{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T08:21:10+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T08:21:10+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T17:53:53+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33720"},"slug":"math","categoryId":33720},{"name":"Pre-Calculus","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33727"},"slug":"pre-calculus","categoryId":33727}],"title":"What You Need to Know About Sequences in Pre-Calculus","strippedTitle":"what you need to know about sequences in pre-calculus","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-about-sequences-in-pre-calculus","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"A sequence is a list of items; in mathematics, a sequence usually consists of numbers such as 1, 2, 4, 8, . . . or 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, . . . See the patterns ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>A <i>sequence</i> is a list of items; in mathematics, a sequence usually consists of numbers such as 1, 2, 4, 8, . . . or 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, . . . See the patterns in these two sequences? You need to know how to find patterns in lists of numbers so you can write the rest of the numbers in the list.</p>\n<p>You can classify many sequences by type, which helps you determine particular terms or sums. Recognize the type, and you’re pretty much home free when doing your calculations.</p>\n<p>You’ll work on sequences and series in the following ways:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Finding a particular term in a sequence when given the general formula</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Determining a formula or standard expression for all the terms in a sequence</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Writing terms in a recursively formed sequence</p>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"Tip\">Don’t let common mistakes trip you up; keep in mind that when working with sequences, some challenges will include</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Correctly formulating terms in a sequence by using the order of operations</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Recognizing when a sequence is arithmetic or geometric</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Assigning the correct signs in the terms of an alternating sequence</p>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Practice problems</h2>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Given the general term of the sequence, find the fifth term: <i>a</i><i><sub>n</sub></i> = 2<i><sup>n</sup></i> – 1</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\"><b>Answer:</b> 31</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\"><b></b>You find the fifth term, <i>a</i><sub>5</sub>, by replacing the <i>n</i> with 5 in the general term and simplifying:</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Write an expression for the general term of the sequence: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, . . .</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\"><b>Answer: </b></p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Each term is the result of performing the factorial operation on the number of the term.</p>\n </li>\n</ol>","description":"<p>A <i>sequence</i> is a list of items; in mathematics, a sequence usually consists of numbers such as 1, 2, 4, 8, . . . or 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, . . . 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Recognize the type, and you’re pretty much home free when doing your calculations.</p>\n<p>You’ll work on sequences and series in the following ways:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Finding a particular term in a sequence when given the general formula</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Determining a formula or standard expression for all the terms in a sequence</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Writing terms in a recursively formed sequence</p>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"Tip\">Don’t let common mistakes trip you up; keep in mind that when working with sequences, some challenges will include</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Correctly formulating terms in a sequence by using the order of operations</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Recognizing when a sequence is arithmetic or geometric</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Assigning the correct signs in the terms of an alternating sequence</p>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Practice problems</h2>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Given the general term of the sequence, find the fifth term: <i>a</i><i><sub>n</sub></i> = 2<i><sup>n</sup></i> – 1</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\"><b>Answer:</b> 31</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\"><b></b>You find the fifth term, <i>a</i><sub>5</sub>, by replacing the <i>n</i> with 5 in the general term and simplifying:</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Write an expression for the general term of the sequence: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, . . .</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\"><b>Answer: </b></p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Each term is the result of performing the factorial operation on the number of the term.</p>\n </li>\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8985,"name":"Mary Jane Sterling","slug":"mary-jane-sterling","description":" <p><b>Mary Jane Sterling</b> is the author of <i>Algebra I For Dummies, Algebra Workbook For Dummies,</i> and many other <i>For Dummies</i> books. She taught at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years, teaching algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics. 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What You Need to Know About Sequences in Pre-Calculus

By: Mary Jane Sterling and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Pre-Calculus: 1001 Practice Problems For Dummies (+ Free Online Practice)

Pre-Calculus: 1001 Practice Problems For Dummies (+ Free Online Practice)

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A sequence is a list of items; in mathematics, a sequence usually consists of numbers such as 1, 2, 4, 8, . . . or 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, . . . See the patterns in these two sequences? You need to know how to find patterns in lists of numbers so you can write the rest of the numbers in the list.

You can classify many sequences by type, which helps you determine particular terms or sums. Recognize the type, and you’re pretty much home free when doing your calculations.

You’ll work on sequences and series in the following ways:

Finding a particular term in a sequence when given the general formula
Determining a formula or standard expression for all the terms in a sequence
Writing terms in a recursively formed sequence

Don’t let common mistakes trip you up; keep in mind that when working with sequences, some challenges will include

Correctly formulating terms in a sequence by using the order of operations
Recognizing when a sequence is arithmetic or geometric
Assigning the correct signs in the terms of an alternating sequence

Practice problems

Given the general term of the sequence, find the fifth term: a_n = 2ⁿ – 1

Answer: 31

You find the fifth term, a₅, by replacing the n with 5 in the general term and simplifying:
Write an expression for the general term of the sequence: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, . . .

Answer:

Each term is the result of performing the factorial operation on the number of the term.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Pre-Calculus: 1001 Practice Problems For Dummies (+ Free Online Practice) ,

About the book author:

Mary Jane Sterling is the author of Algebra I For Dummies, Algebra Workbook For Dummies, and many other For Dummies books. She taught at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years, teaching algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics.

This article can be found in the category:

Pre-Calculus ,