ELDA Review and Testing Center

Reviewer Grade 10 Mathematics – Sequences

Arithmetic Sequence
A sequence in which the difference between any two
consecutive terms is the same.

Formula:
Finding the nth term: a n=a1 + ( n−1 ) d
Finding the common difference: d=an+ 1−an (i.e. d=a2−a1)
Finding the sum of the First n terms:
n n
Sn= (a 1+ an ) or Sn= (2 a1 + ( n−1 ) d)
2 2

Geometric Sequence
A sequence in which the ratio between any two
consecutive terms is the same.

Formula:
Finding the nth term: a n=a1 r n−1
a n+1 a2
Finding the common difference: r= (i.e. r = )
an a1
Finding the sum of the First n terms:
a 1( 1−r n ) a1
Sn = or Sn= ; for infinite series
1−r 1−r

A. Give the next three terms and find the nth term of the sequence and
find its sum.
1. 3, 9, 12, … , (20th term)
2. 9, 5, 1, … , (12th term)
3. -20, -12, -4, … , (15th term)
4. 21.5, 18.5, 15.5, … , (16th term)
5. 1, 3/2, 2, … , (18th term)
6. 7, -21, 63, … , (20th term)
7. 1, 1/2, 1/4, … , (12th term)
8. 500, 100, 20, … , (15th term)
 1Q

9. 1/9, 1/3, 1, … , (16th term)

10. 3, 1, 1/3, … , (18th term)

B. Insert a geometric mean for the following sequence as indicated.

1. 5, ____, 45 (insert 2 arithmetic geometric means)
2. 10, ____, 100 (insert 4 arithmetic geometric means)
3. 900, ____, 100 (insert 7 arithmetic geometric means)
4. 5, ____, 320 (insert 2 geometric-geometric means)
5. -3, ____,-1/81 (insert 4 geometric-geometric means)
6. -1, ____, -1 (insert 9 geometric-geometric means)

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