Chapter 13: Problem 42
A sequence is defined recursively. List the first five terms. \(a_{1}=-2 ; \quad a_{n}=n+3 a_{n-1}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The first five terms are: -2, -4, -9, -23, -64.
Step by step solution
01
- Identify the first term
The first term of the sequence is given directly: \[ a_{1} = -2 \]
02
- Find the second term
Use the recursive formula to find the second term: \[ a_{2} = 2 + 3a_{1} \] Substitute the value of \( a_{1} \): \[ a_{2} = 2 + 3(-2) = 2 - 6 = -4 \]
03
- Calculate the third term
Use the recursive formula to find the third term: \[ a_{3} = 3 + 3a_{2} \] Substitute the value of \( a_{2} \): \[ a_{3} = 3 + 3(-4) = 3 - 12 = -9 \]
04
- Determine the fourth term
Use the recursive formula to find the fourth term: \[ a_{4} = 4 + 3a_{3} \] Substitute the value of \( a_{3} \): \[ a_{4} = 4 + 3(-9) = 4 - 27 = -23 \]
05
- Establish the fifth term
Use the recursive formula to find the fifth term: \[ a_{5} = 5 + 3a_{4} \] Substitute the value of \( a_{4} \): \[ a_{5} = 5 + 3(-23) = 5 - 69 = -64 \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Sequence Definition
A sequence is a list of numbers arranged in a specific order. Each number in the sequence is called a term. Sequences can be defined in different ways, such as explicitly by a formula or recursively. An explicit definition gives a direct formula for any term based on its position, while a recursive definition specifies each term based on previous terms. Recursive sequences are especially useful in modeling real-world problems where each term depends on prior values.
Recursive Formula
A recursive formula provides a way to find each term of a sequence by relating it to previous terms. For a sequence \(a_n\), the recursive formula typically has two parts:
- Initial condition: one or more starting values.
- Recurrence relation: a rule that defines \(a_n\) based on earlier terms in the sequence.
Term Calculation
Calculating the terms of a recursive sequence involves applying the recursive formula step by step. Let's break down the steps:
- **First Term:** It's given directly as \(a_1 = -2\).
- **Second Term:** Use the formula \(a_2 = 2 + 3a_1\). Substituting \(a_1 = -2\), we get \ a_2 = 2 + 3(-2) = -4 \.
- **Third Term:** \(a_3 = 3 + 3a_2\). Using \ a_2 = -4 \, we find \ a_3 = 3 + 3(-4) = -9 \.
- **Fourth Term:** \(a_4 = 4 + 3a_3\). Given \ a_3 = -9 \, \ a_4 = 4 + 3(-9) = -23 \.
- **Fifth Term:** \ a_5 = 5 + 3a_4 \. Substituting \ a_4 = -23 \, we get \ a_5 = 5 + 3(-23) = -64 \.
Algebra
Algebra plays a crucial role in working with recursive sequences. By understanding algebraic operations, you can simplify and solve the recurrence relations. Here are some important points:
- **Substitution:** This is used to replace a term with its known value to find the next term.
- **Simplification:** Combining like terms and performing arithmetic operations correctly ensures accurate solutions.
- **Identifying Patterns:** Recognize patterns in sequences which can sometimes help in finding shortcuts or validating calculations.