Question 888598
In a sequence, each term after the second is the sum of the two preceding terms. The first and fifth terms are each 3. What is the second term in the sequence
<pre>
1st term = 3
2nd term = a
3rd term = 1st term + 2nd term = 3+a
4th term = 2nd term + 3rd term = a+(3+a) = a+3+a = 2a+3
5th term = 3rd term + 4th term = (3+a)+(2a+3) = 3+a+2a+3 = 3a+6, given = 3

So we have equation 3a+6 = 3
                      3a = -3
                       a = -1 

1st term = 3
2nd term = a = -1

Edwin</pre>