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can someone please help on how to find a7 please I need to do my test corrections and I'm running out of time the sequence is {4,-12,36,-108} I would really appreciate it

User Pmiranda
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

2916

Explanation:

You want the 7th term of the geometric sequence that starts 4, -12, 36, -108, ...

Common ratio

The ratio of successive terms is ...

r = -12/4 = 36/-12 = -3

Seventh term

You can continue to multiply terms by -3 to find the 7th term:

a5 = -108(-3) = 324

a6 = 324(-3) = -972

a7 = -972(-3) = 2916

General term

As you know, the formula for the general term of a geometric sequence is ...

an = a1 · r^(n-1) . . . . . . where a1 is the first term

Then the 7th term is ...

a7 = 4 · (-3)^(7-1) = 4(-3)^6 = 4(729)

a7 = 2916

User Didier Spezia
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