A sequence in which a constant (d)

can be added to each term to get

the next term is called an
Arithmetic Sequence.
The constant (d) is called the
Common Difference.
To find the common difference (d),
subtract any term from one that
follows it.
t1 t2 t3 t4 t5

2 5 8 11 14

3 3 3 3
 Find the first term and the
common difference of each
arithmetic sequence.

1.) 4,9,14,19, 24
First term (a): 4
Common difference (d): a2  a1 = 9 – 4 = 5

2.) 34, 27, 20,13,6, 1, 8,....

First term (a): 34
Common difference (d): -7

BE CAREFUL: ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE

SURE THE DIFFERENCE IS THE SAME
BETWEEN EACH TERM !
Now you try!
Find the first term and the common difference of each of
these arithmetic sequences.
a) 1, -4, -9, -14, ….

b) 11, 23, 35, 47, ….

Answers with solutions
a) 1, -4, -9, -14, …. a=1 and
d = a2 - a1 = - 4 - 1 = - 5

b) 11, 23, 35, 47, …. a = 11 and

d = a2 - a1 = 23 - 11 = 12
The first term of an arithmetic sequence
is (a) . We add (d) to get the next term.
There is a pattern, therefore there is a
formula we can use to give use any term
that we need without listing the whole
sequence .

3, 7, 11, 15, …. We know a = 3 and d = 4

t1= a = 3
t2= a+d = 3+4 = 7
t3= a+d+d = a+2d = 3+2(4) = 11
t4 = a+d+d+d = a+3d = 3+3(4) = 15
The first term of an arithmetic sequence
is (a) . We add (d) to get the next term.
There is a pattern, therefore there is a
formula (explicit formula) we can use to
give use any term that we need without
listing the whole sequence .
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is given by:
tn = a + (n – 1) d
The last # in the The position
First
sequence/or the # the term is in
term The common
you are looking for
difference
 Find the 14th term of the
arithmetic sequence
4, 7, 10, 13,……

tn = a + (n – 1) d
t14 = 4  (14  1) 3 You are
 4  (13)3 looking for
the term!
 4  39
 43 The 14th term in this sequence
is the number 43!
Now you try!
Find the 10th and 25th term given the following information. Make sure to derive
the general formula first and then list ehat you have been provided.

a) 1, 7, 13, 19 ….

b) The first term is 3 and the common difference is -21

c) The second term is 8 and the common difference is 3

Answers with solutions
a=1 and d = a2 - a1 = 7 – 1 = 6
a) 1, 7, 13, 19 …. ….
tn=a+(n-1)d = 1 + (n-1) 6 = 1+6n-6 So tn = 6n-5

t10 = 6(10) – 5 = 55
t25 = 6(25)-5 = 145
b) The first term is 3 and the
common difference is -21 a=3 and d = -21

tn=a+(n-1)d = 3 + (n-1) -21 = 3-21n+21 So tn= 24-21n

t10 = 24-21(10) = -186 t25 = 24-21(25) = -501

c) The second term is 8 a=8-3 =5 and d =3

and the common
difference is 3 tn=a+(n-1)d = 5 + (n-1) 3 = 5+3n-3 So tn = 3n+2
t10 = 3(10) +2 = 32 t25 = 3(25)+2 = 77
 Find the 14th term of the arithmetic
sequence with first term of 5 and
the common difference is –6.
a = 5 and d = -6
You are looking for the
tn = a + (n – 1) d term! List which variables
from the general term are

5  (14  1) -6
provided!
t14 =
= 5 + (13) * -6
= 5 + -78
= -73
The 14th term in this sequence
is the number -73!
 In the arithmetic sequence
4,7,10,13,…, which term has a
value of 301?

tn = a + (n – 1) d
301  4  ( n  1)3 You are
301  4  3n  3 looking
301  1  3n for n!
300  3n
100  n The 100th term in this
sequence is 301!
 In an arithmetic sequence, term 10 is 33 and
term 22 is –3. What are the first four terms of
the sequence?
t10=33 Use what you know!
t22= -3

tn = a + (n – 1) d tn = a + (n – 1) d
For term 10: 33= a + 9d For term 22: -3= a + 21d

HMMM! Two equations you can solve!

SOLVE: 33 = a+9d SOLVE: 33 = a + 9d

-3 = a+21d 33 = a +9(-3)

By elimination 36 = 12d
-
33 = a –27

-3 = d 60 = a

The sequence is 60, 57, 54, 51, …….

 What is a Geometric Sequence?
• In a geometric sequence, the ratio between
consecutive terms is constant. This ratio is
called the common ratio.
• Unlike in an arithmetic sequence, the
difference between consecutive terms
varies.
• We look for multiplication to identify
geometric sequences.
Ex: Determine if the sequence is geometric. If
so, identify the common ratio

• 1, -6, 36, -216

yes. Common ratio=-6

• 2, 4, 6, 8
no. No common ratio
 Important Formulas for
Geometric Sequence:
 Explicit Formula

an = a1 * r n-1

Where:  Geometric Mean

an is the nth term in the
sequence Find the product of
the two values and
a1 is the first term
then take the square
n is the number of the term root of the answer.
r is the common ratio
 Explicit Arithmetic Sequence Problem
Find the 19th term in the sequence of
11,33,99,297 . . .

an = a1 * r n-1 Start with the explicit sequence formula

Find the common ratio

Common ratio = 3 between the values.

a19 = 11 (3) (19-1) Plug in known values

a19 = 11(3)18 =4,261,626,379 Simplify

 Let’s try one
Find the 10th term in the sequence of 1, -6,
36, -216 . . .

an = a1 * r n-1 Start with the explicit sequence formula

Find the common ratio

Common ratio = -6 between the values.

a10 = 1 (-6) (10-1) Plug in known values

a10 = 1(-6)9 = -10,077,696 Simplify

Geometric Mean: The terms between any
two nonconsecutive terms of a geometric
sequence.

Ex. 2, 6, 18, 54, 162

6, 18, 54 are the Geometric Mean between 2 and

162
 Find two geometric means between –2 and 54

-2, ____, ____, 54

a1  First term -2
an  a1r n1
an  nth term 54
n  number of terms 4
Sn  sum of n terms NA
r  common ratio r

The two geometric means are 6 and -18, since –2, 6, -18, 54
forms a geometric sequence
HARMONIC
SEQUENCE
 A Harmonic Sequence is a
sequence of quantities whose
reciprocals form an arithmetic
progression.
* There is no general method
of finding the sum of a
harmonic progression. 
 The Sequence
 
 
 
  “s1 , s2 , … , sn”
 
 
 
 
 
 
is a Harmonic Sequence if
 
 
 
 
 
“1/s1 , 1/s2 , … , 1/sn”
 
 
 
 
 
forms an Arithmetic Sequence.
Method For
Re-checking a
Harmonic
Sequence
 A Harmonic Sequence is a set of
values that, once reciprocated,
results to an Arithmetic Sequence.
To check , the reciprocated values
must possess a rational common
difference. Once this has been
identified, we may say that the
sequence is a Harmonic Sequence.
 Harmonic Means are the terms
found in between two terms of a
harmonic sequence.
Problems
Determine which of the following
are Harmonic Sequences.
1) 1 ,1/2 , 1/3 , 1/4 , ...
Step 1: Reciprocate all the given
terms.

* The reciprocals are: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , …

Step 2: Identify whether the

reciprocated sequence is an
Arithmetic Sequence by checking if
a common difference exists in the
terms.
Answer: It is a Harmonic
sequence.
2) 1 , 1/4 , 1/5 , 1/7 , ...
Step 1: Reciprocate all the given
terms.

* The reciprocals are: 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , …

Step 2: Identify whether the

reciprocated sequence is an
Arithmetic Sequence by checking if
a common difference exists in the
terms.
Answer: It is NOT a Harmonic
Sequence.
Determine the next three terms
of each of the following
Harmonic Sequences.
1) 24 , 12 , 8 , 6 , …
Solution:
24 , 12 , 8 , 6 , …
= 1/24 , 1/12 , 1/8 , 1/6

* To find the common difference:

1/12 – 1/24
= 2/24 – 1/24
= 1/24
Note!
You can subtract the second term
to the first term, the third to the
second term, the forth to the
third term, and so on and so
forth.
To get the next three terms:
5 Term = 1/6 + 1/24
th

= 4/24 + 1/24
= 5/24
* Reciprocate
= 24/5
6th Term = 5/24 + 1/24
= 6/24
= 1/4
* Reciprocate
=4
7th Term = 1/4 + 1/24
= 6/24 + 1/24
= 7/24
* Reciprocate
= 24/7
 Find the Harmonic Mean
between the following terms.
1) 12 and 8
Step 1: Reciprocate all the given
terms.

* The reciprocals are: 1/12 and

1/8.

Step 2: Arrange the given terms

as follows:
1/12 Harmonic Mean 1/8

1st term 2nd term 3rd term

*For this problem, we will use the
formula:

tn = t1 + (n – 1)d
 We may now substitute the
values in the problem to the
formula to find the common
difference (d) and the Harmonic
Mean as follows:
t3 = t1 + (3 - 1)d
1/8 = 1/12 + 2d
1/8 – 1/12 = 2d
(3 – 2) / 24 = 2d
(3 – 2) = 48d
1 = 48d
d = 1/48
 *After getting the Common
Difference, add it to the first
term to get the Harmonic Mean
between the two terms.
 t2 = t1 + d
= 1/12 + 1/48
= (4 + 1) / 48
= 5/48
*Reciprocate
= 48/5
HARMONIC MEANS
Insert three Harmonic Means
between the following terms:
1) 36 and 36/5
Step 1: Reciprocate all the given
terms.

* The reciprocals are: 1/36 and

5/36

Step 2: Arrange the given terms

as follows:
 1/36

1st term

Harmonic Means

2nd , 3rd , and 4th term

5/36

5th term
*For this problem, we will use the
formula:

tn = t1 + (n – 1)d
 We may now substitute the
values in the problem to the
formula to find the common
difference (d) and the Harmonic
Means as follows:
t5 = t1 + (5 - 1)d
5/36 = 1/36 + 4d
5/36 – 1/36 = 4d
(5 - 1) / 36 = 4d
(5 - 1) = 144d
4 = 144d
d = 4/144
= 1/36
 *After getting the Common
Difference, add it to the first
term, then add it to the second
term, and then add it to the third
term to get the Harmonic Means
between the two terms.
 t2 = t1 + d
= 1/36 + 1/36
= 2/36
= 1/18
*Reciprocate
= 18
 t3 = t2 + d
= 2/36 + 1/36
= 3/36
= 1/12
*Reciprocate
= 12
 t4 = t3 + d
= 3/36 + 1/36
= 4/36
= 1/9
*Reciprocate
=9
Therefore, the three means
between 36 and 36/5
are 18, 12, and 9.
Activity
Determine if the following are
harmonic progressions or not:

1) 1/12 , 1/24 , 1/36

2) 2 , 5 , 7 , 8
3)1/5 , 1/10 , 1/15
Find the next three terms in the
following harmonic progressions:

1) 1/2 , 1/5 , 1/8 , 1/11 , …

2) 19 , 17 , 15 , 13, …
3) 12 , 6 , 4 , 3 , …
Find the harmonic mean
between:

1) 1/2 and 1/5

2) 1 and 1/9
Insert three harmonic means
between:

1) 1/2 and 1/8

2) 1 and 1/10
The Fibonacci Sequence

By Zhengyi(Eric) Ge 4th Year Chemical Engineering

 Who Was Fibonacci?

~ Born in Pisa, Italy in 1175 AD

~ Full name was Leonardo Pisano
~ Grew up with a North African education under the Moors
~ Traveled extensively around the Mediterranean coast
~ Met with many merchants and learned their systems of arithmetic
~ Realized the advantages of the Hindu-Arabic system
 Fibonacci’s Mathematical
Contributions
~ Introduced the Hindu-Arabic number system into Europe
~ Based on ten digits and a decimal point
~ Europe previously used the Roman number system
~ Consisted of Roman numerals
~ Persuaded mathematicians to use the Hindu-Arabic number system

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 .
 Fibonacci’s Mathematical
Contributions Continued

~ Wrote five mathematical works

~ Four books and one preserved letter
~ Liber Abbaci (The Book of Calculating) written in 1202
~ Practica geometriae (Practical Geometry) written in 1220
~ Flos written in 1225
~ Liber quadratorum (The Book of Squares) written in 1225
~ A letter to Master Theodorus written around 1225
 The Fibonacci Numbers
~ Were introduced in The Book of Calculating
~ Series begins with 0 and 1
~ Next number is found by adding the last two numbers together
~ Number obtained is the next number in the series
~ Pattern is repeated over and over

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377,

610, 987, …

F(n + 2) = F(n + 1) + Fn
 The Fibonacci Numbers in Nature
~ Fibonacci spiral found in both snail and sea shells
 The Fibonacci Numbers in
Nature Continued

Lilies and irises = 3 petals

Buttercups and wild roses = 5 petals

Corn marigolds = 13 Black-eyed Susan’s = 21 petals

petals
 The Fibonacci Numbers in
Nature Continued
~ The Fibonacci numbers can be found in pineapples and bananas
~ Bananas have 3 or 5 flat sides
~ Pineapple scales have Fibonacci spirals in sets of 8, 13, 21
Square Number Sequence
 Triangle Number Sequence
• The triangle number sequence begins with
1.
1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, …

• The terms are the given by the formula:

1, 1+2, 3+3, 6+4, 10+5, 15+6, …

Cube Number Sequence