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Identify the rule relating each term in the following sequence: 8, - 4, 2 - 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8

A: Divide by 2
B: Divide by -2
C: Multiply by -2
D: Multiply by 2​

2 Answers

2 votes

Answer:

b. divided by -2

Explanation:

User Maxy
by
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6 votes

Answer:

B: Divide by -2

Explanation:

The only logical conclusion would be divide by -2, though that may not be the entire correct answer. Why?

Firstly, the sequence of 8, -4, 2, -1 only follows division by -2. Division by 2 would result in 8, 4, 2 and 1, multiplication by -2 would result in 8, -16, 32, -64, and multiplication by 2 would result in 8, 16, 32 and 64. Hence, the only logical conclusion would be division by -2.

However, this rule breaks down as we go into the fractions. -1 / -2 is 1/2, sure, but (1/2) / -2 should be - 1/4, and not 1/4. Hence, as we go into the fractions, the rule should have changed to division by 2 instead.

The only solution to unite the whole sequence would be to correct 1/4 to -1/4, and maybe OP should check whether that is the case.

Hope this helped!

User Shalik
by
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