WorkSHEET 6.

1 Difference equations Name __________________________

1 Which of the following are difference Only (b), (d) and (e) are difference equations 1
equations? because the equations are for consecutive
(a)
tn = 4n + 6 terms.
(b)
tn+1 = tn + 9
(c)
tn+1 = 5 + 3n
(d)
tn 3tn1 = 6tn+2
(e)
tn+1 = tn 7
(f)
tn = n3

2 For the following sequences, write the first 5 5

terms. (i) 7, 9, 11, 13, 15
(i) tn = tn1 + 2, t0 = 7, n = 1, 2, 3, (ii) 23, 13, 3, 7, 17
(ii) tn = tn1 10, t0 = 23, n = 1, 2, 3, (iii) 1, 4, 16, 64, 256
(iii) tn = 4tn1, t0 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3, (iv) 3, 3, 3, 3, 3
(iv) tn+1 = tn, t1 = 3, n = 1, 2, 3, (v) 1, 15, 155, 1555, 15555
(v) tn+1 = 10tn + 5, t0 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3,

3 For the sequences given in question 3, write Arithmetic: (i) and (ii) 2
whether they are arithmetic or geometric Geometric: (iii) and (iv)
sequences. Neither: (v)

4 A sequence is defined by the difference t n 1 3 2

Transpose the equation: tn =
equation: 2
tn+1 = 2tn 3, n = 1, 2, 3, 63
If the 3rd term is 6, what is the first term? t3 = 6; t2 =
2
9
=
2
9
3
t1 = 2
2
15 3
= or 3
4 4

5 Study the following difference equations. 1

Which ones define arithmetic sequences? (ii), (iii) and (v)

(i) tn+1 = 3tn , t1 = 6, n = 1, 2, 3,

(ii) tn+1 = tn + 50, t1 = 25, n = 1, 2, 3,
(iii) tn+1 = tn 15, t1 = 15, n = 1, 2, 3,
(iv) tn+1 = 4tn , t1 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3,
(v) tn+1 = tn 3, t1 = 5, n = 1, 2, 3,
(vi) tn+1 = 2tn , t1 = 0.5, n = 1, 2, 3,
6 For the difference equations given in question 1
5, which ones define geometric sequences? (i), (iv) and (vi)

7 Express each of the following sequences as 5

difference equations.
(a) 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, (a) tn+1 = tn 2, t1 = 12, n = 1, 2, 3,
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, (b) tn+1 = tn + 1, t1 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3,
(c) 4, 10.5, 17, 23.5, 30, (c) tn+1 = tn + 6.5, t1 = 4, n = 1, 2, 3,
(d) 15, 10, 5, 0, 5, 10, (d) tn+1 = tn 5, t1 = 15, n = 1, 2, 3,
(e) 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, (e) tn+1 = tn + 4, t1 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3,

8 Express each of the following sequences as a 5

difference equation:
(a) 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, (a) tn+1 = tn , t1 = 4, n = 1, 2, 3,
(b) 2, 14, 98, 686, 4802, (b) tn+1 = 7tn , t1 = 2, n = 1, 2, 3,
(c) 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, (c) tn+1 = 3tn , t1 = 2, n = 1, 2, 3,
(d) 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, (d) tn+1 = tn , t1 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3,
(e) 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, (e) tn+1 = 2tn , t1 = 5, n = 1, 2, 3,

9 Write the following sequences until you get to a 4

term that equals 6.
(a) tn+1 = tn + 2, t1 = 2, n = 1, 2, 3, (a) 2, 4, 6
(b) tn+1 = ( tn )2 3, t1 = 6 , n = 1, 2, 3, (b) 6 , 3, 6
(c) tn+1 = tn + 3, t1 = 6, n = 1, 2, 3, (c) 6, 3, 0, 3, 6
(d) tn+1 = 2tn + 2, t1 = 1, n = 1, 2, 3, (d) 1, 0, 2, 6

10 Express each of the following geometric 5

sequences as difference equations:
(a) tn = 4(2)n1 , n = 1, 2, 3,
(b) tn = 3(4)n1 , n = 1, 2, 3,
(c) tn = 2(6)n1 , n = 1, 2, 3,
(d) tn = 0.1(8)n1 , n = 1, 2, 3,
(e) tn = 3.5(10)n1 , n = 1, 2, 3,
(a) 4, 8, 16, 32, 64,
tn+1 = 2tn, t1 = 4, n = 1, 2, 3,
(b) 3, 12, 48, 192,
tn+1 = 4tn, t1 = 3, n = 1, 2, 3,
(c) 2, 12, 72, 432,
tn+1 = 6tn, t1 = 2, n = 1, 2, 3,
(d) 0.1, 0.8, 6.4, 51.2,
tn+1 = 8tn, t1 = 0.1, n = 1, 2, 3,
(e) 3.5, 35, 350, 3500, 35 000,
tn+1 = 10tn, t1 = 3.5, n = 1, 2, 3,