Number pattern
Sections:
1) Revision notes
2) Practice questions
Revision notes
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
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} $
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} $
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 $
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 $
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 $
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 $
(b) Hence, find an expression for the $n$th term of the sequence
$$ 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, 38, \ldots $$
Answer: $ n^2 + 2 $
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 $
(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 $
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 $
(b) Find an expression for the $n$th term, $T_n$.
Answer: $ T_n = 4n + 3 $
(c) Is $420$ a term in the sequence? Show your workings clearly.
Answer: $ \text{No} $
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 $
(b) Which term of the sequence is equal to $132$?
Answer: $ \text{10th term} $
(c) Explain why every term in the sequence is an even integer.
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} $
(b) Explain why $T_n$ is less than $1$ for $n \ge 3$.
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![]() |
| 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![]() (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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