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Computer animations: The animation on a new computer game initially allows the hero of the game to jump a (screen) distance of 10 in. over booby traps and obstacles. Each successive jump is limited to \(\frac{3}{4}\) in. less than the previous one. Find (a) the length of the seventh jump and (b) the total distance covered after seven jumps.

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) 5.5 inches; (b) 54.25 inches.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Problem

We need to find the length of the seventh jump and the total distance covered after seven jumps. The initial jump is 10 inches, and each successive jump is 0.75 inches less.
02

Identify the Pattern of the Sequence

This is an arithmetic sequence where each term is 0.75 inches less than the previous term. The first term \(a_1\) is 10 inches, and the common difference \(d\) is -0.75 inches.
03

Find the Seventh Jump

The formula for the \(n\)-th term of an arithmetic sequence is \(a_n = a_1 + (n-1) \cdot d\). Plug \(n=7\), \(a_1=10\), and \(d=-0.75\) into the formula: \[ a_7 = 10 + (7-1) \cdot (-0.75) = 10 - 4.5 = 5.5 \text{ inches} \] So, the length of the seventh jump is 5.5 inches.
04

Calculate Total Distance for Seven Jumps

The sum \(S_n\) of the first \(n\) terms of an arithmetic sequence is given by \(S_n = \frac{n}{2} (a_1 + a_n)\). We know \(a_1 = 10\), \(a_7 = 5.5\), and \(n = 7\). \[ S_7 = \frac{7}{2} (10 + 5.5) = \frac{7}{2} \cdot 15.5 = 54.25 \text{ inches} \] Thus, the total distance covered after seven jumps is 54.25 inches.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Arithmetic Sequence Formula
An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers where the difference between any two successive terms is constant. This constant difference is known as the 'common difference'. The general formula to find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, denoted as \( a_n \), is expressed as: \[ a_n = a_1 + (n-1) \cdot d \]This formula allows you to determine any term in the sequence, provided you know:
  • the first term \( a_1 \)
  • the common difference \( d \)
  • the term position \( n \)
Understanding this formula is key to solving problems related to arithmetic sequences, as it helps calculate not just specific terms but also explore the pattern within the entire sequence.
Common Difference
The common difference is a crucial element of an arithmetic sequence. It indicates how much you need to add or subtract to get from one term to the next. In mathematical terms, the common difference \( d \) can be calculated by:
  • subtracting any term from the subsequent term, such as \( a_2 - a_1 \)
In our example, with the hero's jump distances:
  • The first jump is 10 inches.
  • The second jump is \(10 - 0.75 = 9.25 \) inches.
The common difference here is \(-0.75\) inches. This negative difference indicates that the jump lengths are decreasing with each subsequent jump. Recognizing and applying the common difference helps us understand how the sequence progresses.
Nth Term Calculation
The 'nth term calculation' in an arithmetic sequence helps to find a specific term’s value given its position. Using our example, we calculated the seventh jump with the nth term formula:\[ a_n = a_1 + (n-1) \cdot d \]For the hero's seventh jump:
  • \( a_1 = 10 \) inches, the first term.
  • \( d = -0.75 \) inches, the common difference.
  • \( n = 7 \) for the seventh term.
By substituting these values into the formula, we calculated:\[ a_7 = 10 + (7-1) \cdot (-0.75) = 5.5 \text{ inches} \]So, the length of the seventh jump is 5.5 inches. This method provides a straightforward way to find any given term in an arithmetic sequence.
Sum of Arithmetic Sequence
The sum of an arithmetic sequence is a useful calculation that provides the total of multiple terms in the sequence. The general formula used is:\[ S_n = \frac{n}{2} (a_1 + a_n) \]This formula requires:
  • \( n \), the number of terms.
  • \( a_1 \), the first term.
  • \( a_n \), the nth term.
In the example of the hero's jumps, to find the total distance covered after seven jumps, we used:
  • \( n = 7 \)
  • \( a_1 = 10 \)
  • \( a_7 = 5.5 \)
Plugging these into the sum formula:\[ S_7 = \frac{7}{2} (10 + 5.5) = 54.25 \text{ inches} \]This result shows the total distance covered by all seven jumps. Understanding the sum formula aids in calculating overall values in scenarios involving arithmetic sequences.

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