Definition and Examples of Sequences (2024)

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers .

The three dots mean to continue forward in the pattern established. Each number in the sequence is called a term. In the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, …, 1 is the first term, 3 is the second term, 5 is the third term, and so on. The notation a ₁, a ₂, a ₃,… a _nis used to denote the different terms in a sequence.

The expression a _nis referred to as the general or nth term of the sequence.

Example 1

Write the first five terms of a sequence described by the general term a _n= 3 n + 2.

Therefore, the first five terms are 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17.

Example 2

Write the first five terms of a _n= 2(3 ^{n – 1} ).

Therefore, the first five terms are 2, 6, 18, 54, and 162.

Example 3

Find an expression for the nth term of each sequence.

1. 2, 4, 6, 8, …
2. 10, 50, 250, 1250, …
3. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, …
   1. 

Based on this pattern, a _n= 2 n.

Based on this pattern, a _n= 2(5 ⁿ).

Based on this pattern,