document.write( "Question 92543This question is from textbook Holt, Rinehart and Wilson
\n" ); document.write( ": I am trying to help my daughter do her homework. It has been many years since I graduated from HS. In fact many many many and then some. I know I am going to have to pick the books back up. Here is my question:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The third and fourth terms of a sequence are 26 and 40. If the second differences are a constant 4, what are the first five terms of the sequence? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #804176 by greenestamps(13200)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


\n" ); document.write( "As is often the case, the response from tutor @CubeyThePenguin does nothing to help you and your daughter learn how to solve the problem....

\n" ); document.write( "Here is what we have....
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document.write( "   ___   ___   26    40    ___   the 3rd and 4th terms are 26 and 40\r\n" );
document.write( "      ___   ___   14    ___      The only thing we know about the first differences is that one of them is 14\r\n" );
document.write( "          4     4     4          we know the second differences are a constant 4\r\n" );
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document.write( "You can use the constant second differences to work both forward and backward in the sequence to determine the first differences (the successive first differences have a constant difference of 4)...\r\n" );
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document.write( "   ___   ___   26    40    ___\r\n" );
document.write( "        6    10   14    18\r\n" );
document.write( "          4     4     4\r\n" );
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document.write( "And finally you can similarly use those first differences to determine the original sequence.\r\n" );
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document.write( "    10    16   26    40    58\r\n" );
document.write( "        6    10   14    18\r\n" );
document.write( "          4     4     4

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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "ANSWER: The first five terms of the original sequence are 10, 16, 26, 40, and 58.

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