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16 votes
What is the explicit formula for the sequence: 32, 48, 72, 108,..

User Gwen Au
by
4.2k points

2 Answers

11 votes
  • 48/32=3/2
  • r=3/2
  • a=32

Verify with next one

  • 48(3/2)=72

Verified

formula


\\ \tt\hookrightarrow a_n=ar^(n-1)


\\ \tt\hookrightarrow a_n=32(3/2)^(n-1)

User Jason Machacek
by
4.8k points
12 votes

Answer:


a_n=32 \cdot \left(\frac32 \right)^(n-1)

Explanation:

The difference between each term in the sequence is not the same, therefore the sequence is a geometric sequence.

Geometric sequence formula:
a_n=a r^(n-1)

where
a is the start term and
r is the common ratio

Given
a = 32

To calculate
r, divide one term by its previous term:


\implies r=(a_4)/(a_3)=(108)/(72)=\frac32

Therefore,
a_n=32 \cdot \left(\frac32 \right)^(n-1)

User Houari
by
4.5k points