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| 16 Theory slides |
| 8 Exercises - Grade E - A |
| Each lesson is meant to take 1-2 classroom sessions |
Patterns are also very common in the process of making things. Consider a car factory that bases its production of cars following a specific pattern. In their case, they have planned for the number of cars they produce to increase by the same amount each month.
Patterns like the given scenarios can be modeled using sequences. This lesson demonstrates these sequences and explores a special type called an arithmetic sequence.
Here are a few recommended readings before getting started with this lesson.
The following applet shows the firsts five terms of an infinite sequence. Analyze them carefully and determine whether or not the sequence is arithmetic.
Every arithmetic sequence can be described by a linear function that is defined for the set of counting numbers. This function, referred to as the explicit rule of an arithmetic sequence, follows a specific general format.
a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d
n | a_n | Rewrite |
---|---|---|
1 | a_1 | a_1 + 0 * d |
2 | a_2 | a_1 + 1 * d |
3 | a_3 | a_1 + 2 * d |
4 | a_4 | a_1 + 3 * d |
5 | a_5 | a_1 + 4 * d |
The coefficient of the common difference is always 1 less than the value of the position n. This makes it possible to write an explicit rule like the following formula.
a_n = a_1 + (n - 1)d
A sequence can be thought of as a set of coordinate pairs where the first coordinate is the position n and the second coordinate is the term value a_n. (1,a_1), (2,a_2), (3,a_3), ... As the position increases by 1, the value of the term increases, or decreases, by a constant. Therefore, the rate of change between two consecutive coordinate pairs is constant and equal to d. That means an arithmetic sequence is a linear function with a slope d.
Therefore, the explicit rule for the sequence can be written by substituting the coordinate pair ( 1, a_1) into the point-slope form of a line. Point-Slope Form y - y_1 = m(x - x_1) [0.8em] Explicit Rule a_n - a_1 = d(n- 1) Finally, the explicit rule can be rewritten to the form given at the beginning of this proof. a_n - a_1 = d(n-1) ⇕ a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d
Davontay goes to a cinema to see a new movie about a kid who runs like the wind. Waiting for the movie to start, he notices something very interesting about the theater itself.
It can be seen that the common difference d in this case is 2, and the first term a_1 is 8. Recall that the explicit rule of an arithmetic sequence is of the following form. a_n = a_1 + (n-1) d By substituting the corresponding values, the explicit rule can be found. a_n = 8 + (n-1) 2
n= 8
Subtract term
Multiply
Add terms
n= 50
Subtract term
Multiply
Add terms
Davontay, inspired by a movie about running, downloaded an app that keeps track of his total running distance. It even predicts his running goals. He went for a long run on his first day using it and has followed that same route ever since. One day, he opened the app, but the free trial period was over, and his data was locked!
n= 23
a_(23)= 60
Subtract term
Multiply
LHS-55=RHS-55
Rearrange equation
a_n=5+(n-1)2.5
By substituting 150 for a_n an equation for n will be obtained. The solution to the equation is the number of the day that corresponds to this distance.a_n= 150
LHS-5=RHS-5
.LHS /2.5.=.RHS /2.5.
LHS+1=RHS+1
Rearrange equation
The following applet shows two of the first five terms of an infinite arithmetic sequence. Analyze the sequence carefully and determine which of the three options is the correct explicit rule of the sequence.
The following applet shows the first five terms of an infinite arithmetic sequence. Determine the explicit rule of the sequence and use it to find the indicated term.
It has been shown how an explicit rule describes an arithmetic sequence. This representation uses a formula that receives the term position as the input and returns the term's value as the output. However, an arithmetic sequence can also be described by using a recursive rule.
A recursive rule of an arithmetic sequence is a pair comprised of a recursive equation telling how the term a_n is related to its preceding term a_(n-1) and the initial term of the sequence a_1.
a_1, a_n = a_(n-1) + d
Now it will be explained, step by step, how to write the recursive rule for an arithmetic sequence and how to use it to find an unknown term's value.
The recursive rule of an arithmetic sequence gives the first term of the sequence and a recursive equation.
a_1, a_n = a_(n-1) +d
The first step is to find the common difference d. To do this, calculate the difference between any two consecutive terms. cc a_1 & a_2 & a_3 & a_4 & 5, & 8, & 11, & 14, & ... [1.5em] 11- 8 = 3 ⇒ d = 3
If the sequence was known to be arithmetic but no consecutive terms were known, the common difference could still be found. In general, it is enough to know two terms of the arithmetic sequence and their positions. For example, consider that only a_2 and a_4 were known. cc a_1 & a_2 & a_3 & a_4 & ?, & 8, & ?, & 14, & ... Recall the general form of an arithmetic sequence.
To completely define an arithmetic sequence the first term should also be determined. Note that the recursive equation alone would describe any arithmetic sequence with common difference d= 3. From the sequence it can be seen that a_1= 5. cc a_1 & a_2 & a_3 & a_4 & 5, & 8, & 11, & 14, & ...
Reconsider the case where only a_2 and a_4 are known. Two equations were obtained. 14 &= a_1+3 d 8 &= a_1+ d Since it is now known that d= 3, this value can be substituted in any of the equations to find a_1. This will be illustrated using the latter equation. 8 = a_1+ 3 ⇒ a_1 = 5
Finally, by putting together the previous results and substituting the common difference and the first term value, the recursive rule for the sequence can be written. a_1, a_n = a_(n-1) + d ⇓ a_1 = 5, a_n = a_(n-1) + 3
Davontay finds himself looking at his phone app too often when running. He has an idea! He will make patterns using heavy rocks at each kilometer mark along his running route so he does not have to check his phone to know what point his on the run.
Davontay wants to make a fourth figure following the same pattern. Before setting out to collect more heavy rocks, he wants to model the pattern to save time and energy.
Now, to prove that the sequence obtained this way is arithmetic, the difference between consecutive terms will be calculated.
Since the difference is constant, the sequence is arithmetic. Recall that the recursive equation for an arithmetic sequence is of the following form. a_1, a_n = a_(n-1) + d In this equation, d represents the common difference of the sequence which was already found to be d = 4. This value will now be substituted into the general recursive equation. a_n = a_(n-1) + d ⇓ a_n = a_(n-1) + 4 To finish writing the recursive rule, it is needed to specify the first term of the sequence a_1. This can be identified in the previous diagram.
Using this information the explicit rule will now be completed. a_1 = 8, a_n = a_(n-1) + 4
n= 4
Subtract term
a_3= 13
Add terms
Davontay is celebrating the completion of reaching his running goal. His family and friends throw him a party. They play a raffle game and he wins $50! He decides not to spend this money, instead, he will save it and put it in a piggy bank.
Davontay is planning to add $5 every week. Thanks to the math he has practiced, he knows that the following recursive rule models his savings. a_1=50, a_n = a_(n-1)+5 In this expression, a_n represents the total savings after the n^\text{th} week.
Savings After Week 2: $55
Savings After Week 3: $60
n= 2
Subtract term
a_1= 50
Add terms
a_1 =50, a_n=a_(n-1) +5 | ||
---|---|---|
Position | Substitute | Simplify |
n=1 | a_1 =50 | a_1 = 50 |
n=2 | a_2 = a_1 + 5 ⇓ a_2 = 50 + 5 | a_2 = 55 |
n=3 | a_3 = a_2 + 5 ⇓ a_3 = 55 + 5 | a_3 = 60 |
n=4 | a_4 = a_3 + 5 ⇓ a_4 = 60 + 5 | a_4 = 65 |
n= 52
Subtract term
Multiply
Add terms
General Explicit Rule a_n = a_1 + (n-1) d [1em] Given Explicit Rule a_n = 100 + (n-1) 10 As seen, a_1= 100 and d= 10. Next, recall the general form of a recursive rule and substitute the values for a_1 and d. a_1, a_n = a_(n-1) + d ⇓ a_1 = 100, a_n = a_(n-1) + 10
Find the corresponding explicit rule for the recursive rule shown.
It was previously shown that the terms' values of an arithmetic sequence change by a constant amount. Because of that consistent change, every arithmetic sequence has an associated linear relationship where the common difference is the slope of its associated line. To illustrate this, consider the following arithmetic sequence.
The pattern shown can be modeled by an arithmetic sequence. Find the explicit rule of the sequence.
The pattern in the applet can be modeled using a sequence where the values of theterms are the number of circles and the positions of the terms are the figure numbers.
Since the number of circles used increases by a constant amount, this sequence is arithmetic.
To find the number of circles appearing in Figure 20, find the explicit rule for this arithmetic sequence. The explicit rule of an arithmetic sequence has the following general form.
a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d
In this equation, a_1 is the first term of the sequence and d is the common difference. Both can be identified from the previous diagram.
The initial term a_1= 4 and d= 3. These values can be substituted in the general explicit rule form.
a_n = a_1 + (n-1) d ⇓ a_n = 4 + (n-1) 3
Finally, to find the number of circles in Figure 20, the explicit rule will be evaluated at n=20.
n= 20
Subtract term
Multiply
Add terms
Figure 20 will have 61 circles.
When a sequence is arithmetic, the difference between two consecutive terms is constant. Examining our sequence, we can see that this is not the case. 32 -2 → 30 -4 → 26 -6 → 20 Therefore, the sequence is not arithmetic.
To describe the pattern of the sequence, we need to find the change that occurs between each pair of consecutive terms. Here, notice that the difference between each pair of consecutive terms in the sequence is - 2. 2-2 →0-2 →-2-2 →-4 To find the next two terms, we have to subtract 2 twice. 2-2 →0-2 →-2-2 →-4-2 → -6-2 → -8 The 5^\text{th} term is -6 and the 6^\text{th} term is -8.
In order to write the formula for the given arithmetic sequence, we first need to find the common difference. We can do that by subtracting the first term of the sequence from the second term. a_2-a_1=d ⇒ 6.1-5.6=0.5 The common difference is 0.5. To write the recursive rule, we will use the general form for a recursive rule of an arithmetic sequence. A(n)=A(n-1)+d In the formula, n is the term number and d is the common difference. By substituting the value for the common difference d into this formula, we can create our recursive rule.
The recursive rule for the arithmetic sequence is A(n)=A(n-1)+0.5, where A(1)=5.6. Therefore, the answer is option A.
The explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence combines the information provided by the two equations of the recursive form into a single equation. Recursive:& A(n)=A(n-1)+ d, & A(1)= a_1 [0.8em] Explicit:& A(n)= a_1+(n-1) d In these formulas, d is the common difference and a_1 is the first term. Looking at the given recursive formula, we can identify the common difference d and the value of the first term a_1. A(n)=A(n-1)+ 8, A(1)= -1 We can see that 8 is the common difference and the first term is -1. Now we have enough information to form an explicit formula for this sequence.
Therefore, the answer is option D.