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A(1 ) = -2 a(n) = a(n - 1) - 5 Find the 4 ^ (th) term in the sequence .

User Jfrantzius
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1 Answer

7 votes

Answer:

-17

Explanation:

Each term in the sequence is 5 less than the one before, so the first 4 terms are ...

-2, -7, -12, -17

The 4th term of the sequence is -17.

__

The general term (an) of the sequence can be written as ...

an = a1 +d(n -1)

where a1 is the first term and d is the common difference. Here, those are ...

a1 = -2, d = -5

so the general term is ...

an = -2 -5(n -1)

We can use this to find the 4th term:

a4 = -2 -5(4 -3)

a4 = -17

User CuccoChaser
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