Question

John Goodman weighs 250 pounds, so he decides to go on a diet. At the end of the first week, he weighs 240. Then at the end of the second week, he weighs 230. Fill in the blanks of the arithmetic formula [ A(n) = d + a1(n – 1) ] for this scenario.

A(n) = _____ + _____ (n – 1 )

Answer 1

nth term of an AP of first term 250 and common difference -10 can be written as,

A(n) = 250 + (n-1)(-10)

Explanation

This is an example of Arithmetic progression(AP). Le a be the first term, d be the common difference, then nth term is given by

A(n) = a + (n-1)d

Step 1

John Goodman weighs 250 pounds, so he decides to go on a diet.

So we can write 'a' = 250

Step 2

At the end of the first week, he weighs 240.

Then at the end of the second week, he weighs 230.

Fro this we get, d = 40 -250 = -10 = 230 - 240

Step 3

Therefore using formula A(n) = a + (n-1)d

A(n) = 250 + (n-1)(-10)