Question

Find the first five terms of the sequence defined over the natural numbers with the explicit function rule

an=3n-1.

Answer 1

2, 5, 8, 11, 14

Explanation:

to find the first 5 terms, substitute n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 into the explicit formula

a₁ = 3(1) - 1 = 3 - 1 = 2

a₂ = 3(2) - 1 = 6 - 1 = 5

a₃ = 3(3) - 1 = 9 - 1 = 8

a₄ = 3(4) - 1 = 12 - 1 = 11

a₅ = 3(5) - 1 = 15 - 1 = 14

the first 5 terms are 2, 5, 8, 11, 14