Question

What are the first three terms of the sequence represented by the recursive formula an=n^2-an-1 if a5=14 1/4

Answer 1

B. 0.25, 3.75, 5.25

just convert what the person above said but into decimals

Answer 2

1/4, 3 3/4, 5 1/4

Explanation:

Solving for a[n-1], we get ...

a[n-1] = n^2 -a[n]

Then ...

a[4] = 5^2 -a[5] = 25 -14 1/4 = 10 3/4

a[3] = 4^2 -a[4] = 16 -10 3/4 = 5 1/4

a[2] = 3^2 -a[3] = 9 -5 1/4 = 3 3/4

a[1] = 2^2 -a[2] = 4 -3 3/4 = 1/4

Then the first three terms are a[1], a[2], and a[3]:

1/4, 3 3/4, 5 1/4