write the first five terms of the sequence defined by the given recursive or explicit formula.
tn=32-8n
This is an explicit formula because it does not have tn on
one side and tn+1 or tn-1 on the other, and
it does not give separately the value of the first term.
tn=32-8n
To find the first term, t1, we substitute 1 for n
tn=32-8n
t1=32-8(1)
t1=32-8
t1=24
To find the second term, t2, we substitute 2 for n
tn=32-8n
t2=32-8(2)
t2=32-16
t2=16
To find the third term, t3, we substitute 3 for n
tn=32-8n
t3=32-8(3)
t3=32-24
t3=8
To find the fourth term, t4, we substitute 4 for n
tn=32-8n
t4=32-8(4)
t4=32-32
t4=0
To find the fifth term, t5, we substitute 5 for n
tn=32-8n
t5=32-8(5)
t5=32-40
t5=-8
So the 5 terms of the sequence are 24, 16, 8, 0, -8
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You didn't ask this, but you'll need to know it:
The same sequence could have been given to you
recursively as:
tn+1 = tn-8, t1 = 24
Notice that it has t's on both sides of the equation and
the first term t1 is given.
Then we would substitute 2 for n and 24 for t1 to find t2
tn+1 = tn-8
t1+1 = t1-8
t2 = t1-8
t2 = 24-8
t2 = 16
Then we would substitute 3 for n and 16 for t2 to find t3
tn+1 = tn-8
t2+1 = t2-8
t3 = t2-8
t3 = 16-8
t3 = 8
Then we would substitute 4 for n and 8 for t3 to find t4
tn+1 = tn-8
t3+1 = t3-8
t4 = t3-8
t4 = 8-8
t4 = 0
Then we would substitute 5 for n and 0 for t4 to find t5
tn+1 = tn-8
t4+1 = t4-8
t5 = t4-8
t5 = 0-8
t5 = -8
So the 5 terms of the sequence are 24, 16, 8, 0, -8
Edwin