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For the following exercises, use the explicit formula to write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence.

a n = 24 4 n

First five terms: 20 , 16 , 12 , 8 , 4.

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For the following exercises, write an explicit formula for each arithmetic sequence.

a n = { 3 , 5 , 7 , ... }

a n = 1 + 2 n

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a n = { 32 , 24 , 16 , ... }

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a n = { 5 95 195 ... }

a n = 105 + 100 n

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a n = { −17 −217 −417 , ... }

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a n = { 1.8 3.6 5.4 ... }

a n = 1.8 n

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a n = { −18.1 , −16.2 , −14.3 , ... }

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a n = { 15.8 , 18.5 , 21.2 , ... }

a n = 13.1 + 2.7 n

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a n = { 1 3 , 4 3 , −3 ... }

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a n = { 0 , 1 3 , 2 3 , ... }

a n = 1 3 n 1 3

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a n = { 5 , 10 3 , 5 3 , }

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For the following exercises, find the number of terms in the given finite arithmetic sequence.

a n = { 3 , 4 , 11 ... , 60 }

There are 10 terms in the sequence.

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a n = { 1.2 , 1.4 , 1.6 , ... , 3.8 }

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a n = { 1 2 , 2 , 7 2 , ... , 8 }

There are 6 terms in the sequence.

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Graphical

For the following exercises, determine whether the graph shown represents an arithmetic sequence.

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 1.5), (2, 2.25), (3, 3.375), (4, 5.0625), and (5, 7.5938). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.

The graph does not represent an arithmetic sequence.

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For the following exercises, use the information provided to graph the first 5 terms of the arithmetic sequence.

a 1 = 9 ; a n = a n 1 10

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 9), (2, -1), (3, -11), (4, -21), and (5, -31). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.
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Technology

For the following exercises, follow the steps to work with the arithmetic sequence a n = 3 n 2 using a graphing calculator:

  • Press [MODE]
    • Select SEQ in the fourth line
    • Select DOT in the fifth line
    • Press [ENTER]
  • Press [Y=]
    • n Min is the first counting number for the sequence. Set n Min = 1
    • u ( n ) is the pattern for the sequence. Set u ( n ) = 3 n 2
    • u ( n Min) is the first number in the sequence. Set u ( n Min) = 1
  • Press [2ND] then [WINDOW] to go to TBLSET
    • Set TblStart = 1
    • Set Δ Tbl = 1
    • Set Indpnt: Auto and Depend: Auto
  • Press [2ND] then [GRAPH] to go to the TABLE

What are the first seven terms shown in the column with the heading u ( n ) ?

1 , 4 , 7 , 10 , 13 , 16 , 19

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Use the scroll-down arrow to scroll to n = 50. What value is given for u ( n ) ?

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Press [WINDOW] . Set n Min = 1 , n Max = 5 , x Min = 0 , x Max = 6 , y Min = 1 , and y Max = 14. Then press [GRAPH] . Graph the sequence as it appears on the graphing calculator.

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 1), (2, 4), (3, 7), (4, 10), and (5, 13). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.
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For the following exercises, follow the steps given above to work with the arithmetic sequence a n = 1 2 n + 5 using a graphing calculator.

What are the first seven terms shown in the column with the heading u ( n ) in the TABLE feature?

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Graph the sequence as it appears on the graphing calculator. Be sure to adjust the WINDOW settings as needed.

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 5.5), (2, 6), (3, 6.5), (4, 7), and (5, 7.5). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.
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Extensions

Give two examples of arithmetic sequences whose 4 th terms are 9.

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Give two examples of arithmetic sequences whose 10 th terms are 206.

Answers will vary. Examples: a n = 20.6 n and a n = 2 + 20.4 n.

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Find the 5 th term of the arithmetic sequence { 9 b , 5 b , b , } .

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Find the 11 th term of the arithmetic sequence { 3 a 2 b , a + 2 b , a + 6 b } .

a 11 = 17 a + 38 b

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At which term does the sequence { 5.4 , 14.5 , 23.6 , ... } exceed 151?

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At which term does the sequence { 17 3 , 31 6 , 14 3 , ... } begin to have negative values?

The sequence begins to have negative values at the 13 th term, a 13 = 1 3

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For which terms does the finite arithmetic sequence { 5 2 , 19 8 , 9 4 , ... , 1 8 } have integer values?

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Write an arithmetic sequence using a recursive formula. Show the first 4 terms, and then find the 31 st term.

Answers will vary. Check to see that the sequence is arithmetic. Example: Recursive formula: a 1 = 3 , a n = a n 1 3. First 4 terms: 3 , 0 , 3 , 6 a 31 = 87

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Write an arithmetic sequence using an explicit formula. Show the first 4 terms, and then find the 28 th term.

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Practice Key Terms 2

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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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