Schools Division Office- Quezon City

Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma High School

Molave St., Payatas, Quezon City

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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

QUARTER 1
Week Number 2

MATHEMATICS 10

Name of Learner: _____________________________ Date: ________________

Section: ___________________________

The nth term of an Arithmetic Sequence

Background Information for Learners

In general, the nth term (𝑎𝑛 ) is given by the formula 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1) 𝑑

where, 𝑎𝑛 is the nth term
𝑎1 is the first term
𝑑 is the common difference and
𝑛 is the number of terms

Example 1
Darlyn wanted to buy Janice a gift for her birthday. She saved Php 20 on the first day, Php
22 on the 2nd day, Php 24 on the third and so on. She wants to find how much will she
save on the 30th day.
Solution:
We will use the formula 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏) 𝒅 where, 𝑎1 = 20 , 𝑑 = 2 and 𝑛 = 30
𝑎30 = 𝑎1 + (30 − 1)𝑑
𝑎30 = 20 + (29)2
𝑎30 = 20 + 58
𝑎30 = 78
Darlyn will be able to save Php 78 on the 30th day.

Example 2
What is the common difference of an arithmetic sequence if 𝑎1 = 3, 𝑎35 = 173 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 35 ?
Solution:
Substituting these values into the formula, we have:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
173 = 3 + (35 − 1)(𝑑)
173 = 3 + (34)(𝑑)
Subtract 3 from both sides:
173 − 3 = 3 − 3 + (34)(𝑑)
170 = (34)(𝑑)
Divide both sides by 34
170 (34)(𝑑)
=
34 34
5=𝑑
The common difference is 5.

Example 3
In the arithmetic sequence 5, 11, 17… which term is 395?
Solution:
The problem asks for n when an = 395.
From the given problem, a1 = 5, d = 6 and an = 395.
Substituting these values into the formula, we have:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
395 = 5 + (𝑛 − 1)6
We subtract 5 from both sides,
395 − 5 = 5 − 5(𝑛 − 1)6
390 = (𝑛 − 1)6
Then divide both sides by 6,
390 (𝑛 − 1)6
=
6 6
65 = 𝑛 − 1
Then we add 1 to both sides,
65 + 1 = 𝑛 − 1 + 1
66 = 𝑛
There are 66 terms. This means that 365 is the 66th term in the arithmetic sequence.

You can also use the following equations if one of the variables is unknown:

Learning Competency with Code

Determines arithmetic means, nth term of an arithmetic sequence and sum of the
terms of a given Arithmetic Sequence. (M10AL-Ib-1)

Directions/Instructions
Solve for the missing term. Show your complete solution.

Exercises/Activities
1. Find the 15th term of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is 3 and whose
common difference is 11.
2. If 𝑎24 = 85, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑 = 7, what is the first term of the arithmetic sequence?
3. What is the common difference of an arithmetic sequence if 𝑎1 = 8, 𝑎35 = 100
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 5 ?
4. For the sequence 2, 6, 10, … what term has the value of 106?

Rubric for Scoring (if necessary)

Three points for every correct answer with complete solution.
Two points for every correct solution.
One point for every correct answer without a complete solution.

Reflection (Answer on a separate sheet of paper)

1. Which part did you find easy? Which did you find difficult? (2 points)
2. Explain (in your own words) the steps in finding the following terms: (4 points)
(a) common difference
(b) nth term
(c) number of terms
(d) first term
3. Create your own example. Show the complete solution (4 points)

The Arithmetic Means

Background Information for Learners

Recall that a sequence wherein each term after the first term (𝑎1 ) is obtained by adding a
constant number is an arithmetic sequence. That constant or fixed number is called the
common difference (d).

7, 13, 19, 25, 31 is a finite arithmetic sequence whose common difference is 6.

In the above-mentioned sequence, a2, a3 and a4 are between a1 and a5, and they are called
arithmetic means.

Therefore, 13,19 and 25 are three arithmetic means between 7 and 31.
13 is the only arithmetic mean between 7 and 19. Also, 25 is the arithmetic mean between
19 and 31.

What are the arithmetic means between 13 and 31? If your answer is 19 and 25, then you
are correct. It is because 19 and 25 are the terms between 13 and 31.

Example 1
Insert [1] arithmetic mean between 7 and 19.
Solution 1:
7, _____, 19 12 = 2𝑑
We have three terms. You may use the 12 2𝑑
=
formula for the nth term to find the common 2 2
difference. 6 = 𝑑
𝑎3 = 𝑎1 + (3 − 1) 𝑑 Then, find the 2nd term: 7 + 6 = 13.
19 = 7 + (2) 𝑑 Thus, the arithmetic mean between 7 and
19 − 7 = 7 − 7 + (2)𝑑 19 is 13

Solution 2:
Add the two terms then divide the sum by 2. 13 is the only arithmetic mean between 7
7 + 19 26 and 9
= = 13
2 2
Example 2
Insert 3 arithmetic means between 16 and 56

Solution 1:
Using the formula that we learned from the preceding lesson, the common difference (d)
is obtained using the following equations:

𝑎𝑛 −𝑎1
𝑑= , where the first term (𝑎1 ) and the 𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 (𝑎𝑛 ) are given or
𝑛−1

𝑎𝑛 −𝑎𝑟
𝑑= , when another term (𝑎𝑟 ) is given as the reference instead of the first term (𝑎1 ).
𝑛−𝑟

Take note that if three arithmetic means are to be inserted between 16 and 56, there will
be a total of 5 terms: 16, _____, _____, _____, 56 (n = 5)
Using 16 and 54 as the extremes a1 and a5 respectively, we first solve for d:
56 − 16
𝑑=
5−1
40
𝑑 = 4 = 10 Therefore, the common difference is 10.

Adding the common difference to the first extreme a1, we will get a2, Repeating the process
to a2 and a3 will yield a3 and a4 respectively.

a2 = a1 +d a3 =a2 +10 a4=36+10

a2 = 16 +10 a3 = 26 +10 a4 = 46
a2 = 26 a3 = 36

Inserting the arithmetic means, the new sequence will be 16, 26, 36, 46, 56.

Solution 2:
The sequence may be written in this manner: 16, _____, _____, _____, 56
Find the third term (𝑎3 ) by computing for the arithmetic mean between the first term (𝑎1 )
and fifth term (𝑎5 )
16 + 56 72
= = 36
2 2
The third term (𝑎3 ) is 36.

Next, find the second term (𝑎2 ) by computing for the arithmetic mean between the first
term (𝑎1 ) and third term (𝑎3 )
16 + 36 52
= = 26
2 2
The second term (𝑎2 ) is 26.

You can observe that the common difference is 10.

Thus, the fourth term (𝑎4 ) is 26 + 10 = 36.

Did you get the same answer?

(Note that this only works if you want to insert an odd number of arithmetic means like 1,
3, 5, and so on.)
Learning Competency with Code
Determines arithmetic means, nth term of an arithmetic sequence and sum of the
terms of a given Arithmetic Sequence. (M10AL-Ib-1)

Directions/Instructions
Solve for the missing term. Show your complete solution.

Exercises/Activities
1. The arithmetic mean between two terms is 42. If one of these terms is 64, find
the first term.
2. If three arithmetic means are inserted between 9 and 25, what is the second
arithmetic mean?
3. The arithmetic mean between two terms in an arithmetic sequence is 39. If one of
these terms is 30, find the other term.

Rubric for Scoring (if necessary)

Three points for every correct answer with complete solution.
Two points for every correct solution.
One point for every correct answer without a complete solution.

Reflection (Answer on a separate sheet of paper)

1. Which part did you find easy? Which did you find difficult? (2 points)
2. Explain (in your own words) the steps in finding the arithmetic means: (4 points)
3. Create your own example. Show the complete solution (4 points)

Reference:

Obongen, Astrid V. and Santos, Daisy G. , “Nth Term of an Arithmetic Sequence,

Arithmetic Mean, Sum of the Terms of an Arithmetic Sequence,” Mathematics – Grade 10
Quarter 1, Module 2 (2020), Department of Education-SDOQC.

Prepared by

Mary Grace M. Beloy

Name of Writer