LESSON 5
PROBLEM SOLVING PATTERNS WITH A DIFFERENCE TABLE
TO PREDICT THE NEXT TERM
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
1. use the “difference” table method to predict the next term of a sequence
Find the next term for the following sequences:
Example 1: 5, 14, 27, 44, 65, ?
Solution:
Find a common difference. The difference of the terms of the original sequence is the first difference.
Since the first difference is not common, continue to find the difference of the first difference sequence.
Sequence: 5 14 27 44 65
First Difference: 9 13 17 21
Second Difference: 4 4 4
The difference of the terms in the first deference is the second difference which in this case is already a common
difference. Stop the process when a common difference is achieved.
To find the next term, add all the last term of the sequences found in the second difference, first difference and
the original sequence, that is, 4 + 21 + 65 = 90
Sequence: 5 14 27 44 65 ?
First Difference: 9 13 17 21
Second Difference: 4 4 4
Thus: 5, 14, 27, 44, 65, 90
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Example 2: 2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207, ?
Solution:
Find a common difference. The difference of the terms of the original sequence is the first difference.
Since the first difference is not common, continue to find the difference of the first difference sequence.
Sequence: 2 7 24 59 118 207 ?
First Difference: 5 17 35 59 89
Second Difference: 12 18 24 30
Third Difference: 6 6 6
The difference of the terms in the first deference is the second difference which in this case is not yet a common
difference. Continue the process.
The difference of the terms in the second difference is the third difference which in this case is already a common
difference. Stop the process when a common difference is achieved.
To find the next term, add all the last term of the sequences found in the third difference, second difference, first
difference and the original sequence, that is, 6 + 30 + 89 + 207 = 332
Sequence: 2 7 24 59 118 207 ?
First Difference: 5 17 35 59 89
Second Difference: 12 18 24 30
Third Difference: 6 6 6
Thus: 2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207, 332
Example 3: 1, 14, 51, 124, 245, 426, ?
Solution:
Find a common difference. The difference of the terms of the original sequence is the first difference.
Since the first difference is not common, continue to find the difference of the first difference sequence.
Sequence: 1 14 51 124 245 426 ?
First Difference: 13 37 73 121 181
Second Difference: 24 36 48 60
Third Difference: 12 12 12
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The difference of the terms in the first deference is the second difference which in this case is not yet a common
difference. Continue the process
The difference of the terms in the second difference is the third difference which in this case is already a common
difference. Stop the process when a common difference is achieved.
To find the next term, add all the last term of the sequences found in the third difference, second difference, first
difference and the original sequence, that is, 12 + 60 + 181 + 426 = 679
Sequence: 1 14 51 124 245 426 ?
First Difference: 13 37 73 121 181
Second Difference: 24 36 48 60
Third Difference: 12 12 12
Thus: 1, 14, 51, 124, 245, 426, 679
TRY THESE
Construct a difference table to predict the next term of each sequence.
1. 2, 6, 12, 20, 30
2. – 1, 4, 21, 56, 115, 204
3. 9, 4, 3, 12, 37, 84
4. 17, 15, 25, 53, 105, 187
5. 2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207
6. 1, 14, 51, 124, 245, 426
7. 1, 4, 21, 56, 115, 204
8. – 2, 2, 12, 28, 50, 78
9. 5, 6, 3, – 4, – 15, – 30, – 49
10. 10, 10, 12, 16, 22, 30
11. 1, 7, 17, 31, 49, 71
12. – 1, 4, 21, 56, 115, 204
13. – 4, – 1, 14, 47, 104, 191, 314
14. One straight cut across a pizza produces 2 pieces. Two cuts can produce a maximum of 4 pieces. Three cuts
can produce a maximum of 7 pieces. Four cuts can produce a maximum of 11 pieces. Predict the number of
pieces that can be produced with seven cuts.
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