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nth term of sequence, $T_n$

For a number pattern, $T_n$ represents the $n$th term of the sequence.

For example, consider the sequence

$$ 4, 7, 10, \ldots $$

The first term is $T_1 = 4$.

The second term is $T_2 = 7$.

The third term is $T_3 = 10$.

Thus, $T_n$ represents the term in position $n$.

How to use nth term, $T_n$, to find a particular term

Example

Given that $T_n = 4n + 1$, find $T_{20}$.

Answer: $ 81 $

Solutions

How to use nth term, $T_n$, to check whether a number is in the sequence

Example

Given that $T_n = 4n + 1$, is $67$ a term in the sequence? Show your workings clearly.

Answer: $ \text{No} $

Solutions

Sum of first $n$ terms, $S_n$

For a number pattern, $S_n$ represents the sum of the first $n$ terms of the sequence.

For example, consider the sequence

$$ 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, \ldots $$

The sum of the first term is

$$ S_1 = T_1 = 3 $$

The sum of the first two terms is

$$ S_2 = T_1 + T_2 = 3 + 7 = 10 $$

The sum of the first three terms is

$$ S_3 = T_1 + T_2 + T_3 = 3 + 7 + 11 = 21 $$

Thus, $S_n$ represents the sum of the terms from $T_1$ to $T_n$. In general,

$$ S_n = T_1 + T_2 + T_3 + \cdots + T_n $$

How to use $S_n$ to find a particular term

$n$th term, $T_n = $ $ S_n - S_{n - 1} $

Explanation

Example

The sum of the first $n$ terms of a sequence is given by

$$ S_n = n^2 + 3n $$

Find the 10th term of the sequence.

Answer: $ 22 $

Solutions

Common number pattern: Add or subtract the same number

Some number patterns are formed by adding or subtracting the same number each time.

For example, consider the sequence

$$ 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, \ldots $$

From one term to the next, $3$ is added.

How to find the $n$th term, $T_n$

$n$th term, $T_n = $ $ T_1 + (n - 1)(d) $

$d$ is the difference between consecutive terms


Example: Add the same number

Find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence

$$ 5, 9, 13, 17, \ldots $$

Answer: $ 4n + 1 $

Solutions


Example: Subtract the same number

Find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence

$$ 31, 26, 21, 16, 11, \ldots $$

Answer: $ 36 - 5n $

Solutions

Common number pattern: Perfect square, perfect cube

Perfect square

A perfect square is a number that can be written as $n^2$, where $n$ is a positive integer.

For example, the first few perfect squares are

$$ 1^2, 2^2, 3^2, 4^2, \ldots = 1, 4, 9, 16, \ldots $$


Example

(a) Find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence

$$ 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, \ldots $$

Answer: $ n^2 $

Solutions

(b) Hence, find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence

$$ 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, 38, \ldots $$

Answer: $ n^2 + 2 $

Solutions

Perfect cube

A perfect cube is a number that can be written as $n^3$, where $n$ is a positive integer.

For example, the first few perfect cubes are

$$ 1^3, 2^3, 3^3, 4^3, \ldots = 1, 8, 27, 64, \ldots $$


Example

(a) Find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence

$$ 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, \ldots $$

Answer: $ n^3 $

Solutions

(b) Using your answer to part (a), find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence

$$ 2, 16, 54, 128, 250, \ldots $$

Answer: $ 2n^3 $

Solutions


Practice questions

Find the nth term from sum of first n terms

1. The sum of the first $n$ terms of a sequence is given by

$$ S_n = 2n^2 + 5n $$

(a) Find the first three terms of the sequence

Answer: $ T_1 = 7, T_2 = 11, T_3 = 15 $

Solutions

(b) Find an expression for the $n$th term, $T_n$.

Answer: $ T_n = 4n + 3 $

Solutions

(c) Is $420$ a term in the sequence? Show your workings clearly.

Answer: $ \text{No} $

Solutions

Combination of two number patterns

2. The first few terms of a sequence are

\begin{align*} T_1 & = 1^2 + 5 = 6 \\ \\ T_2 & = 2^2 + 8 = 12 \\ \\ T_3 & = 3^2 + 11 = 20 \end{align*}

(a) Find an expression for $T_n$.

Answer: $ n^2 + 3n + 2 $

Solutions

(b) Which term of the sequence is equal to $132$?

Answer: $ \text{10th term} $

Solutions

(c) Explain why every term in the sequence is an even integer.

Solutions #1

Solutions #2


3. The first few terms of a sequence are

$$ {4 \over 3}, {7 \over 7}, {10 \over 11}, {13 \over 15}, \ldots $$

(a) Find an expression for the $n$th term, $T_n$.

Answer: $ {3n + 1 \over 4n - 1} $

Solutions

(b) Explain why $T_n$ is less than $1$ for $n \ge 3$.

Solutions


O Level past year questions on number patterns

Fully worked, step-by-step solutions to these past-year questions (2016 to 2025) are in the O Level E Maths Solutions page.

Year & paper Comments
2024 P1 Question 8 Add the same number (difficult)
2023 P1 Question 25 Find the nth term from the sum of first n terms
2023 P2 Question 8a Number grid question
Diagram of number grid
2022 P1 Question 4 Add the same number (diagram provided)
2021 P1 Question 7 Combinations of two number patterns (like question 3 above; parts c and d are difficult)
2020 P1 Question 11 Add the same number
2019 P1 Question 25 (a) Form and solve simultaneous equations from the sum of first n terms
(b) Find the 10th term from the sum of first n terms
2019 P2 Question 5 (a) Number grid question
2019 P2 Q5a number grid
(b) Add the same number
2018 P2 Question 4a Add the same number
2017 P1 Question 20 Subtract the same number
2016 P2 Question 4 Sum of two different number patterns (like question 2 above)
2015 P2 Question 8 (a) Subtract the same number
(b) Number grid question (Link 🔒 Subscribers)
2014 P1 Question 17 Add the same number
2012 P1 Question 7 Add the same number
2011 P2 Question 5 (a) Use provided Tn to solve problems
(b) Question on odd number (Link 🔒 Subscribers)
2010 P1 Question 22 Question on odd number
2009 P1 Question 10 Subtract the same number
2008 P2 Question 4 Sum of two different number patterns (like question 2 above) (Link 🔒 Subscribers)
2007 P1 Question 6 (a) Subtract the same number
(b) Perfect square (Link 🔒 Subscribers)
2006 P2 Question 8 (Long question) Use provided Tn to solve problems (Link 🔒 Subscribers)
2005 P1 Question 6 Use provided Tn to solve problems (Link 🔒 Subscribers)
2005 P2 Question 5 Problem in real-world context (Link 🔒 Subscribers)


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