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Notes Topic 2.1 Change in Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences - Filled Out

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Notes Topic 2.1 Change in Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences - Filled Out

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bellab2026
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Notes: (Topic 2.

1) Change in Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences

A _______________ is a function from the _________ numbers to the _______ numbers.

This means that we are only able to “plug” in whole numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, …) into a sequence but we can get any real
number as the output.

As a result, when we graph a sequence, we will have points but we cannot “connect” them together to form a line or
curve.

Example 1: Consider the sequence defined by 𝑎𝑛 = 4𝑛 − 3. Find 𝑎1 and 𝑎7 .

In this course, we will study two important types of sequences: arithmetic sequences and geometric sequences.

Arithmetic Sequences
Property of Successive Terms Formulas/Equations Notes

Successive terms have a common 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎0 + 𝑑𝑛 Arithmetic sequences behave like


difference, or constant rate of change. or linear functions, except they are not
continuous.
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑘 + 𝑑 (𝑛 − 𝑘 )

where 𝑎0 = Increasing arithmetic sequences


increase equally each step. (slope
𝑑=
always stays the same!)
𝑎𝑘 =
Example

𝑎𝑛 = 3𝑛 + 1

Example 2: For each of the following, determine if the sequence could be arithmetic. If yes, identify the common
difference.
a) sn = n2 − 3 b) sn = 6 − 2n c) −7, − 2, 3, 8, 13, ... d) 1, − 2, 3, − 4, 5, ...

Notes: Topic 2.1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences Created by Bryan Passwater
Example 3: Let an be an arithmetic sequence with a3 = 8 and d = −3 . Find an expression for an , and use the
expression to find a12 .

Example 4: Let an be an arithmetic sequence with a2 = 7 and a6 = 9 . Find an expression for an , and use the
expression to find a24 .

Example 5: Several terms of the arithmetic sequence an are shown above. Find an expression for an and use the
expression to find a17 .

Notes: Topic 2.1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences Created by Bryan Passwater
Geometric Sequences
Property of Successive Terms Formulas/Equations Notes
𝑔𝑛 = 𝑔0 𝑟 𝑛
Successive terms have a common Geometric sequences behave like
ratio, or constant proportional or exponential functions, except they
change. 𝑔𝑛 = 𝑔𝑘 𝑟 (𝑛−𝑘) are not continuous.

where 𝑔0 = Increasing geometric sequences


increase by a larger amount each step.
𝑟=
(% increase always stays the same!)
𝑔𝑘 =

Example

1 𝑛
𝑔𝑛 = 8 ( )
2

Example 6: For each of the following, determine if the sequence could be geometric. If yes, identify the common ratio.
sn = 4 ( 2 )
n −1
a) sn = 3n2 b) c) 1, 3, 2, 6, 4, 12, 8, 24, ... d) 16, − 8, 4, − 2, 1, ...

Example 7: Let g n be a geometric sequence with g1 = 12 and r = 2 . Find an expression for g n , and use the
expression to find g 4 .

Example 8: Several terms of the geometric sequence g n are shown above. Find an expression for g n and use the
expression to find g10 .

Notes: Topic 2.1 Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences Created by Bryan Passwater

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