Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Sequences
A sequence is an ordered list of numbers that follow a specific pattern or rule. Each number in the sequence is called a term, and the position of each term is typically denoted by an index, often starting from 1. Understanding how to identify and generate terms from a given rule is essential for working with sequences.
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Introduction to Sequences
General Term
The general term of a sequence is a formula that allows you to calculate any term in the sequence based on its position. In this case, the general term is given by an = (-1)^n(n + 3), where 'n' represents the term's index. This formula combines both arithmetic and alternating signs, which is crucial for determining the specific values of the sequence.
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Writing a General Formula
Evaluating Expressions
Evaluating expressions involves substituting values into a formula to compute specific results. For the sequence given, you will substitute n = 1, 2, 3, and 4 into the general term to find the first four terms. Mastery of this skill is vital for accurately generating terms from a sequence based on its general term.
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Evaluating Algebraic Expressions