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Find S11 for 3 + 1 + (-1) + (-3) +…

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If you mean to say to find the 11th term, then know that this is an arithmetic sequence (where you have a common difference).

The common difference in this case is -2.

The formula for finding any term in an arithmetic sequence (specifically the explicit formula) is:
a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d where a_n is the term, a_1 is the first term, n is the term number (position) and d is the common difference.

Let's substitute the corresponding values to the formula.


a_(11) = 3 + (11-1)-2 a_(11) = 3 + (10)-2 a_(11) = 3 - 20 a_(11) = -17

The 11th term is -17.
User Jonathan Willcock
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