Page 2 - Number sequence
P. 2

Rules used to determine terms in a sequence.



                  Question
                  Given the sequence:   3;       6;       9;       12;       15;   ... .
                                                                 th
                               i.     Write down the general rule for the n  term of the sequence.
                                                    th
                              ii.     Hence determine the 78  term.




               Solution
                                                                                              th
               i.       3 is added on the previous term to obtain the next term starting from 3.  ∴  n  term = 3n

                                                             or


                       Term 1                     3  × (1) = 3               3

                       Term 2                     3 ×  (2) =  6              6

                       Term 3                     3 ×  (3) = 9               9


                       Term 4                     3 ×  (4) = 12              12

                       Term 5                     3 ×  (5) = 15              15

                             ″                          ″                     ″


                             ″                          ″                     ″

                       Term n                     3 × (n)  = 3n              3n



                        th
                                               th
               ii.      If n  term = 3n    then    78  term = 3×78 = 234
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