Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 8
- Year 8
Problem solving with sequences
I can use my knowledge of sequences to solve problems.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Patterns can be described using sequences.
- Sequences can be found for given terms even if they are not sequential .
- It is possible to identify which term in a sequence a number is from the rule.
- Real life sequences can be represented on a graph.
Keywords
Arithmetic sequence - An arithmetic (or linear) sequence is a sequence where the difference between successive terms is a constant.
Nth term - The nth term of a sequence is the position of a term in a sequence where n stands for the term number.
Common misconception
The answer to the 'handshake' problem is 15, or 15x15
Group pupils into 3s and ask them to record how many handshakes are made. Then group as 4s and repeat. What do they notice?
To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Problem solving with sequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Problem solving with sequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Sequences unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which words would describe the sequence 1,4,9,16,25, ...?
Q2.What is the next term in the arithmetic sequence starting -19,-12,-5,2 ...
Q3.Buses leave for Finchley Park every 25 minutes. If a bus just left at 7:41 am what time will the next bus leave?
Q4.What is the $$n^\text{th}$$ term of the arithmetic sequence 8,9,10,11, ...?
Q5.What is the $$n^\text{th}$$ term of the arithmetic sequence 8,11,14,17 ...?
Q6.The 118$$^\text{th}$$ term of the sequence $$5050-7n$$ is 4224. What is the 113$$^\text{th}$$ term?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which would describe the sequence 1,3,6,10,15, ...?
Q2.The 2$$^\text{nd}$$ term of an arithmetic sequence is 11 and the 6$$^\text{th}$$ term is 47. What is the 1$$^\text{st}$$ term of the sequence?
Q3.Buses leave Wallsend for Byker at regular intervals. The second bus of the day leaves at 6:44 am. You just missed the seventh bus of the day which left at 8:04 am. What time is the next bus?
Q4.The 24$$^\text{th}$$ term of an arithmetic sequence is 281. The 37$$^\text{th}$$ term is 437. Which calculation will be the starting point to finding the $$n^\text{th}$$ term of the sequence?
Q5.What is the $$n^\text{th}$$ term of this sequence?
Q6.How many triangles are there in this pattern? Don't forget to count all triangles of all sizes.
