<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d

Given the first term and the common difference of an arithmetic sequence, find the first several terms.

  1. Add the common difference to the first term to find the second term.
  2. Add the common difference to the second term to find the third term.
  3. Continue until all of the desired terms are identified.
  4. Write the terms separated by commas within brackets.

Writing terms of arithmetic sequences

Write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence    with a 1 = 17 and d = 3 .

Adding 3 is the same as subtracting 3. Beginning with the first term, subtract 3 from each term to find the next term.

The first five terms are { 17 , 14 , 11 , 8 , 5 }

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

List the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence with a 1 = 1 and d = 5 .

{ 1 ,   6 ,   11 ,   16 ,   21 }

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Given any the first term and any other term in an arithmetic sequence, find a given term.

  1. Substitute the values given for a 1 , a n , n into the formula a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d to solve for d .
  2. Find a given term by substituting the appropriate values for a 1 , n , and d into the formula a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d .

Writing terms of arithmetic sequences

Given a 1 = 8 and a 4 = 14 , find a 5 .

The sequence can be written in terms of the initial term 8 and the common difference d .

{ 8 , 8 + d , 8 + 2 d , 8 + 3 d }

We know the fourth term equals 14; we know the fourth term has the form a 1 + 3 d = 8 + 3 d .

We can find the common difference d .

a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d a 4 = a 1 + 3 d a 4 = 8 + 3 d Write the fourth term of the sequence in terms of   a 1   and   d . 14 = 8 + 3 d Substitute   14   for   a 4 .   d = 2 Solve for the common difference .

Find the fifth term by adding the common difference to the fourth term.

a 5 = a 4 + 2 = 16
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Given a 3 = 7 and a 5 = 17 , find a 2 .

a 2 = 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Using recursive formulas for arithmetic sequences

Some arithmetic sequences are defined in terms of the previous term using a recursive formula    . The formula provides an algebraic rule for determining the terms of the sequence. A recursive formula allows us to find any term of an arithmetic sequence using a function of the preceding term. Each term is the sum of the previous term and the common difference. For example, if the common difference is 5, then each term is the previous term plus 5. As with any recursive formula, the first term must be given.

a n = a n 1 + d n 2

Recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence

The recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence with common difference d is:

a n = a n 1 + d n 2

Given an arithmetic sequence, write its recursive formula.

  1. Subtract any term from the subsequent term to find the common difference.
  2. State the initial term and substitute the common difference into the recursive formula for arithmetic sequences.

Writing a recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence

Write a recursive formula    for the arithmetic sequence    .

{ 18 7 4 15 26 , … }

The first term is given as −18 . The common difference can be found by subtracting the first term from the second term.

d = −7 ( −18 ) = 11

Substitute the initial term and the common difference into the recursive formula for arithmetic sequences.

a 1 = 18 a n = a n 1 + 11 ,  for  n 2
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Do we have to subtract the first term from the second term to find the common difference?

No. We can subtract any term in the sequence from the subsequent term. It is, however, most common to subtract the first term from the second term because it is often the easiest method of finding the common difference.

Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
Aislinn Reply
cm
tijani
what is titration
John Reply
what is physics
Siyaka Reply
A mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance
Jude Reply
Can you compute that for me. Ty
Jude
what is the dimension formula of energy?
David Reply
what is viscosity?
David
what is inorganic
emma Reply
what is chemistry
Youesf Reply
what is inorganic
emma
Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
Adjei
please, I'm a physics student and I need help in physics
Adjanou
chemistry could also be understood like the sexual attraction/repulsion of the male and female elements. the reaction varies depending on the energy differences of each given gender. + masculine -female.
Pedro
A ball is thrown straight up.it passes a 2.0m high window 7.50 m off the ground on it path up and takes 1.30 s to go past the window.what was the ball initial velocity
Krampah Reply
2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
Sahid Reply
you have been hired as an espert witness in a court case involving an automobile accident. the accident involved car A of mass 1500kg which crashed into stationary car B of mass 1100kg. the driver of car A applied his brakes 15 m before he skidded and crashed into car B. after the collision, car A s
Samuel Reply
can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
Joseph Reply
Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
"Generation of electrical energy from sound energy | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore" ***ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7150687?reload=true
Ryan
what's motion
Maurice Reply
what are the types of wave
Maurice
answer
Magreth
progressive wave
Magreth
hello friend how are you
Muhammad Reply
fine, how about you?
Mohammed
hi
Mujahid
A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
yasuo Reply
Who can show me the full solution in this problem?
Reofrir Reply
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 2

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Algebra and trigonometry' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask