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Find the 7th term of the geometric sequence a3 =128,r=-1/4

User Quarac
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2 Answers

1 vote

Answer:

Explanation:

The general formula for this sequence is a(n) = a(1)*(-1/4)^(n - 1). We don't yet know a(1).

If a(3) = 128, then 128 = a(1)*(-1/4)^(3 - 1), or

128 = a(1)*(1/16)

and so a(1) = 128/16

resulting in the specific formua a(n) = 8(-1/4)^(n - 1)

Now let's find a(7):

a(7) = 8(-1/4)^1 * (-1/4)^(6)

or

a(7) = 8(-1/4)^7

User Stvnrynlds
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5.1k points
2 votes

The 7th term of the geometric sequence is 1/2 or 0.5.

What is a a geometric sequence.

A geometric sequence is an array of numbers in which each term that follows the first term is determined by multiplying the previous term by the common ratio.

The general formula for the nth term of a geometric sequence can be expressed as:


a_n=a_1* r^((n-1))

Given that:

The third term
a_3 = 128, and:

The common ratio
r =-(1)/(4)

Then; the third term
a_3 becomes;


a_3 = a_1 * r^((3-1))


128 = a_1 * (-(1)/(4))^((2))


a_1 = 128 * 16


a_1 = 2048

Now, the 7th term can be computed as:


a_7 = 2048 * ((1)/(4))^6


a_7 = 2048 * ((1)/(4096))


a_7 = (1)/(2)

Therefore, the 7th term of the geometric sequence is 0.5.

User Iamchris
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