Big Ideas Math Algebra 2, 2014
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Big Ideas Math Algebra 2, 2014 View details
5. Using Recursive Rules with Sequences
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Exercise 1 Page 442

The given rule means that, after the first term of the sequence, every term a_n is the difference between the previous term a_(n-1) and 7.

a_1=3, a_2=- 4, a_3=- 11, a_4=- 18, a_5=- 25, a_6=- 32

Practice makes perfect
We are asked to write the first 6 terms of a sequence, given a recursive rule.

a_1&=3 a_n&=a_(n-1)-7 To do so, we will use a table.

n a_n=a_(n-1)-7 a_(n-1)-7 a_n
1 a_1=3 - 3
2 a_2=a_(2-1)-7 a_1-7= 3-7 - 4
3 a_3=a_(3-1)-7 a_2-7= - 4-7 - 11
4 a_4=a_(4-1)-7 a_3-7= - 11-7 - 18
5 a_5=a_(5-1)-7 a_4-7= - 18-7 - 25
6 a_6=a_(6-1)-7 a_5-7= - 25-7 - 32

Therefore, the first 6 terms of the sequence are 3, - 4, - 11, - 18, - 25 and - 32.