SOLUTION: Find the fifth term of the following sequence: a1 = 2; an = n^2 + an-1

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Question 1035560: Find the fifth term of the following sequence: a1 = 2; an = n^2 + an-1



Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Find the fifth term of the following sequence: a1 = 2; an = n^2 + an-1
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I will show you how to find the second therm.
Simply plug in the number "2" instead of n into the formula

a%5Bn%5D = n%5E2+%2B+a%5Bn-1%5D.   (1)

You will get 

a%5B2%5D = 2%5E2+%2B+a%5B1%5D = 4+%2B+2 = 4 + 2 = 6.


Next, I will show you how to find the third therm.
Simply plug in the number "3" instead of n into the formula (1). You will get

a%5B3%5D = 3%5E2+%2B+a%5B2%5D = 9+%2B+6 = 15.


Go further in the same manner and get a%5B4%5D and a%5B5%5D.