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How do I Describe the pattern 18−9+4.5−2.25+...

User Dinesh Ramasamy
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1 Answer

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15 votes

Given the pattern


18-9+4.5-2.25+\cdots

To find the pattern,

If n is the first term, the pattern it followed is as follows


n+(-(1)/(2))n+(-(1)/(2))(-(1)/(2))n+(-(1)/(2))(-(1)/(2))(-(1)/(2))n+\cdots


n-(n)/(2)+(n)/(4)-(n)/(8)+(n)/(16)-(n)/(32)+\cdots

The first term of the given pattern is 18, i.e n = 18,

Substitute n into the pattern above,


\begin{gathered} 18-(18)/(2)+(18)/(4)-(18)/(8)+(18)/(16)-(18)/(32)+\cdots \\ =18-9+4.5-2.25+1.125-0.5625+\cdots \end{gathered}

Hence, the pattern is


n-(n)/(2)+(n)/(4)-(n)/(8)+(n)/(16)-(n)/(32)+\cdots

User Mike Shauneu
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