Graphing Sequences Worksheet

Graphing Sequences

Read each question carefully and follow the instructions. Show all your work where required.

1. Consider the arithmetic sequence: 2, 5, 8, 11, ...

a) Write the explicit formula for the nth term of this sequence.

b) List the first 5 terms of the sequence.

c) Graph the first 5 terms of the sequence on the coordinate plane below. Label your axes.

2. Consider the geometric sequence: 16, 8, 4, 2, ...

a) Write the explicit formula for the nth term of this sequence.

b) List the first 5 terms of the sequence.

c) Graph the first 5 terms of the sequence on the coordinate plane below. Label your axes.

3. Which type of sequence would typically produce a graph that forms a straight line?

4. If the graph of a sequence shows points that are increasing at a constant rate, the sequence is likely an   sequence. If the points are increasing or decreasing at a multiplicative rate, it is likely a   sequence.

5. A sequence is defined by the recursive formula a₁ = 3, aₙ = 2aₙ₋₁ - 1 for n > 1.

a) Calculate the first 4 terms of the sequence.

b) Graph the first 4 terms of the sequence on the coordinate plane below. Label your axes.