Table of contents
- 0. Review of Algebra4h 16m
- 1. Equations & Inequalities3h 18m
- 2. Graphs of Equations43m
- 3. Functions2h 17m
- 4. Polynomial Functions1h 44m
- 5. Rational Functions1h 23m
- 6. Exponential & Logarithmic Functions2h 28m
- 7. Systems of Equations & Matrices4h 6m
- 8. Conic Sections2h 23m
- 9. Sequences, Series, & Induction1h 19m
- 10. Combinatorics & Probability1h 45m
9. Sequences, Series, & Induction
Arithmetic Sequences
3:02 minutes
Problem 29a
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionIn Exercises 23–34, write a formula for the general term (the nth term) of each arithmetic sequence. Do not use a recursion formula. Then use the formula for to find the 20th term of the sequence. a1=-20, d = -4
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Arithmetic Sequence
An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between consecutive terms is constant. This difference is known as the common difference (d). In the given problem, the first term (a1) is -20, and the common difference is -4, indicating that each term is obtained by subtracting 4 from the previous term.
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Arithmetic Sequences - General Formula
General Term Formula
The general term (nth term) of an arithmetic sequence can be expressed using the formula: a_n = a1 + (n - 1)d, where a_n is the nth term, a1 is the first term, d is the common difference, and n is the term number. This formula allows us to calculate any term in the sequence without needing to list all previous terms.
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Writing a General Formula
Finding Specific Terms
To find a specific term in an arithmetic sequence, substitute the desired term number (n) into the general term formula. For example, to find the 20th term, you would set n = 20 in the formula a_n = a1 + (n - 1)d, which allows you to compute the value of that term directly based on the first term and the common difference.
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