Teaching resources for KS4 and KS5, schemes

of work and assessments all available.

Advanced Algebra Grade 7

Quadratic Sequences
Friday, 18 January 2019 Linear Sequences Recap – Find the nth term rule

Often called the zero term because it is the

number before the first term in the sequence

5 8 11 14 17 20
+3 +3 +3 +3 These are called the first
differences

Nth term rule

3n + 5
Friday, 18 January 2019 Sequences Recap

-1 1 7 17 31
+2 +6 +10 +14 First differences are
changing??
Friday, 18 January 2019 Sequences Recap

-1 1 7 17 31
+2 +6 +10 +14 First differences are
changing??

+4 +4 +4 Let’s have a look at the

second differences.

The second differences are constant.

This tells us that it is a QUADRATIC SEQUENCE.

Friday, 18 January 2019 Finding an expression for quadratic sequences

-1 1 7 17 31
The general formula for a quadratic sequence is:
+2 +6 +10 +14
an2 + bn + c
+4 +4 +4
where a, b and c are numbers we need to calculate
Divide the second the difference by 2.

2n2 + bn + c This is the value for a

Friday, 18 January 2019 Finding an expression for quadratic sequences

2n2 + bn + c

Substitute these values in to 2n2

For the next part, you will need to create a small table

n 1 2 3 4 5

Term -1 1 7 17 31
2n2 2 8 18 32 50

Term - 2n 2 -3 -7 -11 -15 -19

This is linear sequence because the first differences are always the same
 Friday, 18 January 2019 Finding an expression for quadratic sequences

2n2 + bn + c
n 1 2 3 4 5

Term -1 1 7 17 31 Calculate nth term of

this linear sequence
2n2 2 8 18 32 50

Term - 2n 2 +1 -3 -7 -11 -15 -19

-4 -4 -4 -4
Expression for quadratic sequence
Nth term of linear
sequence = -4n +1
2n2 - 4n + 1
 Advanced Algebra
Quadratic Sequences Walkthrough
Friday, 18 January 2019 Sequences Recap

2 6 12 20 30
+4 +6 +8 +10

+2 +2 +2

1
n
𝒏𝟐 + 𝒃𝒏 + 𝒄
Friday, 18 January 2019
n2 + bn + c

n 1 2 3 4 5

Term 2 6 12 20 30
1n2 1 4 9 16 25

Term – 1n 2 0 1 2 3 4 5

+1 +1 +1 +1
Expression for quadratic sequence
Nth term of linear
sequence = n
n2 + n
Friday, 18 January 2019 Test your answer

n 1 2 3 4 5
2 6 12 20 30
Expression for quadratic sequence
What’s the 10th term in the
𝒏𝟐 + 𝒏 sequence?

22
𝟏𝟎𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎
=𝟔 = 𝟐𝟎
= 𝟏𝟎𝟒
 Quadratic Sequences Task

n 1 2 3 4 5
Term 6 9 14 21 30

n 1 2 3 4 5
Term 11 20 35 56 83

n 1 2 3 4 5
Term 5 14 31 56 89

Extension: Calculate the 10th

term in each sequence
 Quadratic Sequences Task - Solutions

n 1 2 3 4 5
Term 6 9 14 21 30
10th term = 105

n 1 2 3 4 5
Term 11 20 35 56 83 10th term = 308

n 1 2 3 4 5
Term 5 14 31 56 89
10th term = 374