Arithmetic, geometric or neither? Find the next terms with a recursive rule
Grade 9 Math Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
Noah's piano practice list is arithmetic: 5, ?, ?, 41. What is the second term?
Pia's crayon box count is arithmetic over 4 weeks: 50, ?, ?, 14. What is the second term?
Ren's flower count is geometric: 4, ?, 100. Every term is positive. What is the missing term?
Tala's leaf pattern is geometric: 3, ?, 75. Every term is positive. What is the missing term?
Zee's list is 4, 10, 16, 22. Which recursive rule makes this list?
- a(1) = 4, a(n) = a(n − 1) + 6
- a(1) = 6, a(n) = a(n − 1) + 4
- a(n) = a(n − 1) + 6, with no a(1)
Ari's list is 3, 6, 12, 24. Which recursive rule makes this list?
- a(1) = 3, a(n) = a(n − 1) + 3
- a(1) = 3, a(n) = 2 · a(n − 1)
- a(1) = 2, a(n) = 3 · a(n − 1)
Bo's list is 40, 33, 26, 19. Which recursive rule makes this list?
- a(1) = 40, a(n) = a(n − 1) − 7
- a(n) = a(n − 1) − 7, with no a(1)
- a(1) = 40, a(n) = a(n − 1) + 7
Kira's list is 90, 75, 60, 45. Which recursive rule makes this list?
- a(1) = 90, a(n) = a(n − 1) + 15
- a(1) = 15, a(n) = a(n − 1) − 90
- a(1) = 90, a(n) = a(n − 1) − 15
Noah writes a number trick on paper at math club. The rule is a(1) = 1, a(n) = 2 · a(n − 1) + 4. What is a(5)?
Pia's robot runs a number trick. The rule is a(1) = 5, a(n) = 2 · a(n − 1) − 3. What is a(5)?