Finding Terms of a Sequence - GRE Quantitative Reasoning
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If a sequence is 9, 3, -3, -9, -15, ...
What is the 10th term of the sequence?
If a sequence is 9, 3, -3, -9, -15, ...
What is the 10th term of the sequence?
It will be helpful if you can see that the sequence is changing by -6 to get to each number. The quickest way to solve this is to keep going with the sequence by subtracting six from each number to get to the next number.
9, 3, -3, -9, -15, -21, -27, -33, -39, -45
-45 is the 10th number in the sequence.
Another way to find the 10th term is by using the equation for arithmetic sequences.
where 
is the term in question, 
is the first term, 
is the numbered term, and 
is the difference of the terms.
To find d subtract the first two terms.
Therefore, the equation becomes
It will be helpful if you can see that the sequence is changing by -6 to get to each number. The quickest way to solve this is to keep going with the sequence by subtracting six from each number to get to the next number.
9, 3, -3, -9, -15, -21, -27, -33, -39, -45
-45 is the 10th number in the sequence.
Another way to find the 10th term is by using the equation for arithmetic sequences.
where
To find d subtract the first two terms.
Therefore, the equation becomes
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The first 3 terms of a geometric sequence are 5,9, and 13. What is the 15th term?
The first 3 terms of a geometric sequence are 5,9, and 13. What is the 15th term?
Step 1: We know it's a geometric sequence, so the difference between each consecutive term is the same. We must find the difference.
Step 2: For every term after the first term, we will add a multiple of 
to the first term.
Step 3: We can write an equation that helps us find the nth term of the sequence. We add a multiple of 4n to 5; the equation becomes 
.
Step 4: We need to find the value of n. We want the 15th number and we are given the first number. There are 
numbers in between, so n=14.
Step 5: Plug in 14 for n and find the 15th term
The 
term is 
Step 1: We know it's a geometric sequence, so the difference between each consecutive term is the same. We must find the difference.
Step 2: For every term after the first term, we will add a multiple of
Step 3: We can write an equation that helps us find the nth term of the sequence. We add a multiple of 4n to 5; the equation becomes
Step 4: We need to find the value of n. We want the 15th number and we are given the first number. There are
Step 5: Plug in 14 for n and find the 15th term
The
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The first three terms of a arithmetic sequence are 
. What is the 
term of this sequence?
The first three terms of a arithmetic sequence are
Step 1: We need to find the difference between the terms. To find the difference, subtract the first two terms.
Difference=
Step 2: To find the next term of a arithmetic sequence, we add the difference to the previous term.
Fourth term=
term+5
term=
. The fourth term is 19.
Step 3: To find the 
term, we must add a multiple of 
to the first term. In this problem, we are given the 
term, so we need to find how many terms are in between the 
and 
term.
. This tells me that I have to add 
fourteen times to get to the 
term. 
.
Step 4: Now that we know what the value of n, we can plug it in to the equation:
, where 4 is the starting number, and n represents how many times I need to add 5 to the next term (and up to the 15th term).
Let's plug it in:
.
So, the 
term in this sequence is 
.
Step 1: We need to find the difference between the terms. To find the difference, subtract the first two terms.
Difference=
Step 2: To find the next term of a arithmetic sequence, we add the difference to the previous term.
Fourth term=
Step 3: To find the
Step 4: Now that we know what the value of n, we can plug it in to the equation:
Let's plug it in:
So, the
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What is the next number in the sequence: 
What is the next number in the sequence:
Step 1: Try to find a pattern in the sequence
The pattern is decreasing perfect squares, the difference between each base of the consecutive term is 
..
Step 2: Find the next term...
If the base of the next term goes down by 
, the next term is 
..
The next term of this sequence is 
.
Step 1: Try to find a pattern in the sequence
The pattern is decreasing perfect squares, the difference between each base of the consecutive term is
Step 2: Find the next term...
If the base of the next term goes down by
The next term of this sequence is
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What is the next term in the sequence: 
What is the next term in the sequence:
Step 1: Try to find the difference between the terms.
Difference between 
and 
is 
.
Difference between 
and 
is 
.
Difference between 
and 
is 
.
Difference between 
and 
is 
.
The difference between consecutive numbers is an odd number, and the difference between the consecutive terms is always 
..
The difference between 
and 
is 
The next number in the sequence is 
.
Step 1: Try to find the difference between the terms.
Difference between
Difference between
Difference between
Difference between
The difference between consecutive numbers is an odd number, and the difference between the consecutive terms is always
The difference between
The next number in the sequence is
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Find the next term in the sequence: 
Find the next term in the sequence:
Step 1: Find the next term in the sequence: 
Step 2: Can you recognize the sequence here??
This is the Fibonacci Sequence.. The sum of the previous two terms is equal to the next consecutive term..
The missing term is 13.
Step 1: Find the next term in the sequence:
Step 2: Can you recognize the sequence here??
This is the Fibonacci Sequence.. The sum of the previous two terms is equal to the next consecutive term..
The missing term is 13.
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What is the next term in the sequence: 
What is the next term in the sequence:
Step 1: Find the difference between each two consecutive terms...
The difference is always 6 because we have a sequence...
Step 2: Find the next term in the sequence..
The next term is 
.
Step 1: Find the difference between each two consecutive terms...
The difference is always 6 because we have a sequence...
Step 2: Find the next term in the sequence..
The next term is
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Find the next term in the following sequence: 
Find the next term in the following sequence:
Step 1: Calculate the difference between the terms...
, add 9
, add 9
, add 9
Step 2: We found the pattern between the terms..
So, we can add 9 to the term before the 
to find the value of 
..
The missing term (the next term) in the sequence is 
.
Step 1: Calculate the difference between the terms...
Step 2: We found the pattern between the terms..
So, we can add 9 to the term before the
The missing term (the next term) in the sequence is
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If the first term of an arithmetic sequence is 2 and the third term is 8, find the 
th term.
If the first term of an arithmetic sequence is 2 and the third term is 8, find the
Step 1: Find the difference between each term...
Subtract the first term from the third term...
There are two terms between first and third...Take the answer in step 1 and divide by 2 to get the difference between consecutive terms...
The common difference is 
.
Step 2: Find an equation that describes the sequence....
The equation is 
, where 
represents how many terms I need to calculate and 
is the first term...
Step 3: Plug in 
...
To find n, we subtract the term that we want from the original term...
So, if we want the 
th term and we are given the first term...
Then 
So, 
The 
th term is 
.
Step 1: Find the difference between each term...
Subtract the first term from the third term...
There are two terms between first and third...Take the answer in step 1 and divide by 2 to get the difference between consecutive terms...
The common difference is
Step 2: Find an equation that describes the sequence....
The equation is
Step 3: Plug in
To find n, we subtract the term that we want from the original term...
So, if we want the
Then
So,
The
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If the first 
terms of a sequence are 
,find the 
th term.
If the first
Step 1: Find the successive difference rows until we get equal values between every two consecutive numbers.
Step 2: Since we obtain equal values for the successive differences in the second row, hence the 
term of the sequence is a second-degree polynomial.
So, the 
term takes the form of
Step 3: Now, substituting 
into the formula, we get:
Step 4: Solve the system of linear equations:
So, the 
term takes the form:
Step 5: Plug in 
into the form...
Step 1: Find the successive difference rows until we get equal values between every two consecutive numbers.
Step 2: Since we obtain equal values for the successive differences in the second row, hence the
So, the
Step 3: Now, substituting
Step 4: Solve the system of linear equations:
So, the
Step 5: Plug in
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If a sequence is 9, 3, -3, -9, -15, ...
What is the 10th term of the sequence?
If a sequence is 9, 3, -3, -9, -15, ...
What is the 10th term of the sequence?
It will be helpful if you can see that the sequence is changing by -6 to get to each number. The quickest way to solve this is to keep going with the sequence by subtracting six from each number to get to the next number.
9, 3, -3, -9, -15, -21, -27, -33, -39, -45
-45 is the 10th number in the sequence.
Another way to find the 10th term is by using the equation for arithmetic sequences.
where is the term in question, is the first term, is the numbered term, and is the difference of the terms.
To find d subtract the first two terms.
Therefore, the equation becomes
It will be helpful if you can see that the sequence is changing by -6 to get to each number. The quickest way to solve this is to keep going with the sequence by subtracting six from each number to get to the next number.
9, 3, -3, -9, -15, -21, -27, -33, -39, -45
-45 is the 10th number in the sequence.
Another way to find the 10th term is by using the equation for arithmetic sequences.
where
To find d subtract the first two terms.
Therefore, the equation becomes
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The first 3 terms of a geometric sequence are 5,9, and 13. What is the 15th term?
The first 3 terms of a geometric sequence are 5,9, and 13. What is the 15th term?
Step 1: We know it's a geometric sequence, so the difference between each consecutive term is the same. We must find the difference.
Step 2: For every term after the first term, we will add a multiple of to the first term.
Step 3: We can write an equation that helps us find the nth term of the sequence. We add a multiple of 4n to 5; the equation becomes .
Step 4: We need to find the value of n. We want the 15th number and we are given the first number. There are numbers in between, so n=14.
Step 5: Plug in 14 for n and find the 15th term
The term is
Step 1: We know it's a geometric sequence, so the difference between each consecutive term is the same. We must find the difference.
Step 2: For every term after the first term, we will add a multiple of
Step 3: We can write an equation that helps us find the nth term of the sequence. We add a multiple of 4n to 5; the equation becomes
Step 4: We need to find the value of n. We want the 15th number and we are given the first number. There are
Step 5: Plug in 14 for n and find the 15th term
The
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The first three terms of a arithmetic sequence are . What is the term of this sequence?
The first three terms of a arithmetic sequence are
Step 1: We need to find the difference between the terms. To find the difference, subtract the first two terms.
Difference=
Step 2: To find the next term of a arithmetic sequence, we add the difference to the previous term.
Fourth term= term+5
term=. The fourth term is 19.
Step 3: To find the term, we must add a multiple of to the first term. In this problem, we are given the term, so we need to find how many terms are in between the and term.
. This tells me that I have to add fourteen times to get to the term. .
Step 4: Now that we know what the value of n, we can plug it in to the equation:
, where 4 is the starting number, and n represents how many times I need to add 5 to the next term (and up to the 15th term).
Let's plug it in:
.
So, the term in this sequence is .
Step 1: We need to find the difference between the terms. To find the difference, subtract the first two terms.
Difference=
Step 2: To find the next term of a arithmetic sequence, we add the difference to the previous term.
Fourth term=
Step 3: To find the
Step 4: Now that we know what the value of n, we can plug it in to the equation:
Let's plug it in:
So, the
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What is the next number in the sequence:
What is the next number in the sequence:
Step 1: Try to find a pattern in the sequence
The pattern is decreasing perfect squares, the difference between each base of the consecutive term is ..
Step 2: Find the next term...
If the base of the next term goes down by , the next term is ..
The next term of this sequence is .
Step 1: Try to find a pattern in the sequence
The pattern is decreasing perfect squares, the difference between each base of the consecutive term is
Step 2: Find the next term...
If the base of the next term goes down by
The next term of this sequence is
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What is the next term in the sequence:
What is the next term in the sequence:
Step 1: Try to find the difference between the terms.
Difference between and is .
Difference between and is .
Difference between and is .
Difference between and is .
The difference between consecutive numbers is an odd number, and the difference between the consecutive terms is always ..
The difference between and is
The next number in the sequence is .
Step 1: Try to find the difference between the terms.
Difference between
Difference between
Difference between
Difference between
The difference between consecutive numbers is an odd number, and the difference between the consecutive terms is always
The difference between
The next number in the sequence is
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Find the next term in the sequence:
Find the next term in the sequence:
Step 1: Find the next term in the sequence:
Step 2: Can you recognize the sequence here??
This is the Fibonacci Sequence.. The sum of the previous two terms is equal to the next consecutive term..
The missing term is 13.
Step 1: Find the next term in the sequence:
Step 2: Can you recognize the sequence here??
This is the Fibonacci Sequence.. The sum of the previous two terms is equal to the next consecutive term..
The missing term is 13.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
What is the next term in the sequence:
What is the next term in the sequence:
Step 1: Find the difference between each two consecutive terms...
The difference is always 6 because we have a sequence...
Step 2: Find the next term in the sequence..
The next term is .
Step 1: Find the difference between each two consecutive terms...
The difference is always 6 because we have a sequence...
Step 2: Find the next term in the sequence..
The next term is
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Find the next term in the following sequence:
Find the next term in the following sequence:
Step 1: Calculate the difference between the terms...
, add 9
, add 9
, add 9
Step 2: We found the pattern between the terms..
So, we can add 9 to the term before the to find the value of ..
The missing term (the next term) in the sequence is .
Step 1: Calculate the difference between the terms...
Step 2: We found the pattern between the terms..
So, we can add 9 to the term before the
The missing term (the next term) in the sequence is
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If the first term of an arithmetic sequence is 2 and the third term is 8, find the th term.
If the first term of an arithmetic sequence is 2 and the third term is 8, find the
Step 1: Find the difference between each term...
Subtract the first term from the third term...
There are two terms between first and third...Take the answer in step 1 and divide by 2 to get the difference between consecutive terms...
The common difference is .
Step 2: Find an equation that describes the sequence....
The equation is , where represents how many terms I need to calculate and is the first term...
Step 3: Plug in ...
To find n, we subtract the term that we want from the original term...
So, if we want the th term and we are given the first term...
Then
So,
The th term is .
Step 1: Find the difference between each term...
Subtract the first term from the third term...
There are two terms between first and third...Take the answer in step 1 and divide by 2 to get the difference between consecutive terms...
The common difference is
Step 2: Find an equation that describes the sequence....
The equation is
Step 3: Plug in
To find n, we subtract the term that we want from the original term...
So, if we want the
Then
So,
The
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If the first terms of a sequence are ,find the th term.
If the first
Step 1: Find the successive difference rows until we get equal values between every two consecutive numbers.
Step 2: Since we obtain equal values for the successive differences in the second row, hence the term of the sequence is a second-degree polynomial.
So, the term takes the form of
Step 3: Now, substituting into the formula, we get:
Step 4: Solve the system of linear equations:
So, the term takes the form:
Step 5: Plug in into the form...
Step 1: Find the successive difference rows until we get equal values between every two consecutive numbers.
Step 2: Since we obtain equal values for the successive differences in the second row, hence the
So, the
Step 3: Now, substituting
Step 4: Solve the system of linear equations:
So, the
Step 5: Plug in
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