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Answer:
a) 32 sticks.
b) 5n + 2 sticks.
Explanation:
Solve this by finding the pattern.
Pattern # 1 = 7 sticks.
Pattern #2 = 12 sticks
Pattern #3 = 17 sticks.
We can see an increase of 5 sticks within each. We can use this to write an equation:
f(n) = 7 + 5(n-1)
***Where n is the term number
You can simplify the equation to become:
f(n) = 7 + 5n - 5
f(n) = 5n + 2.
Use this equation to solve for pattern # 6:
f(6) = 7 + 5(n-1)
f(6) = 7 + 5(5)
f(6) = 7 + 25
f(6) = 32.