Generating Quadratic Sequences

from an nth Term Rule

Dora Olah – [email protected]
www.drfrostmaths.com
@DrFrostMaths

Dr Frost Learning is a registered charity

Last modified: 8th October 2023 in England and Wales (no 1194954)
How to use these slides
Though many slides in this resource will have titles specific to the topic, the slide titles in the table below
are used consistently within DFL resources for specific pedagogical purposes.
Any atypical use of a slide type, including any change of animation* or intended use, will be outlined in the
Teacher Notes for the slide.
Slide Title Explanation Default Animations*
Recap To be used as a prior knowledge check or to review prerequisite Green click-to-reveal boxes.
knowledge. Can be used as a starter or as part of the main lesson.
The Big Idea To be used to highlight key concepts or theorems. This could include Usually in sequence with some
the ‘why’ of the topic - including “real-life” contextual scenarios, or green click-to-reveal boxes.
putting into context of other mathematical concepts (past and
future).
Example To be modelled by the teacher. Solution animates in sequence.
Test Your To be completed by students and used for Assessment for Learning, Green click-to-reveal boxes.
Understanding primarily using mini-whiteboards.
Example To be used as ‘Example’ &‘Test Your Understanding’ above, within the Example animates in sequence.
Problem Pair same slide to provide scaffold via visible modelled solution. Click the header to reveal TYU
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Reveal question by clicking ‘Test Your Understanding’ banner. reveal boxes.
Quickfire To be used as fluency practice. Multiple questions in rapid succession, Green click-to-reveal boxes.
Questions for calculations that can be completed mentally. Often used for
shorter questions/ formulae or to isolate a small part of the method.
Multi-choice To be used as a diagnostic question. Multiple choice questions, with Arrow points to answer, on click.
Question plausible distractors, to allow teachers to diagnose misconceptions
and errors in student thinking, then adapt their lesson accordingly.
Exam Question To be completed by teacher or student. Green click-to-reveal boxes.
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in England and Wales (no 1194954)
Teacher Notes
Prerequisite Knowledge Future Links
• Use of four operations with integers, • Arithmetic and geometric series
decimals and fractions • Quadratic graphs
• Order of operations • Use of sequences in modelling
• Basic algebraic manipulation with four
operations
• Forming and solving equations
• Algebraic substitution
• nth term formula of linear sequences

Key: Key Points Solution step – All slides include pedagogical

click to reveal detail in the ‘Notes’ section
! To be written for teach slide.
in books Question/Discussion
Dr Frost Learning is a registered charity
Prompt in England and Wales (no 1194954)
Recap: Algebraic substitution

Work out the value of the quadratic expressions…

if a
Example

b
c

1 a ?
if
b ?
c ?

2 a ?
if
b ?
c ?

3 if a ?
b ?
c ?
Recap: Types of Sequences
Arithmetic sequences are sequences which have a common
difference between the terms.

2 4 6 8 10
common difference: +2 +2 +2 +2 +2

Quadratic sequences are sequences which have a common

difference between the differences of the terms.

2 5 10 17 26
first difference +3 +5 +7 +9

second difference: +2 +2 +2 +2

What is the same? What is different?

Recap: Quadratic Expressions

Quadratic expressions have the general form

where and are constants and .

We will use a version of this form when working with quadratic sequences.

Variable Coefficients

2
𝑎 𝑛 +𝑏𝑛+ 𝑐

The quadratic term The linear term The constant term

Recap: Quadratic Expressions
2
𝑎 𝑛 +𝑏𝑛+ 𝑐

The quadratic term The linear term The constant term

To be quadratic rule, the only required term is the

term, which may/may not have a coefficient.
The others are adjustments to this.

Through this lesson we consider quadratic position-to-term rules in the forms:

The Big Idea: Position-to-term rule
The position-to-term The position-to-term rule
rule of linear sequences. of quadratic sequences.

Tip: represents Tip: represents

Example the position Example the position

3𝒏+10 2𝒏 +3𝒏+10
1st term:
2nd term:
1st term:
2nd term:
𝟐
3rd term: 3rd term:
… …
10th term: 10th term:

What is the same? What is different?

The Big Idea: Position-to-term rule
𝑦
This can be represented
using coordinates as well.

𝟐 (4 , 54)

2𝒏 +3𝒏+10
1st term:
2nd term: (3 ,3 7)
3rd term:
4th term:
(2 , 2 4 )

(1 , 15)

What do you notice?

𝑂
𝑥
Quadratic Sequences: type

𝑛=1 𝑛=2 𝑛=3 𝑛=4 𝑛=5

𝒏
𝟐
12
1 43
91
2
462
55
2 2 2 2

+3 +5 +7 +9

+2 +2 +2

second difference: +2

This is the base sequence for all

other quadratic sequences.
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the tenth term of the
quadratic sequence if the nth term quadratic sequence if the nth term
is given by: is given by:
Remember:
2 2
𝑛 represents
the position 𝑛
Sixth term 𝑛=6 Tenth term 𝑛=10
?
2 2
𝑛 𝑛 ?
2 2
¿6 ¿ 10
?
Quadratic Sequences: type
We can generate multiples of the basic quadratic
sequence by multiplying each term.

𝑛=1 𝑛=2 𝑛=3 𝑛=4 𝑛=5

𝒏
𝟐
12
1 43
91462
55
2 2 2 2 2

×𝟑 ×𝟑 ×𝟑 ×𝟑 ×𝟑 ×𝟑

𝟑𝒏
𝟐
312 27 487 5
+9 +15 +21 +27
Remember
that means
+6 +6 +6
The second
difference is still
second difference: +6 constant, but is
now +6, not +2.
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the specified terms of the Find the specified terms of the
quadratic sequence if the nth term quadratic sequence if the nth term
is given by: is given by:

2 2
3𝑛 2𝑛
Fourth term 𝑛=4 Third term 𝑛=3
?
2 2 2 2
3𝑛 ¿ 3 × 4 2𝑛 ¿ 2 ×3 ?

2 2
7𝑛 4𝑛
Fifth term 𝑛=5 Tenth term 𝑛=10
?
2 2 2 2
7𝑛 ¿ 7 × 5 4 𝑛 ¿ 4 ×10
?
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the specified terms of the Find the specified terms of the
quadratic sequence if the nth term quadratic sequence if the nth term
is given by: is given by:

2 2
−3𝑛 −5𝑛
Fourth term 𝑛=4 Second term 𝑛=2
2 2
−3𝑛 −5 × 2 ?
2
¿−3×4 2
−7𝑛
Third term 𝑛=3
2
Remember: the is the coefficient, so
it does not get squared. −7 × 3 ?
Multi-Choice Question

Find the seventh term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

714 497 𝑛 2
Multi-Choice Question

Find the fifth term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

5010020 25 2
Multi-Choice Question

Find the third term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

−363618−18
Multi-Choice Question

Find the third term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

183654 18 2
Multi-Choice Question

Find the second term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

− 221−20
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 𝑛 + 4Third term 𝑛=3
?
𝑛 +5 2 2
𝑛 + 4 =3
?
+4
𝑛=6
Sixth term
2
¿ 9 +4 =𝟏𝟑
𝑛 +5 2
2 𝑛 − 7Tenth term 𝑛=10
?
¿ 6 +5
2 2
¿ 36 +5 𝑛 − 7 =10
?
− 7
¿ 100 −7=𝟗𝟑
Who is correct?
Work out the fifth term of the sequence

Maria Viktor

2 2
( 3×5 ) +7 3×5 +7
Who is correct?
Viktor is correct, you do not raise
the coefficient to the power.
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 3𝑛 +8 Fifth term 𝑛=5
?
4 𝑛 +5 2 2
3 𝑛 + 8=3
?
×5 + 8
𝑛=6
Sixth term
2
¿ 75+ 8=𝟖𝟑
4 𝑛 +5 2
2 2 𝑛 − 9 Tenth term 𝑛=10
?
¿ 4 × 6 +5
2 2
¿ 4 × 36+5 2 𝑛 −9=2 ?
×10 − 9
¿ 200 − 9=𝟏𝟗𝟏
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 −2 𝑛 + 3 Fifth term 𝑛=5
?
− 4𝑛 +5 2 2
−2 𝑛 + 3=−
?
2 ×5 +3
𝑛=6
Sixth term
2
¿ −50 +3=−𝟒𝟕
− 4𝑛 +5 2
2 − 5 𝑛 −7Third term 𝑛=3
?
¿ − 4 × 6 +5
2 2
¿ − 4 × 36+5 −5 𝑛 −7=−?
5 ×3 −7
¿ − 45 −7=− 𝟓𝟐
Quickfire Questions
Find the first three terms of the quadratic sequence
if the nth term is given by:

a ?

b ?

c ?

d ?

e ?

f ?

Describe all the different patterns

you notice in your answers!
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 𝑛 +4𝑛 Third term 𝑛=3
?
𝑛 +5 𝑛 2 2
𝑛 + 4 𝑛=3
?
+4× 3
Sixth term
2
𝑛=6
¿ 9 +12=𝟐𝟏
𝑛 +5 𝑛 2
2
¿ 6 +5 × 6 𝑛 −7 𝑛 Tenth term 𝑛=10
?

¿ 36 +30 2
𝑛 −7 𝑛=10
?
−7 × 10
2

¿ 100 −70=𝟑𝟎
Remember: you need to do the
substitution twice.
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 3𝑛 +4𝑛 Fifth term 𝑛=5
?
4 𝑛 +5 𝑛 2 2
3 𝑛 + 4 𝑛=3
?
× 5 + 4 ×5
Sixth term 𝑛=6 ¿ 75 + 20 =𝟗𝟓
2
4 𝑛 +5 𝑛 2
2
¿ 4 × 6 +5 × 62 𝑛 −7 𝑛 Third term 𝑛=3
?

2 2
¿ 4 × 36+30 2 𝑛 − 7 𝑛=2 ?
× 3 − 7 ×
¿ 144 +30 ¿ 18 − 21=−𝟑
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 −3 𝑛 +4 𝑛 Fifth term 𝑛=5
?
− 4 𝑛 + 5𝑛 2 2
−3 𝑛 +4 𝑛=−
?
3 ×5 + 4 ×
Sixth term 𝑛=6 ¿ − 75 +20=− 𝟓𝟓
2
− 4 𝑛 + 5𝑛
2
2
¿ − 4 × 6 +5 × 6 −2 𝑛 −7 𝑛 Third term 𝑛=3
?

2 2
¿ − 4 × 36+ 30−2 𝑛 −7 𝑛=− 2× 3 −7 ×
?
¿ −144 +30 ¿ −18 − 21=− 𝟑𝟗
Quickfire Questions
Logan has completed his homework below.
For each question, indicate whether he is correct or incorrect.

a Third term: ?
P

b Fifth term: ?
O

c Second term: ?
O

d Sixth term: ?
P

e Tenth term: ?
O

f Eighth term: ?
P

What mistakes has he made? What are the correct answers?

(b) Forgot to substitute into (b)
?
(c) Forgot to square (c)
?
(e) Squared the coefficient of . (e)
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 𝑛 + 4 𝑛 −5Third term 𝑛=3
?
𝑛 +5 𝑛+ 4 2 2
𝑛 + 4 𝑛 −5=3
?
+4 ×3 −5
Sixth term 𝑛=6 ¿ 9 +12− 5=𝟏𝟔
2
𝑛 +5 𝑛+ 4 2
2
¿ 6 +5 × 6 + 4 𝑛 −7 𝑛+ 2 Second term 𝑛=2
?

¿ 36 +30+ 4 𝑛 −7 𝑛+ 2=2 −7 × 2+2

2 2
?
¿ 4 −14 +2=−𝟖
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2 2 𝑛 + 4 𝑛 −5 Third term 𝑛=3
?
3 𝑛 +5 𝑛+ 4 2 2
2 𝑛 + 4 𝑛 −5=2 ×3 +4 ×3 −5
?
Sixth term 𝑛=6 ¿ 18+ 12− 5=𝟐𝟓
2
3 𝑛 +5 𝑛+ 4
2
2
¿ 3 × 6 +5 × 6+ 4 5 𝑛 −7 𝑛+ 2 Second term 𝑛=2
?

¿ 3 × 36+30 + 4 5 𝑛2 −7 𝑛+ 2=5 × 22 − 7 ×2+2

?
¿ 108+ 30+ 4 ¿ 20 − 14+ 2=𝟖
Example Test Your Understanding
Find the sixth term of the Find the specified terms of the quadratic
quadratic sequence if the sequence if the nth term is given by:
nth term is given by:
2
2
−2 𝑛 + 4 𝑛 −5
Third term 𝑛=3
?
−3 𝑛 +5 𝑛+ 4
Sixth term 𝑛=6 ?

2
¿ −18 +12 −5=−𝟏𝟏
−3 𝑛 +5 𝑛+ 4
2
¿ − 3 ×6 + 5 ×6+ 4− 5 𝑛 2 −7 𝑛 +2
Second term 𝑛=2
?
¿ − 3 ×36+ 30+ 4
¿ −108 +30+ 4 ?

¿ − 20 −14+ 2=− 𝟑𝟐
Multi-Choice Question

Find the third term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

7106 − 2
Multi-Choice Question

Find the second term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

7101216
Multi-Choice Question

Find the first term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

− 1− 221
Multi-Choice Question

Find the third term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

54366 0
Multi-Choice Question

Find the second term of the quadratic

sequence if the nth term is given by:

15−21−13−14
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

1 Work out the first five terms of the following sequences:

a ?
b ?
c ?
d ?
e ?
f ?
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

1 Work out the first five terms of the following sequences:

g ?
h ?
i ?
j ?
k ?
l ?
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

2 Work out the 10th, 15th, 17th and 23rd terms of the following sequences:

a ?
b ?
c ?
d ?
e ?
f ?
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

2 Work out the 10th, 15th, 17th and 23rd terms of the following sequences:

g ?
h ?
i ?
j ?
k ?
l ?
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

3 [KS3 SATs 2005 L6-L8 Paper 2 Q13b]

The th
​ term of a sequence is ​
Write the first three terms of this sequence.

𝑛− 2 1− 2 −1
First term: 2 ?
= = =− 𝟏
𝑛 1
2
1
𝑛− 2 2− 2 0
Second term: ? = = =𝟎
𝑛
2
2
2
4
𝑛− 2 3 −2 𝟏
Third term: ? = =
𝑛
2
3
2
𝟗
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

4 [AQA IGCSE FM June2014-P1 Q6a]

The th
​ term of a sequence is ​
Work out the 7th term. Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.

2 2
2 𝑛 +7 2 ×7 +7 105 𝟐𝟏
= ?2 = =
3 𝑛 − 2 3 ×7 − 2 145 𝟐𝟗
2
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

5 [Edexcel GCSE(9-1) Nov 2019 2F Q26]

The th
​ term of a sequence is ​
The th
​ term of a different sequence is ​
Show that there is only one number that is in both of these sequences.

First sequence: Second sequence:

2 2
2 𝑛 −1 40 −𝑛
2 2
2 × 1 − 1= 1 40 − 1 = 39 The first one is an
2 2
2 × 2 − 1=7 ? 40 − 2 =36 increasing ?sequence,
2 2 the second one is a
2 ×3 −1=17 40 − 3 =𝟑𝟏 decreasing sequence.
2 2
2 × 4 −1=𝟑𝟏 40 − 4 =24 Therefore, the only
2 2 number which can be in
2 ×5 −1=49 40 − 5 =15 both sequences is 31.
2 2
2 ×6 − 1=71 40 − 6 = 4
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

N Work out the missing coefficients, using the nth term formulas
and the given terms:

a The formula: The term is .

Equation to solve: ?
The solution:

b The formula: The term is .

Equation to solve: The solution: ?

c The formula: The term is .

Equation to solve: The solution: ?

Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)

N Work out the missing coefficients, using the nth term formulas
and the given terms:

d The formula: The term is .

Equation to solve: The solution: ?

e The formula: The term is .

Equation to solve: The solution: ?

f The formula: The term is and the term is .

Simultaneous equations to solve:

The solutions: ?