Converting Recursive Rules to General Rules Methods 11
All arithmetic and geometric sequences can be written as a general rule or a “function rule”.
All arithmetic sequences can be written as a linear function.
All geometric sequences can be written as an exponential function.
Arithmetic Sequences
1. For the sequence 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, . . .
a) State the recursive rule. 𝑇𝑛+1 =
b) Complete the table of values 𝑛 1 2 3 4 5
for this sequence.
𝑇𝑛 5
c) State the type of function that exists
between n and 𝑇𝑛
b) State the rule to find 𝑇𝑛 given any n value 𝑇𝑛 =
e) Determine the (i) 10th term
(ii) 100th term
2. For each of the following recursive rules, state a general rule to find 𝑇𝑛 given any n value.
a) 𝑇𝑛+1 = 𝑇𝑛 + 10 , 𝑇1 = 5 𝑇𝑛 =
b) 𝑇𝑛+1 = 𝑇𝑛 − 4 , 𝑇1 = 15 𝑇𝑛 =
Consider the arithmetic sequence, a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, …
We can see that for 𝑇2 d has been added 1 time
𝑇3 d has been added 2 times
𝑇4 d has been added 3 times etc
Thus 𝑇𝑛 d has been added (n – 1) times
We now have 𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏) 𝒅 or 𝑻𝒏 = 𝑻𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏) 𝒅
We now have two ways of writing a general rule for an Arithmetic Sequence.
Thus for an Arithmetic Sequence
𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏) 𝒅 or 𝑻𝒏 = 𝑻𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏) 𝒅
3. State a general rule for the recursive rule 𝑇𝑛+1 = 𝑇𝑛 + 5, 𝑇1 = 15
a) using (𝑛 − 1)
𝑛 1 2 3 4 5
b) expand the brackets in 𝑇𝑛
the general rule above
and simplify
c) complete this statement 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑇1 + (𝑛 − 1) 𝑑 = 𝑇𝑛 = _____ + 𝑑𝑛
4. State a recursive rule for
a) 𝑇𝑛 = 3𝑛 + 5
b) 𝑇𝑛 = 2(𝑛 − 1) + 10
Using a general rule, allows us to jump to much later terms without calculating each term before it.
The difference between these rules is
• The recursive rule tells us how to obtain the next term
• The general rule allows us to calculate any term
This is why the general rule is sometimes referred to as the nth term rule.
5. For the sequence, 13, 19, 25, 31… determine the
a) 100th term
b) the first term to exceed 1000
6. An arithmetic sequence has a 40th term of 241 and a 53rd term of 319. Determine the
a) 54th term
b) 1st term
c) 60th term
Geometric Sequences
7. For the sequence 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, . . .
a) State the recursive rule. 𝑇𝑛+1 =
b) Complete the table of values
for this sequence.
c) State the type of function that exists
between n and 𝑇𝑛
d) State the rule to find 𝑇𝑛 given any n value 𝑇𝑛 =
e) Determine the (i) 10th term
(ii) 100th term
8. For each of the following recursive rules, state a general rule to find 𝑇𝑛 given any n value.
a) 𝑇𝑛+1 = 10 𝑇𝑛 , 𝑇1 = 5 𝑇𝑛 =
b) 𝑇𝑛+1 = 0.5 𝑇𝑛 , 𝑇1 = 200 𝑇𝑛 =
Consider the arithmetic sequence, 𝑎, 𝑎𝑟, 𝑎𝑟 2 , 𝑎𝑟 3 , …
We can see that for 𝑇2 is 𝑎𝑟1
𝑇3 is 𝑎𝑟 2
𝑇4 is 𝑎𝑟 3 etc
Thus 𝑻𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏
We now have 𝑻𝒏 = 𝒓𝒏−𝟏 × 𝑻𝟏
We now have two ways of writing a general rule.
Thus the general term of a Geometric Sequence is given by
𝑻𝒏 = 𝒓𝒏−𝟏 × 𝑻𝟏 𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒏 = 𝒂𝒓𝒏−𝟏or Type equation here.
9. State a general rule for the recursive rule 𝑇𝑛+1 = 5 𝑇𝑛 , 𝑇1 = 10
a) using (𝑛 − 1)
b) expand the brackets in
the general rule above
and simplify
c) complete this statement 𝑇𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑛−1 × 𝑇1 = 𝑇𝑛 =
10. State a recursive rule for
a) 𝑇𝑛 = 3𝑛 × 12
b) 𝑇𝑛 = 3𝑛−1 × 12
11. For the sequence, 1, 3, 9, 27… determine the
a) 10th term using the (𝑛 − 1) rule
b) 10th term using the 𝑛𝑡ℎ rule
12. The 13th term of a geometric sequence is 20 480 and the 16th is 163 840. Determine the
a) 17th term
b) 1st term
c) 9th term
Read the example on Growth and Decay on pages 62 and 63
Complete Ex 3C Q 1 – 35 and Miscellaneous Ex 3 Q 1 – 10
