A.
Lesson 2: Number Sequence and Series
1. Overview of the Lesson
1. Arithmetic Sequence
2. Geometric Sequence
3. Special Sequences
3.1 Fibonacci Numbers
3.2 Triangular Numbers
3.3 Square Numbers
3.4 Cube Numbers
2. Learning Outcomes :
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a. Understand the concept of arithmetic, geometric and special sequences.
b. Apply special number relationships such as sequences and series to real-
world problems
c. Devise their own number patterns
3. Presentation and Development of the Lesson
Note: a powerpoint presentation will be used in discussing the above topic via Google
meet. Activities and exercises will be given and be submitted via LMS
A sequence is said to be arithmetic if each term, after the first, is obtained from
the preceding term by adding a common value.
Infinite sequences go on forever without end. If you see the three dots at the
end of a sequence, you'll know that it continues on and is an infinite sequence. A finite
sequence is a sequence that stops after a certain number of terms.
Examples of arithmetic sequence:
2, 4, 6, 8, 10…
-2, -4, -6, -8, -10…
¼, ½, ¾, 1, 1 ¼…
-2, -1, 0, 1, 2…
Find the general term of an arithmetic sequence. “The nth term of an arithmetic
sequence is an = a1 + (n – 1) d, where a1 is the first term and d is the common
difference.”
Derivation of arithmetic sequence:
a1
a2 = a1 + d
a3 = a2 + d = (a1 + d ) + d = a1 + 2d
a4 = a3 + d = (a1 + 2d ) + d = a1 + 3d
Examples:
1. Find the nth term of the arithmetic sequence 11, 2, -7…
Solution: an = a1 +(n – 1) d
= 11 + (n – 1)(-9)
= -9n + 20
2. The first term of an arithmetic sequence is –15 and the fifth term is 13. Find
the fortieth term.
Solution: a5 = a1 +(5 – 1) d
13 = -15 + 4d
28 = 4d
d=7
a40 = -15 + (39)(7) = 258
In a Geometric Sequence, each term is found by multiplying the previous term
by a constant.
A Geometric Sequence is made by multiplying by the same value each time.
Example: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, ...
This sequence has a factor of 3 between each number.
The pattern is continued by multiplying by 3 each time
The Rule for any term is:
xn = t1rn-1
• t1 = (the first term)
• r = (the "common ratio")
Example: What is the eleventh term of the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, …?
Special Sequences, There are also many special sequences, here are some of the
most common:
Triangular Numbers
1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36,
45, ...
This Triangular Number Sequence is generated from a pattern of dots that form a
triangle. By adding another row of dots and counting all the dots we can find the next
number of the sequence: Rule: xn = n(n+1)/2
Example:
the 5th Triangular Number is x5 = 5(5+1)/2 = 15, and the sixth is x6 = 6(6+1)/2 = 21
Square Numbers
0, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, ...
They are the squares of whole numbers:
Cube Numbers
1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512,
729, ...
They are the cubes of the counting numbers (they start at 1)
Fibonacci Numbers
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ...
The Fibonacci Sequence is found by adding the two numbers before it together.
The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1)
The 21 is found by adding the two numbers before it (8+13)
The next number in the sequence above would be 55 (21+34)
4. Generalization of the Lesson
If a sequence is formed by adding (or subtracting) the same number each time to
get the next term, it's called an arithmetic sequence.
If you're not sure the sequence is arithmetic, you'll want to double check to make
sure the difference between each set of consecutive terms is the same. If the number
that's being added isn't the same number each time, it's not an arithmetic sequence
Other Examples
7, 13, 15, 21, 23, ___
2, 5, 10, 17, … find the 7th and 8th numbers in the series
1 7 17 ____ 49 71
10 10 12 ___ 22 30
