document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=310023>Question 310023</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> can you help.  I am trying to help my son with his algebra homework.  His school does not send books home and I haven't used some of this in 20 years.  The problem states.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Write an equation for the nth term of -23,38,99,160\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "solution choices are<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a. <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5Bn%5D=38n-61 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5Bn%5D=38n-61\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "b. <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5Bn%5D=61n-24 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5Bn%5D=61n-24\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "c. <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5Bn%5D=61n-84 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5Bn%5D=61n-84\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "d. <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5Bn%5D=-46n ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5Bn%5D=-46n\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #221765 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><B>richwmiller(17219)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><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=richwmiller><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=221765\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> As thorough as Edwin's answer is you don't have time on a test to go through all of that. On a test, you want the quickest solution.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Of course Stan's method is the quickest.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So let's say you didn't know Stan's method (Edwin's method1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We know we are going to lose time compared to method 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "It only involves a little multiplication and subtraction.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Quickly try 1 for n in each. We see it has to be negative 23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a)38-61=-23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b)61-24=positive so  move on.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c)61-84=-23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "d) -46<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so it is between a and c<BR>\n" );
document.write( "try it for n=2 we need positive 38<BR>\n" );
document.write( "76-61=15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "122-84=38<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that settles it<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Answer is c\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );