document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=307271>Question 307271</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> hey, can you point me in the right direction for writing an equation for the geometric sequence -10, 5, -5/2...... <BR>\n" );
document.write( "i know a_1 = -10 , and r= -1/2  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #219846 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=219846\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Here's a reference that might help you.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<a  rel=nofollow HREF= \"http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/col_algebra/col_alg_tut54d_geom.htm\" target = \"_blank\">http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/col_algebra/col_alg_tut54d_geom.htm</a>\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The nth term in a geometric sequence is given by the equation:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a<sub>n</sub> = a<sub>1</sub>*r<sup>(n-1)</sup>\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "If a<sub>1</sub> is equal to -10, and r is equal to -.5, then you have your equation of:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a<sub>n</sub> = -10 * (-.5)<sup>(n-1)</sup>\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "For example:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "If n = 5, then a<sub>n</sub> = (-10) * (-.5)<sup>(n-1)</sup> becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a<sub>5</sub> = -10 * (-.5)<sup>(5-1)</sup> which becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a<sub>5</sub> = -10 * (-.5)<sup>(4)</sup>\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "That would be equal to -.625\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "You start with -10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply it by -.5 to get 5 (first time)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply that by -.5 to get -2.5 (second time)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply that by -.5 to get 1.25 (third time)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiply that by -.5 to get -.625 (fourth time)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "You multiplied by -.5 four times which is equivalent to multiplying by -.5<sup>4</sup>\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );