Q. Find an explicit formula for the arithmetic sequence−2,−14,−26,−38,….. Note: the first term should be d(1).
d(n) = \(\square\)
Identify Type: Identify whether the given sequence is geometric or arithmetic. The sequence −2,−14,−26,−38,… has a common difference between consecutive terms, so it is an arithmetic sequence.
Use Explicit Formula: Use the explicit formula for an arithmetic sequence, d(n)=d(1)+(n−1)d, where d(1) is the first term and d is the common difference. For the sequence −2,−14,−26,−38,…, the first term, d(1), is −2 and we need to find the common difference, d.
Calculate Common Difference: Calculate the common difference, d, by subtracting the first term from the second term: d=−14−(−2)=−14+2=−12.
Substitute Values: Substitute the values of d(1) and d into the formula to write an explicit formula for the sequence. The expression for the sequence −2,−14,−26,−38,… is d(n)=−2+(n−1)(−12).
Simplify Expression: Simplify the expression to get the final explicit formula for the sequence. The simplified expression is d(n)=−2−12(n−1)=−2−12n+12=−12n+10.
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