Chapter 9: Problem 9
Find the first four terms and the eighth term of the sequence. $$\left\\{(-1)^{n-1} \frac{n+7}{2 n}\right\\}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The first four terms are 4, \(-\frac{9}{4}\), \(\frac{5}{3}\), \(-\frac{11}{8}\), and the eighth term is \(-\frac{15}{16}\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Sequence Formula
The sequence given is \((-1)^{n-1} \frac{n+7}{2n}\). This means for each term, you plug in the term number, \(n\), into the formula to get the sequence value.
02
Find the First Term (n=1)
Substitute \(n = 1\) into the formula to calculate the first term: \[(-1)^{1-1} \frac{1+7}{2 \times 1} = 1 \times \frac{8}{2} = 4.\]Thus, the first term is 4.
03
Find the Second Term (n=2)
Substitute \(n = 2\) into the formula to calculate the second term: \[(-1)^{2-1} \frac{2+7}{2 \times 2} = -1 \times \frac{9}{4} = -\frac{9}{4}.\]Thus, the second term is \(-\frac{9}{4}\).
04
Find the Third Term (n=3)
Substitute \(n = 3\) into the formula to calculate the third term: \[(-1)^{3-1} \frac{3+7}{2 \times 3} = 1 \times \frac{10}{6} = \frac{5}{3}.\]Thus, the third term is \(\frac{5}{3}\).
05
Find the Fourth Term (n=4)
Substitute \(n = 4\) into the formula to calculate the fourth term: \[(-1)^{4-1} \frac{4+7}{2 \times 4} = -1 \times \frac{11}{8} = -\frac{11}{8}.\]Thus, the fourth term is \(-\frac{11}{8}\).
06
Find the Eighth Term (n=8)
Substitute \(n = 8\) into the formula to calculate the eighth term: \[(-1)^{8-1} \frac{8+7}{2 \times 8} = -1 \times \frac{15}{16} = -\frac{15}{16}.\]Thus, the eighth term is \(-\frac{15}{16}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Arithmetic Sequences
An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers where each term is obtained by adding a constant difference to the previous term. This constant difference is called the "common difference." If you want to find any term in an arithmetic sequence, you can use the formula: \[ a_n = a_1 + (n-1) imes d \] where \( a_1 \) is the first term, \( d \) is the common difference, and \( n \) is the term number you wish to find.
- For example, in the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8..., the common difference is 2.
- Using the formula, you can calculate the 5th term as 2 + (5-1) × 2 = 10.
Geometric Sequences
A geometric sequence is defined by each term being multiplied by a fixed number, called the "common ratio," to get the next term. The formula for any term in a geometric sequence can be expressed as: \[ a_n = a_1 imes r^{(n-1)} \] where \( a_1 \) is the first term, \( r \) is the common ratio, and \( n \) is the term number.
- For example, in the sequence 3, 6, 12, 24..., the common ratio is 2.
- Using the formula, the 4th term is 3 × 2³ = 24.
Sequence Terms
Sequence terms are individual elements within a sequence, labeled generally as \( a_1, a_2, a_3, \ldots \). Each term in a sequence is determined by its position and the specific formula defining the sequence. In our case, each term is influenced by the formula \((-1)^{n-1} \frac{n+7}{2n}\).
- The sequence changes each term with alternating signs due to \((-1)^{n-1}\).
- The term's value partly depends on \(\frac{n+7}{2n}\) which changes with each \(n\).
Alternating Sequences
An alternating sequence is characterized by its terms flipping sign consistently, often due to factors like \((-1)^n\) or \((-1)^{n-1}\) in the sequence formula. This "alternating" pattern is what makes it different from arithmetic or geometric, where terms grow consistently in one sense or another. In the exercise,
- The factor \((-1)^{n-1}\) ensures the sequence alternates between positive and negative terms.
- This is visible when comparing terms like the first term (positive) and the second term (negative).
- Understanding this alternating characteristic helps predict the sign of any term without computation.