REPRESENTING SEQUENCES ON A GRAPH
Analysis
 
1. GRAPHS OF SEQUENCES ON THE PLANE

Graphs of sequences can be drawn on the plane by assigning one point to each term. The x-coordinate shows its position and the y-coordinate shows the value of the term.
1.- Look carefully at how the terms in the sequence are represented on the graph (the white points) and how one of them is highlighted (in red).

To highlight the terms you can:

  • use the arrows to change the parameter n
  • write in the term you want and press Enter
  • move the yellow point with the mouse
  • you can also change the scale and move the axes to see other parts of the plane.

2.- Find the following terms on the graph: 5th, 10th, 500th and 1,236th.

3.- Note that the terms all appear on the straight line (y=2x). Draw the graph of the sequence of even numbers in your exercise book.

 

 
   
2. GRAPHS FROM A GENERAL TERM

In order to be able to draw a graph of a sequence from its general term you just need to find the value of its terms and plot the respective points, after choosing a suitable scale.

4.- Draw the graphs of each of the sequences in the window in your exercise book.
  • Use sequence to select the general term.
  • Look carefully at the first few terms on the graph.
  • Change the scale, Ox and Oy to see the graph clearly.
  • Write down the values of some of the terms e.g. 1st, 10th, 100th, 1,000th etc.
  • Describe the shape of each graph.

The parameter 'term' activates and deactivates the written value of the term next to the point.

The parameter 'decimals' indicates to how many decimal places the value of the terms are written.
       
           
  Juan Madrigal Muga
 
Spanish Ministry of Education. Year 2002
 
 

Licencia de Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Common License