Answers Worksheet
Checking and securing understanding of non-linear
sequences
Task A: Arithmetic and geometric sequences
1) Categorise these sequences into arithmetic and geometric.
a) −4, −2, 0, 2, … e) 36, 24, 12, 0, …
Common difference +2 Common difference −12
Arithmetic
c) −4, 4, 12, 20, … h) 1, −2, −5, −8, …
Common difference +8 Common difference −3
b) 2, 4, 8, 16, … f) 108, 36, 12, 4, …
Common ratio 2 Common ratio
Geometric
d) 4, 12, 36, 108, … g) 1, −2, 4, −8, …
Common ratio 3 Common ratio −2
2) Find the blanked out 1st and 4th terms of these sequences.
a) The arithmetic sequence −9, 9, 27, 45, …
+18 +18 +18
b) The geometric sequence 3, 9, 27, 81, …
×3 ×3 ×3
c) The arithmetic sequence 7, 4, 1, −2, …
−3 −3 −3
d) The geometric sequence 16, 4, 1, ,…
1
Answers Checking and securing understanding of non-linear sequences Worksheet
Task B: Other types of sequences
1) Identify which of these sequences have a common second difference, and which have
a common third difference.
a) 1, 2, 12, 31, 59, … b) 1, 2, 5, 11, 21, …
+1 +10 +19 +28 +1 +3 +6 +10
+2 +3 +4
+9 +9 +9 Common third
+1 +1 difference +1
Common second difference +9
c) 100, 95, 86, 65, 24, … d) −68, −66, −54, −32, 0, …
−5 −9 −21 −41 +2 +12 +22 +32
−4 −12 −20 +10 +10 +10
Common third
Common second difference +10
−8 −8 difference −8
2) Given that these sequences have a common second difference find the missing terms.
a) 1, 5, 11, 19, 29, … b) 12, 14, 23, 39, 62, …
+4 +6 +8 +10 +2 +9 +16 +23
+2 +2 +2 +7 +7 +7
c) 0, 20, 36, 48, 56, … d)
+20 +16 +12 +8
−4 −4 −4
Answers Checking and securing understanding of non-linear sequences Worksheet
3) Jacob is examining these three sequences.
a) 12, 20, 28, 36, 44, … I see three increasing
sequences whereby the
terms will always go up.
b) 12, 20, 30, 42, 56, …
c) 56, 70, 82, 92, 100, …
Jacob’s statement is not entirely true. Explore the sequences and see if you can find the
contradiction.
a) 12, 20, 28, 36, 44, 52, 60, 68, 76, 84, … Arithmetic sequence, positive common difference.
+8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 Terms will increase forever.
b) 12, 20, 30, 42, 56, 82, 100, 120, 142, … Positive second difference forever increasing the first
difference. Terms will increase forever.
+8 +10 +12 +1 +16+18 +20 +22
+2 +2 +24 +2 +2 +2 +2
c) 56, 70, 82, 92, 100, 106, 110, 112, 112, 110, 106, 100, 92, …
+14 +12 +10 +8 +6 +4 +2 +0 −2 −4 −6 −8
Negative second difference
−2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 −2 decreasing the first difference.
© Oak National Academy 2024. Produced in partnership with Mathematics in Education and Industry
3
Licensed on the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. See Oak terms & conditions.
v2.3