Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
5 MUST KNOW QUESTIONS TO CONQUER
NUMBER PATTERNS
1 The first four terms of a sequence are 2, 5, 10 and 17.
(a) Write down the next two terms. [1]
(b) Find an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term of the sequence. [2]
[2]
(c) Explain, with working, why 525 is not a term in the sequence.
2 A sequence of patterns formed by dots is as shown.
(a) Draw the 4th pattern of the sequence in the above box. [1]
(b) State the total number of dots required, in terms of 𝑛, to form the 𝑛th pattern? [2]
(c) Pattern 𝑃 requires 333 dots. What is the value of ‘P’? [2]
3 Given the following sequence,
1 1 1
+ =
6 3 2
1 1 1
+ =
12 4 3
1 1 1
+ =
20 5 4
1 1 1
+ =
30 6 5
…
1 1 1
+ =
𝒑 12 11
Find [2]
(a) the 5th line of sequence,
[1]
(b) the value of 𝑝,
1 1 [3]
(c) the value of 98 − 99, showing your workings clearly.
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Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
4 The following diagram shows the first three figures of a sequence of triangles.
Figure Number of triangles Total
1 1 1
2 1+3 4
3 1+3+5 9
4
5 𝑥
⋮ ⋮ ⋮
𝑛 1 + 3 + 5+. . . +𝑦 𝑧
(a) Complete the table above to find the value of 𝑥.
[4]
(b) Write an expression for 𝑦 and 𝑧, in terms of 𝑛, giving your answers in their
[2]
simplest form.
(c) Is it possible for a figure to consist of 3365 triangles?
[2]
Explain your answer clearly.
5 The birth weight of a newborn baby girl is 2 800 g.
During the first year, her weight increases by 480 g every month.
(a) Write down her weight when she is [1]
(i) 1 month old,
[1]
(ii) 2 months old. [1]
(b) Find an expression for her weight when she is n months old.
(c) If the girl weighs 8.0 kg when she is m months old, find the value of m. [2]
(d) Explain why the expression in (b) is not used to find the weight of the girl [2]
when she is 10 years old.
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Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
Answer Key
1 Solutions:
(a) 𝑇1 = 12 + 1 = 2
𝑇2 = 22 + 1 = 5
𝑇3 = 32 + 1 = 10
𝑇4 = 42 + 1 = 17
(c) 𝑛2 + 1 = 525
𝑛2 = 524
𝑛 = 22.89
525 cannot be a term in the sequence as the n is not an integer
Ans: (b) 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑛2 + 1
2 Solutions:
(b) T1 = 1 = 4(1) − 3
T2 = 5 = 4(2) − 3
T3 = 9 = 4(3) − 3
T4 = 13 = 4(4) − 3
T𝑛 = 4𝑛 − 3
T𝑝 = 4𝑝 − 3 = 333
(c) 4𝑝 = 336
𝑝 = 84
Ans: (a) (b) T𝑛 = 4𝑛 − 3 (c) 𝑝 = 84
3 Solutions:
1 1 1
(a) + =
42 7 6
1 1 1
(c) + =
99×98 99 98
1 1 1
98
− 99 = 99×98
1
= 9702
1 1
(a) Ans: (a) (b) 𝑝 = 132 (c) 9702
6
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Paradigm Specialising in O & N Level Mathematics
4 Ans: (a)
Figure Number of △ Total
1 1 1
2 1+3 4
3 1+3+5 9
4 1+3+5+7 16
5 1+3+5+7+9 𝟐𝟓
⋮ ⋮ ⋮
𝑛 1 + 3 + 5+. . . +𝑦 𝑧
𝑥 = 25
(b) 𝑦 = 2𝑛 − 1
𝑧 = 𝑛2
(c) No, √3365 = 58.0086, which is not a whole number.
OR 3365 does not give a whole number as answer.
5 Solutions:
(a) (i) 2800 + 480 = 3280𝑔
(ii) 3280 + 480 = 3760𝑔
(c) 2800 + 480(𝑚) = 8000
𝑚 = 10.3 (3 s.f)
The expression should only be used to find his weight for the first year.
It is unrealistic to say
Ans: (a)(i) 3280𝑔 (ii) 3780𝑔 (b) 2800 + 480𝑛 (c) 10.3
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