SOLUTION: I have a triangle of dots progressing in size. The first triangle has one dot, the second triangle has three dots, the third triangle has nine dots, ect. I need help with the for

Algebra ->  Sequences-and-series -> SOLUTION: I have a triangle of dots progressing in size. The first triangle has one dot, the second triangle has three dots, the third triangle has nine dots, ect. I need help with the for      Log On


   

Question 335383: I have a triangle of dots progressing in size. The first triangle has one dot, the second triangle has three dots, the third triangle has nine dots, ect. I need help with the formula when it asks how many dots the "nth" triangle has.
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Triangle 1, the first triangle, has 1 = 3%5E0 dots
Triangle 2, the second triangle, has 3 = 3%5E1 dots
Triangle 3, the third triangle, has 9 = 3%5E2 dots

So it looks like the exponent of 3 in the number of dots
is 1 less than the triangle number, so

Triangle n, the nth triangle, has 3%5E%28n-1%29 dots.

Edwin