EB Education Revision Guide

How to work with Sequences: Part 2

 Quadratic Sequences

What is a quadratic sequence? Examples

Quadratic sequences are sequences 10 14 20 28 38

which contain an n2 term.
+4 +6 +8 +10
In a quadratic sequence the differences
between the terms are not equal, but
the second differences (i.e. the +2 +2 +2
difference between the differences)
between the terms are equal.
 Quadratic sequences
How to find terms in a quadratic Examples
sequence? Find the first 5 terms of n2 +3n -5

• When n = 1
12 + (3 x 1) - 5 = -1
To work out terms in a quadratic • When n = 2
sequence, you follow the same rules as
22 + (3 x 2) -5 = 5 The first 5 terms are:
you would for a linear sequence. -1, 5, 13, 23, 35
• When n = 3
32 + (3 x 3) – 5 = 13
You need to substitute the value of n • When n = 4
into the formula. 42 + (3 x 4) – 5 = 23
• When n = 5
52 + (3 x 5) – 5 = 35
 The nth Term
Finding the nth Term of a Quadratic Example 1
Sequence (Method 1) 2 9 18 29 42
• Find the difference between each pair of terms.
+7 +9 +11 +13

• As the difference is changing each time, then find the difference ÷2

between the differences. +2 +2 +2
This means there is an n2 term.
• Divide this difference by 2. This provides you with the coefficient
(the number in front) of the n2 term. n: 1 2 3 4 5
Term: 2 9 18 29 42
• Subtract the n2 term from each term in the sequence. You will be n2 1 4 9 16 25
left with a linear sequence. 4 8 12 16 -3
Term – n2: 1 5 9 13 17
1 5 9 13
+4 +4 +4 +4 nth term of the linear
• Find the rule for the nth term of the linear sequence. sequence is 4n-3
The expression for the nth term is n2 + 4n - 3
• Put the n2 term and the nth term together by adding them
 The nth Term
Finding the nth Term of a Quadratic Example 2
Sequence (Method 1) 6 10 18 30 46
• Find the difference between each pair of terms.
+4 +8 +12 +16

• As the difference is changing each time, then find the difference ÷2

between the differences. +4 +4 +4

This means there is a 2n2 term.

• Divide this difference by 2. This provides you with the coefficient
(the number in front) of the n2 term. n: 1 2 3 4 5
Term: 6 10 18 30 46
• Subtract the n2 term from each term in the sequence. You will be 2n2 2 8 18 32 50
left with a linear sequence. -2 -4 -6 -8 +6
Term – 2n2: 4 2 0 -2 -4
4 2 0 -2
-2 -2 -2 -2 nth term of the linear
• Find the rule for the nth term of the linear sequence. sequence is -2n + 6
The expression for the nth term is 2n2 - 2n + 6
• Put the n2 term and the nth term together by adding them
 The nth Term
Finding the nth Term of a Quadratic
Sequence (Method 2)
The nth term of the quadratic sequence will be of Formulas to use:
the form: 2a = 2nd difference (this is always constant)
an2 + bn + c 3a + b = 2nd term – 1st term
a + b + c = 1st term
You can use a formula for working out a, b and c.

n=1 n=2 n=3

Term a+b+c 4a + 2b + c 9a + 3b + c Substitute the value of n into the
formula
1st difference 3a + b 5a + 5 e.g. when n=3 → a(3)2 + b(3) + c
2nd difference 2a 9a + 3b + c
 Formulas to use:
2a = 2nd difference (this is always constant)
3a + b = 2nd term – 1st term
a + b + c = 1st term
The nth Term
an2 + bn + c

Example Find the nth term of this sequence:

• Find the differences until you have a common 3 10 21 36 55
difference
+7 +11 +15 +19 Use the numbers in
these positions with
• Use the first formula +4 +4 +4 the formulae
2a = 2nd difference (common difference)

• Once you have worked out the value of a, use the 2a = +4 so a = 2

second formula a+b+c=3
3a + b = 2nd term – 1st term i.e. 10 – 3 = 7 3a + b = 7
2+1+c=3
(3 x 2) + b = 7 3+c=3
• Once you have worked out a and b, use the third 6+b=7 So c = 0
formula b = 7- 6
a + b + c = 1st term So b = 1 Put together: 2n2 + n
 Your turn:
1. What are the next two terms in the quadratic 3. The nth term of a sequence is
sequence below. 2n2 + 4n – 1

9 13 19 27 Work out the 10th term of the sequence.

4. The nth term of a sequence is

2. What are the next two terms in the quadratic n2 + 2n
sequence below.
Work out the first 5 terms in this sequence.
-5 0 9 22
 Your turn:
5. Work out the formula for the nth term of the 6. Work out the formula for the nth term of the
following quadratic sequence: following quadratic sequence:

5 11 19 29 2 10 22 38
 Your turn:
7. Work out the formula for the nth term of the 8 a) Look at the below sequence.
following quadratic sequence:
6 10 16 24
19 15 9 1
Show that the nth term is n2 + n + 4

b) Hence find the term that has value 136

 Your turn:
9. Work out the formula for the nth term of the 10. A quadratic sequence begins:
quadratic sequence:
6, 10, 16, 24……
19, 15, 9, 1…..
a) Show that the nth term is n2 + 2 + 4

b) Find the term that has value 136

 Answers:
1. What are the next two terms in the quadratic 3. The nth term of a sequence is
sequence below. 2n2 + 4n – 1

9 13 19 27 Work out the 10th term of the sequence.

+4 +6 + 8 (2 x 102) + (4 x 10) - 1
So next 2 terms will be + 10 + 12 200 + 40 – 1 = 239

37 49
4. The nth term of a sequence is
2. What are the next two terms in the quadratic n2 + 2n
sequence below.
Work out the first 5 terms in this sequence.
-5 0 9 22 12 + 2 = 3 22 + 4 = 8
+5 +9 + 13 32 +6 = 15 42 + 8 = 24
So next 2 terms will be + 17 + 21 52 + 10 = 35

39 60
 Answers:
5. Work out the formula for the nth term of the 6. Work out the formula for the nth term of the
following quadratic sequence: following quadratic sequence:

5 11 19 29 2 10 22 38
+6 +8 + 10 +8 + 12 +16
+2 +2 ÷ 2 = n2 +4 +4 ÷ 2 = 2n2

Term 5 11 19 29 Term 2 10 22 38
n2 1 4 9 16 2n2 2 8 18 32
Term-n2 4 7 10 13 Term-2n2 0 2 4 6
+3 + 3 +3 = 3n +2 +2 +2 = 2n
3 6 9 12 2 4 6 8
+1 -2
4 7 10 13 0 2 4 6
2n2 + 2n -2
n2 + 3n +1
 Answers:
7. Work out the formula for the nth term of the 8 a) Look at the below sequence.
following quadratic sequence:
6 10 16 24
19 15 9 1
-4 -6 -8 Show that the nth term is n2 + n + 4
-2 -2 ÷ 2 = -n2 +4 +6 +8
+2 +2 ÷ 2 = n2
Term 19 15 9 1
- and – -n2 -1 -4 -9 -16 Term 6 10 16 24
n2 1 4 9 16
make a + Term- -n2 20 19 18 17 2
Term-n 5 6 7 8
-1 -1 -1 = -n +1 +1 +1 =n
-1 -2 -3 -4 1 2 3 4
+21 5 6 7 8 +4 n2 + n + 4
20 19 18 17
-n2 - n + 21
b) Hence find the term that has value 136
n2 + n + 4 = 136
TOP TIP: n2 + n -132 = 0 (n +12 ) (n – 11) = 0
Remember how to solve a quadratic equation. Look at our other “ How n = -12 or n = 11
to guides” to help you, like our solving linear sequences guide
 Answers:
9. Work out the formula for the nth term of the 10. A quadratic sequence begins:
quadratic sequence:
6, 10, 16, 24……
19, 15, 9, 1…..
a) Show that the nth term is n2 + 2 + 4
-4 -6 -8
+4 +6 +8
-2 -2 ÷ 2 = -n2 +2 +2 ÷ 2 = n2

Term 19 15 9 1 Term 6 10 16 24
- and – -n2 -1 -4 -9 -16 n2 1 4 9 16
2
Term-n 5 6 7 8
make a + Term- -n2 20 19 18 17 +1 +1 +1 =n
-1 -1 -1 = -n 1 2 3 4
-1 -2 -3 -4 5 6 7 8 n2 + n + 4
+21
20 19 18 17
b) Find the term that has value 136
2
n2 + n + 4 = 136
- n - n + 21
n2 + n -132 = 0 (n +12 ) (n – 11) = 0
TOP TIP:
Remember how to solve a quadratic equation. Look at our other “ How n = -12 or n = 11
to guides” to help you
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