Chapter 6: Problem 13
In \(3-18,\) write the first five terms of each sequence. $$ a_{n}=\frac{n}{n+1} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The first five terms are \( \frac{1}{2}, \frac{2}{3}, \frac{3}{4}, \frac{4}{5}, \frac{5}{6} \).
Step by step solution
01
Introduction to Sequences
We have a sequence defined by the formula \( a_{n} = \frac{n}{n+1} \). To find the first five terms, we need to substitute the first five positive integers for \( n \) into this formula.
02
Calculate the 1st Term
Substitute \( n = 1 \) into the sequence formula: \[ a_{1} = \frac{1}{1+1} = \frac{1}{2} \]. So, the first term is \( \frac{1}{2} \).
03
Calculate the 2nd Term
Substitute \( n = 2 \) into the sequence formula: \[ a_{2} = \frac{2}{2+1} = \frac{2}{3} \]. So, the second term is \( \frac{2}{3} \).
04
Calculate the 3rd Term
Substitute \( n = 3 \) into the sequence formula: \[ a_{3} = \frac{3}{3+1} = \frac{3}{4} \]. So, the third term is \( \frac{3}{4} \).
05
Calculate the 4th Term
Substitute \( n = 4 \) into the sequence formula: \[ a_{4} = \frac{4}{4+1} = \frac{4}{5} \]. So, the fourth term is \( \frac{4}{5} \).
06
Calculate the 5th Term
Substitute \( n = 5 \) into the sequence formula: \[ a_{5} = \frac{5}{5+1} = \frac{5}{6} \]. So, the fifth term is \( \frac{5}{6} \).
07
Conclusion
The first five terms of the sequence are \( \frac{1}{2}, \frac{2}{3}, \frac{3}{4}, \frac{4}{5}, \) and \( \frac{5}{6} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Term Calculation
When dealing with sequences in algebra, term calculation is a fundamental concept. A sequence is an ordered list of numbers, and each number is called a "term." To find each term in a sequence, we usually apply a specific formula known as the sequence formula. In our example, the sequence is given by the formula \( a_{n} = \frac{n}{n+1} \).
- To calculate the terms, you substitute values for \( n \), starting from 1, and progressing incrementally.
- For instance, to find the first term, you substitute \( n = 1 \) into the sequence formula, yielding \( a_{1} = \frac{1}{2} \).
- The subsequent terms are found by increasing \( n \): \( a_{2} = \frac{2}{3} \), \( a_{3} = \frac{3}{4} \), and so on.
Sequence Formula
The sequence formula is the key to unlocking the terms in a sequence. It's a mathematical expression that tells you how to calculate each term based on its position in the sequence. For our sequence, the formula is \( a_{n} = \frac{n}{n+1} \). This means the term \( a_{n} \) depends on the integer \( n \) that indicates its position.
- The numerator \( n \) is the position number itself.
- The denominator \( n+1 \) is simply one more than the position number.
Introduction to Sequences
Sequences are all around us, especially in mathematics. They are ordered sets of numbers that follow a particular pattern or rule. Here, we have a sequence expressed by a formula: \( a_{n} = \frac{n}{n+1} \). Understanding sequences involves recognizing patterns in numbers and seeing how these patterns are formed.
- In algebra, sequences can be thought of as a step-by-step guide to numbers that builds upon each previous step.
- Sequences can be infinite, meaning they go on forever, or finite, where they stop after a certain number of terms.