Finding The NTH Term of A Quadratic Sequence

GCSE Maths
Intervention Pack
Finding the nth Term of a
Quadratic Sequence
Grade 7
THIRD SPACE
th
GCSE Maths Intervention Pack | Finding the n Term of a Quadratic
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Teacher Notes
Question Sets
Set 1: Finding nth terms in the form n2 + c

th 2
Calculate the n term of a quadratic sequence of the form n + c
nd
Key words: Arithmetic sequence, coefficient, common 2 difference,
st
constant, expression, 1 difference, quadratic sequence, square numbers,
term
Set 2 : Finding nth terms in the form n2 + bn + c
Calculate the n
th
term of a quadratic sequence of the form n
2
+ bn + c
nd
st
term
Set 3: Finding nth terms in the form an2 +bn + c

Calculate the n
th
term of a quadratic sequence of the form an
2
+ bn + c
nd
st
term
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Learning do a version of that resource,
prioritise it over all of the alternatives,
because we feel that they are always the
QR Code best ones.”
Gabriel Ogbeifun,
Head of Mathematics, Regent High School

Scan to discover our
GCSE maths revision
resources
© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 1: Cover Slide
Teaching Prompt
Can you find the difference between 4 and 9? 9 and 16
Now find the differences between that row
nd
Can you see the connection between the 2 difference and the coefficient of n²
nd
(the coefficient is half the 2 difference)
______________________________________________________________________
Answers
1, 4, 9, 16,... 2, 8, 18, 32,... 3, 12, 27, 48,...
+3 +6 +9
+5 +7 +10 +14 +15 +21
+2 +2 +4 +4 +6 +6
What do you notice? The second difference is double the coefficient of n2.
______________________________________________________________________
Teacher Reference Only
Common Misconception
Students can fail to recognise quadratic sequences and can assume they are
arithmetic (linear ) or geometric sequences

nd th
Students can forget the half the 2 difference when trying to find the n term
Students may be able to find the correct quadratic coefficient but then be unable
th
to find the remaining arithmetic sequence n term.

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 2: Try this exam-style question...
th 2
Set 1: Finding terms in the form n + c.
Teaching Prompt
Can you try this question by yourself?
______________________________________________________________________
If Stuc
Move on to the next slide.
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd
(1 mark) for finding 2 difference of
(1 mark) n²+5

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 3: Let’s go through it together...
th
Set 1: Finding terms in the form ²+ .
Teaching Prompt
st nd
Can you find the 1 difference and 2 difference of the sequence
nd
What must we do to the 2 difference to find the multiple of ²
What do we get when we subtract the quadratic part of the sequence?
______________________________________________________________________
Answer
st nd
Find the 1 and 2 differences
6, 9, 14, 21,
st
1 difference
+3 +5 +7
nd
2 difference
+2 +2
nd 2
Half the 2 difference to find the multiple of and subtract it from the original
sequence
6, 9, 14, 21,
1 4 9 16
5 5 5 5
Use the constant or arithmetic sequence to write the th term of the quadratic
sequence.
2 + 5
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
(1 mark) for finding 2 nd

difference of
(1 mark) n²+5

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 4: Try this exam-style question
th
Set 1: Finding terms in the form ²+ .
Teaching Prompt
______________________________________________________________________
If Stuc
st nd
What must we do to the 2nd difference to find the multiple of ²
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd
(1 mark) ²-2

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
th
Set 2: Finding n terms in the form n² + bn + c.
Teaching Prompt
______________________________________________________________________
If Stuc
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd
(1 mark) For writing a sequence in the form ²+ +
(1 mark) ²+3 −1

GCSE Maths Intervention Pack | Finding the nth Term of a Quadratic
THIRD SPACE
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Set 2: Finding nth terms in the form n² + bn + c.
Teaching Prompt
Can you find the 1st difference and 2nd difference of the sequence
What must we do to the 2nd difference to find the coefficient of n2
(an arithmetic sequence)
______________________________________________________________________
Answer
Find the 1st and 2nd differences
3, 9, 17, 27,
1st difference
+6 +8 +10
+2 +2 2nd difference
Half the 2nd difference to find the multiple of 2

and subtract it from the original
sequence
3, 9, 17, 27,
1 4 9 16
3 -1
2 5 8 11 arithmetic th term
Use the constant or arithmetic sequence to write the th

term of the quadratic
sequence.
2+3 -1
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
(1 mark) for finding 2nd difference of
(1 mark) ²+3 −1

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 7: Your turn...
th
Set 2: Finding n terms in the form n² + bn + c.
Teaching Prompt
st nd
nd 2
What must we do to the 2 difference to find the coefficient of n
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd
(1 mark) ² +5 +1

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
th
Set 3: Finding n terms in the form an²+ bn + c.
Teaching Prompt
______________________________________________________________________
If Stuc
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd
(1 mark) For finding 2 difference of
(1 mark) For writing a sequence in the form 3

²+ +
(1 mark) 3 ²− 2 +10

GCSE Maths Intervention Pack | Finding the nth Term of a Quadratic
THIRD SPACE
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Set 3: Finding nth terms in the form an²+ bn + c.
Teaching Prompt
Can you find the 1st difference and 2nd difference of the sequence
What will be the multiple of ²? (3
Can you write the first 4 terms of the multiple of ²? (3, 12, 27, 48
______________________________________________________________________
Answer
Find the 1st and 2nd differences
11, 18, 31, 50,...
1st difference
+7 +13 +19
+6 +6 2nd difference
Half the 2nd difference to find the multiple of 2

and subtract it from the original
sequence
11, 18, 31, 50,
3 12 27 48 3 2
-2 + 10
8 6 4 2 arithmetic th term
Use the constant or arithmetic sequence to write the th

term of the quadratic
sequence.
3 2 - 2 + 10
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
(1 mark) for finding 2nd difference of
(1 mark) For writing a sequence in the form 3 ²+ +
(1 mark) 3 ² +2 +10

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 10: Your turn...
th
Set 3: Finding terms in the form ²+ + .
Teaching Prompt
______________________________________________________________________
If Stuc
st nd
What will be the multiple of ²? (2
Can you write the first 4 terms of the multiple of ²? (2, 8, 18, 32
What do we get when we subtract the quadratic part of the sequence? (an
arithmetic sequence)
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd

²+ +
(1 mark) 2
² +4 -5

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 11: Ready for a Challenge?
Teaching Prompt
______________________________________________________________________
If Stuc
st nd
What will be the multiple of ²? (0.5
Can you write the first 4 terms of the multiple of ²? (0.5, 2, 4.5, 8
What do we get when we subtract the quadratic part of the sequence? (an
arithmetic sequence)
______________________________________________________________________
Mark Schem
nd

.5 ²+ +
(1 mark) 0
.5 ² +0.5 +3

THIRD SPACE
th
LEARNING
Sequence | Grade 7
Slide 12: W hat have we learnt?
Teaching Prompt
Can you see where the student has gone wrong? (they have assumed it was a
arithmetic sequence by just looking at the first 2 terms
What should they have done instead
st nd th
Found the 1 and 2 difference to find the n term of a quadratic sequence.
0, 3, 8, 15, ..
3 5 7
2 2
0 3 8 15
- 1 4 9 16
-1 -1 -1 -1
2
Answer = n -
nd
Can you see where the student has gone wrong? (they have not halved the 2
difference
What should they have done instead
nd
Halved the 2 difference to get 2
², then subtracted to find the remaining terms
5, 12, 23, 38, ..
- 2 8 18 32 2 2
+ 2
3 4 5 6
Answer = 2 ²+ +2

Finding the Term of ath
Quadratic Sequence
Complete the 1st and 2nd differences for these sequences.
What do you notice?
1, 4, 9, 16,... 2, 8, 18, 32,... 3, 12, 27, 48,...

+3 +6 +9
THIRD SPACE
LEARNING
Try this exam-style question...
Here are the first four terms of a quadratic sequence 6, 9, 14, 21,..
Find an expression for the th term of this sequence.
........................................................................
(2)
th
Finding terms in the form : Exam Q1
Let’s go through it together...
Here are the first four terms of a quadratic sequence 6, 9, 14, 21,...
st nd
1 Find the 1 and 2 differences.
nd
A quadratic sequence will have a common 2 difference.
nd
6, 9, 14, 21, The square numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, ... , have a common 2
difference of +2 and an th term of .

st
1 difference
E.g. 2, 5, 10, 17, nd
Halving the 2 difference
+3 +5 +7 1
st
difference gives the multiple of .
nd
2 difference
+2 +2 2
nd
difference
nd
Subtracting that multiple
Half the 2 difference to find the multiple of
2
of from the original
and subtract it from the original sequence. 2
sequence gives a constant.
6, 9, 14, 21, 2, 5, 10, 17,

To get the th term we add
1, 4, 9, 16, the constant to the
multiple of .
1, 1, 1, 1,
th term of 2, 5, 10, 17, ..., is
Use the constant or arithmetic sequence to

3 We can write this as
write the th term of the quadratic sequence.
........................................................................
Finding
th
terms in the form : Support (2)
Your turn...
Here are the first four terms of a quadratic sequence -1, 2, 7, 14,...
........................................................................
Finding th
terms in the form : Assess
(2)
........................................................................
(3)
th
st nd
E.g. 2, 9, 18, 29,
3, 9, 17, 27, +7 +9 +11 1

st
difference
1
st
difference +2 +2 2
nd
difference
nd
2 difference
2, 9, 18, 29,
nd
2
1, 4, 9, 16,
and subtract it from the original sequence.
arithmetic sequence
1, 5, 9, 13,
th term is
3, 9, 17, 27,
multiple of + arithmetic sequence th term
arithmetic th term

3
........................................................................
(3)
th
Finding terms in the form : Support
Your turn...
........................................................................
Finding th
(3)
........................................................................
(3)
th
st nd
E.g. 3, 7, 15, 27,
11, 18, 31, 50,... +4 +8 +12 1

st
difference
1
st
difference +4 +4 2
nd
difference
nd
2 difference
3, 7, 15, 27,
nd
2
2, 8, 18, 32,
and subtract it from the original sequence.
arithmetic sequence
1, -1, -3, -5,

th term is
11, 18, 31, 50,
multiple of + arithmetic sequence th term
arithmetic th term

3
........................................................................
(3)
th
Finding terms in the form : Support
Your turn...
........................................................................
Finding th
(3)
Ready for a Challenge?
........................................................................
th
(3)
Finding terms of quadratic sequences: Extend
What have we learnt?
Can you correct the answers to the questions below?
Here are the first four terms of a Here are the first four terms of a
quadratic sequence.
quadratic sequence.
0, 3, 8, 15, ...
5, 12, 23, 38, ...
Find an expression for the th term of Find an expression for the th term of
this sequence. this sequence.
5 12
23 38
7 11 15
4 4
........................................................................ ........................................................................
th
Finding terms of quadratic sequences: Review
Where to go next?
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worksheets to support students in fixing any misconceptions take a look
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GCSE Maths

Set 1: Finding nth terms in the form n2 + c

Set 2 : Finding nth terms in the form n2 + bn + c

Set 3: Finding nth terms in the form an2 +bn + c

“We now tell our staff that if Third Space

Learning do a version of that resource,

prioritise it over all of the alternatives,

because we feel that they are always the

QR Code best ones.”

Head of Mathematics, Regent High School

GCSE maths revision

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 1: Cover Slide

Can you find the difference between 4 and 9? 9 and 16

Now find the differences between that row

1, 4, 9, 16,... 2, 8, 18, 32,... 3, 12, 27, 48,...

Teacher Reference Only

arithmetic (linear ) or geometric sequences

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 2: Try this exam-style question...

Can you try this question by yourself?

Move on to the next slide.

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 3: Let’s go through it together...

What do we get when we subtract the quadratic part of the sequence?

(1 mark) for finding 2 nd

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 4: Try this exam-style question

Can you try this question by yourself?

What must we do to the 2nd difference to find the multiple of ²

What do we get when we subtract the quadratic part of the sequence?

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 5: Try this exam-style question...

Can you try this question by yourself?

Move on to the next slide.

(1 mark) For writing a sequence in the form ²+ +

(1 mark) ﻿ ²+3 −1﻿

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 6: Let’s go through it together...

Set 2: Finding nth terms in the form n² + bn + c.

Half the 2nd difference to find the multiple of 2

Use the constant or arithmetic sequence to write the th

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 7: Your turn...

What do we get when we subtract the quadratic part of the sequence?

(an arithmetic sequence)

(1 mark) For writing a sequence in the form ²+ +

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 8: Try this exam-style question...

Can you try this question by yourself?

Move on to the next slide.

(1 mark) For writing a sequence in the form 3

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 9: Let’s go through it together...

Set 3: Finding nth terms in the form an²+ bn + c.

Half the 2nd difference to find the multiple of 2

Use the constant or arithmetic sequence to write the th

© Third Space Learning 2024. You may photocopy this page.

Slide 10: Your turn...

(1 mark) ²+3 −1

What will be the multiple of ²? (2

What will be the multiple of ²? (0.5