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Please help me find the first 5 terms for each sequence. I also need help determining which sequences are arithmetic, geometric, or neither!

Please help me find the first 5 terms for each sequence. I also need help determining-example-1

1 Answer

3 votes

a) The first 5 terms: 7, 4, 1, -2, -5

The sequence has a common difference. Hence, it is arithmetic sequence

b) The first 5 terms: 2, 5, 9, 17, 33

it is neither

c) The first 5 terms: 3, 30, 300, 3000, 30000

it is a geometric sequence

Step-by-step explanation:

a) a(1) = 7

a(n) = a(n-1) -3 for n is greater than or equal to 2

when n= 2

a(2) = a(2-1) - 3

a(2) = a(1) - 3 = 7 - 3

a(2) = 4

a(3) = a(3-1) - 3

a(3) = a(2) - 3 = 4 - 3

a(3) = 1

a(4) = a(4-1) - 3

a(4) = a(3) - 3 = 1 - 3

a(4) = -2

a(5) = a(5-1) - 3

a(5) = a(4) - 3 = -2 - 3

a(5) = -5

The first 5 terms: 7, 4, 1, -2, -5

The difference between the terms = 4-7 = 1-4 = -3

The sequence has a common difference. Hence, it is arithmetic sequence

b) b(n) = 2*b(n-1) - 1 for n is greater than or equal to 2

b(1) = 2

b(2) = 2×b(2-1) - 1

b(2) = 2×b(1) - 1 = 2(2)-1

b(2) = 5

b(3) = 2×b(3-1) - 1

b(3) = 2×b(2) - 1 = 2(5) - 1 = 10-1

b(3) = 9

b(4) = 2×b(4-1) - 1 = 2×b(3) - 1 = 2(9) - 1

b(4) = 17

b(5) = 2×b(5-1) - 1 = 2×b(4) - 1 = 2(17) - 1

b(5) = 33

The first 5 terms: 2, 5, 9, 17, 33

The difference between the terms = 5-2 = 3, 9-5 =4, 17 - 9 = 8

The difference are not the same. Hence, no common difference (not an arithmetic sequence)

we find the common ratio:

5/2 = 2.5, 9/5 = 1.8, 17/9 = 1.89

No common ratio (not a geometric sequence)

Hence, it is neither

c) c(n) = 10×c(n-1) for n is greater than or equal to 2

c(1) = 3

c(2) = 10×c(2-1) = 10×c(1) = 10 × 3

c(2) = 30

c(3) = 10 ×c(3-1) = 10×c(2) = 10 ×30

c(3) = 300

c(4) = 10 ×c(4-1) = 10×c(3) = 10 ×300

c(4) = 3000

c(5) = 10 ×c(5-1) = 10×c(4) = 10 ×3000

c(5) = 30000

The first 5 terms: 3, 30, 300, 3000, 30000

The difference between the terms = 300 -30 = 290, 3000-300= 2700

The difference are not the same. Hence, no common difference (not an arithmetic sequence)

We find the common ratio:

30/3 = 10, 300/30 = 10, 3000/300 = 10

The common ratio are the same.

Hence, it is a geometric sequence

User Eddiem
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