GlossariesA Level GlossariesA Level Maths GlossarySequence

Sequence - A Level Maths Definition

Reviewed by: Mark Curtis

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What is a sequence?

In A Level Maths, a sequence is a set of numbers arranged in a specific order according to a particular rule, pattern or formula, for example 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ...

Each number in the sequence is called a term and terms can be referred to using letters, such as u subscript 1 for the first term, u subscript 2 for the second term, u subscript 3 for the third term, etc.

table row cell u subscript 1 end cell equals 5 row cell u subscript 2 end cell equals 10 row cell u subscript 3 end cell equals 15 row cell u subscript 4 end cell equals cell... end cell end table

Sequences can be finite, with a limited number of terms, or infinite, extending indefinitely. There are many different types of sequences, including arithmetic sequences (adding the same amount each time) and geometric sequences (multiplying by the same amount each time).

Be careful: a sequence is not the same as a series (a series is the sum of the terms in a sequence).

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Mark Curtis

Reviewer: Mark Curtis

Expertise: Maths Content Creator

Mark graduated twice from the University of Oxford: once in 2009 with a First in Mathematics, then again in 2013 with a PhD (DPhil) in Mathematics. He has had nine successful years as a secondary school teacher, specialising in A-Level Further Maths and running extension classes for Oxbridge Maths applicants. Alongside his teaching, he has written five internal textbooks, introduced new spiralling school curriculums and trained other Maths teachers through outreach programmes.

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