How do you write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence given a_8=26, a_12=42?
1 Answer
Aug 8, 2018
Explanation:
The general term of an arithmetic sequence is given by the formula:
a_n = a + d(n-1)
where
Given
16 = 42-26
color(white)(16) = a_12 - a_8
color(white)(16) = (a+11d) - (a+7d)
color(white)(16) = 4d
Hence
Then:
26 = a_8 = a+7d = a+28
Hence
So the first five terms of the sequence are:
-2, 2, 6, 10, 14