The nth term of linear and quadratic sequences worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.The nth term of a sequence is n² − 2n + 5. Work out the 10th term.

2.A coach company charges a booking fee plus a price for each passenger. A booking for 1 passenger costs £9, for 2 passengers costs £15, for 3 passengers costs £21, and for 4 passengers costs £27. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the cost in pounds of a booking for n passengers.

3.The first five terms of a quadratic sequence are −1, 4, 13, 26, 43. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.

4.The first five terms of a sequence are 7, 9, 13, 19, 27. By finding the second difference, work out the coefficient of n² in the nth term.

5.The first four terms of a sequence are 2, 6, 10, 14. Priya says the nth term is 4n. Work out the correct expression for the nth term.

6.The first five terms of a quadratic sequence are 4, 7, 12, 19, 28. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.

7.The nth term of a sequence is n² + 4n. Work out the term number, n, for which the term equals 45.

8.A market trader builds a display of oranges in a rectangular block. The block is n oranges wide and 4 oranges longer than it is wide. The number of oranges needed is 5 when n = 1, 12 when n = 2, 21 when n = 3, 32 when n = 4, and 45 when n = 5. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the number of oranges needed for a display of width n.

9.The first five terms of a quadratic sequence are 6, 11, 18, 27, 38. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.

10.The first four terms of a sequence are 11, 18, 25, 32. Ravi thinks the nth term is 7n. Work out the correct expression for the nth term.

11.The first four terms of a sequence are 4, 9, 14, 19. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.

12.The nth term of a sequence is n² + 2n − 4. Work out the 7th term.

13.A gym charges a reduced price for the first month of membership and a standard price for every month after that. The total cost is £5 for 1 month, £12 for 2 months, £19 for 3 months and £26 for 4 months. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the total cost, in pounds, of n months of membership.

14.The nth term of a sequence is 4n + 2. A term in the sequence has value 30. Work out its position, n, in the sequence.

15.Aisha saves money each week. In week 1 she has saved £15 in total, in week 2 she has saved £23 in total, in week 3 she has saved £31 in total and in week 4 she has saved £39 in total, with the total increasing by the same amount each week. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the total amount she has saved, in pounds, after week n.