Date: ______/______/ 2009 Marks

Worksheet 18: Number Sequence

1 Basic Question

The first four terms of a sequence are 42, 38, 34, 30, ……………..
(a) Find the nth term in the sequence.
(b) Which term of the sequence is equal to 2?

Solution:

(a) T 1 : 42 (b) 46 − 4n = 2
T 2 : 42 − 4 = 42 − 1(4) 4n = 48
T 3 : 42 − 4 − 4 = 42 − 2(4) n = 12
Tn : 42 − ........ = 42 − (n − 1)(4)
= 42 − 4n + 4
= 46 − 4n

[Crescent Girls’ School/2008]

Ans: (a) 46 − 4n (b) 12th term

2 Intermediate Question

(a) The first 4 terms of a sequence are 1 , 27 , 125 , 343 , ……..

(i) Write down the next term of the sequence.

(ii) Express, in terms of n , the nth term of the sequence.

(b) In another sequence, the first 4 terms are 3 , 29 , 127 , 345 , ……..

(i) Write down the next term of the sequence.

(ii) By comparing this sequence with your answer in (a), write down, without
simplifying, the nth term.

[Chung Cheng High School/2008]

3 3
Ans: 729, ( 2n − 1) , 731, ( 2n − 1) + 2

© Victoria School Math Department

3 Intermediate Question

Look at this pattern:

2 2
2 –0 =4
2 2
3 –1 =8
2 2
4 –2 = 12
2 2
5 –3 = 16
• • •
• • •

(a) Write down the 6th line of the pattern.

2 2
(b) Write down the integers p and q such that p – q = 44.

Solution:
2 2
(a) 7 – 5 = 24
2 2
(b) p – q = 44
2 2
12 – 10 = 4 (11)
∴ p = 12, q = 10
[Xin Min Sec School/2007]
2 2
Ans: (a) 7 – 5 = 24 (b) 12 , 10

4 Intermediate Question

Consider the pattern,

1 = 1
3+5 = 8
7 + 9 + 11 = 27
13 + 15 + 17 + 19 = 64

(i) Write down the 6th line in the pattern.

(ii) Find the value of 57 + 59 + 61 + … + 71.
(iii) Given that 111 + 113 + … to n terms = 1331, find the value of n.

[Cedar Girls’ Sec School/2008]

Solution:

(i) From the pattern, (ii) For 57 + ....... + 71, n = 8

Average of the sum × n = n3 ∴ , 57 + ....... + 71 = 83
Average of the sum × 6 = 63 = 512
Average of the sum = 36
∴ 31 + 33 + 35 + 37 + 39 + 41 = 216
(ii) 3 1331 = 11
Ans: (i) 31 + 33+ 35 + 37 + 39 + 41 = 216 (ii) 512 (iii) n = 11

© Victoria School Math Department

5 Advance Question

The diagram below shows a sequence of figures with different numbers of dots.
Figure 1 is an equilateral triangle. The rest of the figures are formed by
placing two or
more of Figure 1 side by side.

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

The total number of dots and the area for each figure are tabulated in the table below.

Figure 1 2 3 …… 6
Total number of dots 4 7 10 ……
a
Area ( unit2) 1 3 5 …… b

(a) Write down the value of a and of b.

(b) Find the expression, in terms of n, in its simplest form, for the total number of
dots in the nth figure.

(c) Find an expression, in terms of n, for the area of the nth figure.

(d) Find the area of Figure 25.

Solution:
(a) T6 = 10 + 3 + 3 + 3
= 19
A6 = 5 + 2 + 2 + 2
= 11

∴ a = 19, b = 11

(b) Tn = 3n + 1

(c) An = [2(n – 1 )+1]

= 2n – 1

(d) A25 = 2(25) - 1

= 49
[Anglican High School/2007]
Ans: (a) a = 19, b = 11 (b) 3n + 1 (c) 2n – 1 (d) 49

© Victoria School Math Department