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1/2,-4,32,-256 find an explicit formula for the sequence

User TuanDT
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2 Answers

6 votes
This is a geometric sequence where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio.

an = a1 * r^n-1
where
an = nth term
a1 = 1st term
r = common ratio

In this problem, a1 = 1/2.

Find the common ratio by dividing -4 by 1/2 to get r = -8.

The explicit formula is an = (1/2)*(-4)^n-1



User Natalia Larrieux
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4 votes

Answer :

1/2 ⋅ (-8) n-1 [n-1 in parenthesis as an exponent]

step-by step explanation:

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User Gsanta
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