7. Find an expression for the \( n \)th term of each of the quadratic sequences: \( \begin{array}{lll}\text { (i) } 7,10,15,22,31, \ldots & \text { (ii) } 2,7,14,23, \ldots & \text { (iii) } 2,8,18,32,50, \ldots\end{array} \) 8. Show that the \( n \)th term of the quadratic sequence \( 8,15,26,41,60, \ldots \) is given by \( T_{n}=2 n^{2}+n+5 \)
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To derive the \( n \)th term of the quadratic sequences, we can analyze each one step by step: For the first sequence \( 7, 10, 15, 22, 31, \ldots \), you can notice the differences: - First differences: \( 3, 5, 7, 9 \) - Second differences (which are constant): \( 2, 2, 2 \) The \( n \)th term has the form \( an^2 + bn + c \). Using the method of finite differences, you can identify that \( a = 1 \) by taking half of the constant second difference. Then deriving \( b \) and \( c \) through solving simultaneous equations based on the known terms helps you find: \[ T_n = n^2 + n + 5 \] For the second sequence \( 2, 7, 14, 23, \ldots \), the first differences are \( 5, 7, 9 \) and again the second differences reveal a constant \( 2 \). Following a similar analysis, you end up finding that the expression for the \( n \)th term is: \[ T_n = n^2 + 4n - 2 \] Lastly, for the sequence \( 2, 8, 18, 32, 50, \ldots \), the first differences are \( 6, 10, 14, 18 \) and the second differences are constant again. Solving gives you the expression: \[ T_n = 2n^2 - 2n + 2 \] Now, regarding the last sequence \( 8, 15, 26, 41, 60, \ldots \), we see the first differences as \( 7, 11, 15, 19 \) which leads, through constant second differences, to the formula \( T_n = 2n^2 + n + 5 \). Such a pattern can be verified by substituting \( n \) values back into the formula! Whip out those calculators and break out the equations—just watch those math skills soar!