Sequence

A Sequence is a set of things (usually numbers) that are in order.

Sequence

Each number in the sequence is called a term (or sometimes "element" or "member"), read Sequences
and Series for a more in-depth discussion.

Finding Missing Numbers

To find a missing number, first find a Rule behind the Sequence.

Sometimes we can just look at the numbers and see a pattern:

Example: 1, 4, 9, 16, ?

Answer: they are Squares (12=1, 22=4, 32=9, 42=16, ...)

Rule: xn = n2

Sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, ...

Did you see how we wrote that rule using "x" and "n" ?

xn means "term number n", so term 3 is written x3

And we can calculate term 3 using:

x3 = 32 = 9

We can use a Rule to find any term. For example, the 25th term can be found by "plugging in" 25
wherever n is.

x25 = 252 = 625

How about another example:

Example: 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ?

After 3 and 5 all the rest are the sum of the two numbers before,

That is 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 8 = 13 etc, which is part of the Fibonacci Sequence:

3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, ...

Which has this Rule:

Rule: xn = xn-1 + xn-2

Now what does xn-1 mean? It means "the previous term" because the term number (n) is 1 less (n-1).

And xn-2 means the term before that one.

Let's try that Rule for the 6th term:

x6 = x6-1 + x6-2

x6 = x5 + x4

So term 6 equals term 5 plus term 4. We already know term 5 is 21 and term 4 is 13, so:

x6 = 21 + 13 = 34

Many Rules

One of the troubles with finding "the next number" in a sequence is that mathematics is so powerful we
can find more than one Rule that works.

What is the next number in the sequence 1, 2, 4, 7, ?

Here are three solutions (there can be more!):

Solution 1: Add 1, then add 2, 3, 4, ...

So, 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 4+3=7, 7+4=11, etc...

Rule: xn = n(n-1)/2 + 1

Sequence: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22, ...

(That rule looks a bit complicated, but it works)

Solution 2: After 1 and 2, add the two previous numbers, plus 1:

Rule: xn = xn-1 + xn-2 + 1

Sequence: 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 20, 33, ...

Solution 3: After 1, 2 and 4, add the three previous numbers

Rule: xn = xn-1 + xn-2 + xn-3

Sequence: 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 24, 44, ...