SEQUENCE RULES

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 1. Determine the ratio between the term and the preceding term by:
, , Say:
𝟐 𝟑 𝟒
1
1st term = 2
1
2nd term = 3
1
3rd term = 4

To determine the ratio between two sequential terms, divide the number of a
term to the number prior to it:
1
2𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 3
= 1
1𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
2
1 2
= ×
3 1
𝟐
=
𝟑
1
3𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 4
= 1
2𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
3
1 3
=
×
4 1
𝟑
=
𝟒
Summarizing, we have:

SEQUENCE:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐 𝟑 𝟒
RATIO:

𝟐 𝟑
𝟑 𝟒

4
2. By observing the ratios, it can be observed that the ratio for the 4th term is 5.
4 1
Thus, multiplying 5 to the 3rd term in the sequence which is 4, we have:
1 4 1
×5=5
4
1
Therefore, the 4th term in the sequence is 5.

1
SEQUENCE RULES
𝟑, 𝟏, −𝟏, −𝟑 1. The common difference of the given sequence is −2, which can be calculated
by:
Say:
1st term = 3
2nd term = 1
3rd term = -1
4th term = -3

2nd term minus 1st term = 1 − 3

= −2

3rd term minus 2nd term = −1 − 1

= −2

4th term minus 3rd term = −3 − −1

= −2

Summarizing, we have;
SEQUENCE:
𝟑 𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟑
COMMON DIFFERENCE:

−𝟐 −𝟐 −𝟐

2. To determine the 5th term in the sequence, subtract 2 to the 4th term which -3,
thus:
5𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 = 4𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
= −3 − 2
= −5
Therefore, the 5th term in the sequence is −5.
3. The nth term in the sequence can also be calculated by using the arithmetic
progression formula:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
Where:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
𝑎 = 1𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
𝑑 = 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑎𝑚 − 𝑎𝑚−1
Where 𝑎𝑚 is any number given in the sequence and 𝑎𝑚−1 is the number
preceding 𝑎𝑚

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 To determine the 5th term in the sequence:
Let:
𝑎5 = 5𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
𝑛=5
𝑎 = 1𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 = 3
𝑑 = 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 𝑎𝑛 − 𝑎𝑛−1
= −2
Substituting, we have;
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
𝑎5 = 3 + (5 − 1)(−2)
𝑎5 = −5
Therefore, the 5th term in the sequence is −5.

A,D,G,J 1. Observing the keypad of a cellphone:

2. It can be observed that:

KEYPAD LETTERS
#2 A,B,C
#3 D,E,F
#4 G,H,I
#5 J,K,L
#6 M,N,0
#7 P,Q,R,S
#8 T,U,V
#9 W,X,Y,Z

3
3. By comparing the letters in the sequence and the letters in the keypad it be
observed that the letters in the sequence is the first letter in the respective
keypad:

KEYPAD LETTERS
#2 A,B,C
#3 D,E,F
#4 G,H,I
#5 J,K,L
#6 M,N,0
#7 P,Q,R,S
#8 T,U,V
#9 W,X,Y,Z
4. Therefore, to determine the 5th letter in the sequence, it is obvious that the fifth
letter is letter “M”, the 6th letter in the sequence is “P”, so on and so forth.