Name ___________________________ 1-1 Notes

IB Math SL YR1

Lesson 1-1 Arithmetic sequences Always have

your Formula
Learning objectives booklet out!
 Can you list the terms of an arithmetic sequence given the rule for the sequence?
 Given two or more terms of an arithmetic sequence, how can you find the general
term of the sequence?
 How do we solve word problems involving arithmetic sequences?

Turn and Talk!

With your elbow partners- What do you think a sequence is? Jot down any ideas!

A sequence is a list of numbers where there is a certain pattern.

The numbers of the sequence are called members or terms of the sequence. Here are a few sequences:

1. 3, 12, 21, 30, 39, …

2. 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, …

3. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, ...

4. 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,…

Let’s try to find the pattern for each of the sequences above!

Very Important!
Notation is Key in this
Notation for sequences unit!

We often use a subscript notation to represent individual terms of the sequence. The sequence in
example 1 was 3, 12, 21, 30, 39, … We can assign the terms as follows.

u1=¿ , u2=¿ , u3=¿ , u 4=¿

Try it! Do the same for the first six terms of the sequence in example 3.

1
Arithmetic sequences

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the difference between consecutive terms is
constant, known as the common difference. List the first term and the common difference for each one.

5. 3, 8, 13, 18, … u1=, d=¿

6. 3, 4, 5, 6, … u1=, d=¿

7. -2, 3, 8, 13, … u1=, d=¿

8. 8, 4, 0, -4, … u1=, d=¿

A sequence can be specified by listing terms, like 3, 8, 13, 18, … in example 5.

Or we can use an explicit formula, called the general term or nth term, which in this case would be
un =5 n−2. Let’s verify that this formula gives the terms that it should.

u1=¿

u2=¿

u3=¿

u 4=¿

You try with your elbow partner! Match each of the general terms below with one of the sequences
listed in examples 6 – 8.

9. un =n+2

10. un =−4 n+12

11. un =5 n−7

2
 {u n }is arithmetic ↔ un +1−un=d

This is telling us that the next term minus the previous terms gives us the common difference.
What does this mean?
This is telling us that the__________ term minus the __________ term gives us the

Common Differences in an arithmetic sequence must always be the same.

Applying this idea: Find the value of m in the arithmetic sequence: m ,13 , 3 m−6 …

General term of an arithmetic sequence

So how do you find the general term for a sequence?

Suppose the first term of an arithmetic sequence is u1 and the common difference is d . Then

u1=¿

u2=¿

u3=¿

u 4=¿

u5=¿

What pattern do you see? Here is the formula for the general term of an arithmetic sequence.
Let’s look at
un =¿ the formula
Booklet!

12. Consider the sequence 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, …

a. Show that the sequence is arithmetic.

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b. Find a formula for the general term un .

c. Use a formula to find the 100th term of the sequence.

d. Is 828 a term of the sequence?

Problem solving with arithmetic sequences – let’s apply our knowledge!

13. Insert four numbers between 3 and 12 so that all six numbers are in are in arithmetic sequence.

14. Find the value of x in the arithmetic sequence 3, x , 8 …

15. An arithmetic sequence has first term 19 and 15th term 31.6. Find the common difference.

16. Find the general term un for an arithmetic sequence with u3=8 and u8 =−17. (Solve for common
difference firs!)