document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=379237>Question 379237</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence. Find the common difference and the nth term of the sequence as a function of n.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a 1=2; a k+1=a k-4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I'm a very confused about this question. I understand the Fibonnaci sequence though. Do I solve this the same way? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #269449 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richard1234><B>richard1234(7193)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richard1234><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=richard1234><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=269449\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Given a_1 = 2, a_(k+1) = a_k - 4, we have\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a_1 = 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a_2 = a_1 - 4 = 2 - 4 = -2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a_3 = a_2 - 4 = -2 - 4 = -6.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore the common difference is -4, and we can establish:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a_n = 6 - 4n (based on the original conditions)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Also, the Fibonacci sequence is not an arithmetic sequence, as the difference between successive terms increases. </SPAN>\n" );
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