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Write an expression to describe the sequence below. Use n to represent the position of a term in the sequence, where n = 1 for the first term. -9, -18, -27, -36, ...

User AussieJoe
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1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

The expression of this sequence is -9n

Explanation:

* Lets revise the type of the sequence

- Arithmetic sequence:

- There is a constant difference between each two consecutive

numbers

* Ex:

# 2 , 5 , 8 , 11 , ……………………….

# 5 , 10 , 15 , 20 , …………………………

# 12 , 10 , 8 , 6 , ……………………………

* General term (nth term) of an Arithmetic Progression:

- U1 = a , U2 = a + d , U3 = a + 2d , U4 = a + 3d , U5 = a + 4d

- Un = a + (n – 1)d, where a is the first term , d is the difference

between each two consecutive terms

* Now lets look to the problem

- The sequence is : -9 , -18 , -27 , -36

∵ -18 - (-9) = -18 + 9 = -9

∵ -27 - (-18) = -27 + 18 = -9

∵ -36 - (-27) = -36 + 27 = -9

∴ The sequence is arithmetic with common difference -9

∵ a = -9 , d = -9 and n is the position of the term in the sequence

∴ The rule of the sequence is Un = -9 + (n -1)(-9)

* We can simplify it

∴ Un = -9 + n(-9) - (1)(-9) = -9 + (-9n) - (-9) = -9 - 9n + 9 = -9n

* The expression of this sequence is -9n

User Simon Rigby
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