2 + d = 4 + 2 = 6
a4 = a3 + d = 6 + 2 = 8

Kuta Software

Yeah!!!!

Geometric Sequence:

basics to know

Constant Ratio: the constant number we multiplied or divided by

to get the next number.
Explicit formula or rule: a formula used to find the nth term of
n 1
the sequence

an a1 r

nth term: is the number of terms in the sequence

Recursive formula or rule: Recursive formula or rule: a formula
used to find the next term of a sequence when the previous term is
known

an an 1 r

Geometric Sequences are exponential functions!!!

http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/sequ
ences-sums-geometric.html

Guided Practice

The area of a
square
A=bxl=5x5=25

The _ exp licit _ formula :

an = a1 r n 1
a11 = 3 2111 = 3 210 = 3072

The _ exp licit _ formula :

an = a1 r n 1
1 91
18 1
a9 = 81
= 81
=
3
3
81

The _ exp licit _ formula :

an = a1 r n 1
a6 = 5 r 61 = 5 r 5
1
5

160

160
5
= r = r = 2
5
5

__ , __ , __ , 27 , __ , __ , 1
This can only happens if we are
dividing each term by 3 (common
ratio) so to retrace we multiplied
by 3: 27x3=81, 81x3=243,
243x3=729

The _ exp licit _ formula :

an = a1 r n 1
a6 = 5 r 61 = 5 r 5
1

160
5
160
5
= r = r = 2
5
5