Find the explicit formula for the arithmetic sequence -2,-14,-26,-38

Question

asked Mar 24, 2020 218k views

2 Answers

Buns Of Aluminum · Answer 1 · 2020-03-30T01:32:41+0000

Answer:

$\large\boxed{a_n=10-12n}$

Explanation:

It's an arithmetic sequence.

$-14-(-2)=-14+2=-12\\-26-(-14)=-26+14=-12\\-38-(-26)=-38+26=-12$

The difference is constant.

The explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence:

a_n=a_1+(n-1)d

Substitute:

$a_1=-2,\ d=-12$

a_n=-2+(n-1)(-12) use distributive property

$a_n=-2-12n+12\\\\a_n=(-2+12)-12n\\\\a_n=10-12n$