How do you find the first, fourth, and eighth terms of the sequence #A(n) = -2*5^(n-1)#?

1 Answer
Jul 26, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

To find any term in the sequence, substitute the number of the term for #n# and calculate the result:

First Term

#A(color(red)(n)) = -2 * 5^(color(red)(n) - 1)# becomes:

#A(color(red)(1)) = -2 * 5^(color(red)(1) - 1) = -2 * 5^0 = -2 * 1 = -2#

Fourth Term

#A(color(red)(n)) = -2 * 5^(color(red)(n) - 1)# becomes:

#A(color(red)(4)) = -2 * 5^(color(red)(4) - 1) = -2 * 5^3 = -2 * 125 = -250#

Eight Term

#A(color(red)(n)) = -2 * 5^(color(red)(n) - 1)# becomes:

#A(color(red)(8)) = -2 * 5^(color(red)(8) - 1) = -2 * 5^7 = -2 * 78125 =#

#156,250#