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  1. Home
  2. 12th grade
  3. Precalculus
  4. Exercise : Convert an arithmetic sequence between recursive and explicit form

Convert an arithmetic sequence between recursive and explicit form Precalculus

Find the explicit formula of the arithmetic sequences defined as follows. The first term of each sequence is a_1.

{\begin{cases} a_1=4 \cr \cr\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^*,\ a_{n+1}=a_n-2 \end{cases}\\}

We have:

a_{n+1}=a_n-2

a_{n+1}-a_n=-2

The common difference of the sequence is -2.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right)

Thus, we can write:

a_n = 4+ \left(-2\right)\left(n-1\right) \\= 4-2n+2\\=-2n+6

For n≥1, a_n=-2n+6

\begin{cases} a_3=15 \cr \cr \forall n \in \mathbb{N}^*,\ a_{n+1}=a_n+4 \end{cases}\\

We have:

a_{n+1}=a_n+4

a_{n+1}-a_n=4

The common difference of the sequence is 4.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right).

To find the explicit formula, find a_1. For n=3 we have:

a_3= a_1+d\left(3-1\right) \\\Rightarrow 15= a_1 + 4 \times 2\\\Rightarrow a_1=7

Thus, we can write:

a_n = 7+ 4\left(n-1\right) \\= 7+4n-4\\=4n+3

For n≥1, a_n=4n+3

\begin{cases} a_1=-1 \cr \cr \forall n \geq2,\ a_{n+1}=a_{n-1}+6 \end{cases}\\

We have:

a_{n+1}=a_{n-1}+6

a_{n+1}-a_{n-1}=6\\\\\left(a_{n+1}-a_n\right)+\left(a_n-a_{n-1}\right)=6\\d+d = 6\\d=3

a_{n+1}-a_{n-1}=6

\left(a_{n+1}-a_n\right)+\left(a_n-a_{n-1}\right)=6

d+d = 6

d=3

The common difference of the sequence is 3.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right)

Thus, we can write:

a_n = -1+ 3\left(n-1\right) \\= -1+3n-3\\=3n-4

For n≥1, a_n=3n-4

\begin{cases} a_1=-3 \cr \cr\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^*,\ a_{n+1}=a_n+5 \end{cases}\\

We have:

a_{n+1}=a_n+5

a_{n+1}-a_n=5

The common difference of the sequence is 5.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right)

Thus, we can write:

a_n = -3+ 5\left(n-1\right) \\= -3+5n-5\\=5n-8

For n≥1, a_n=5n-8

\begin{cases} a_1=0 \cr \cr\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^*,\ a_{n+2}=a_n-10 \end{cases}\\

We have:

a_{n+2}=a_{n}-10

And:

a_{n+2}-a_{n}=\left(a_{n+2}-a_{n+1}\right)+\left(a_{n+1}-a_{n-1}\right)

a_{n+2}-a_{n}=d+d = 2d

Therefore:

2d=-10

d=-5

The common difference of the sequence is -5.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right)

Thus, we can write:

a_n = 0-5\left(n-1\right) \\= -5n+5

For n≥1, a_n=-5n+5

\begin{cases} a_5=0 \cr \cr\forall n \in \mathbb{N}^*,\ a_{n+1}=a_n+5 \end{cases}\\

We have:

a_{n+1}=a_n+5

a_{n+1}-a_n=5

The common difference of the sequence is 5.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right)

To find the explicit formula, find a_1. For n=5 we have:

a_5 = a_1+ d\left(5-1\right)

0= a_1+5\left(4\right)

0=a_1+20

a_1=-20

Thus, we can write:

a_n = -20+ 5\left(n-1\right) \\= -20+5n-5\\\\=5n-25

For n≥1, a_n=5n-25

\begin{cases} a_1=-4 \cr \cr\forall n\geq2,\ a_{n+5}=a_{n-1}+18 \end{cases}\\

For two positive integers m and n, use the following formula to find the common difference of the sequence:

d=\dfrac{a_n-a_m}{n-m}

In this question we have:

a_{n+5}=a_{n-1}+18

a_{n+6}-a_{n-1}=18

Thus, we can write:

d=\dfrac{a_{n+5}-a_{n-1}}{\left(n+5\right)-\left(n-1\right)}

d=\dfrac{18}{\left(n+5-n+1\right)}\\

d=\dfrac{18}{6}=3

The common difference of the sequence is 3.

The following is the explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is a_1 and common difference is d :

a_n= a_1+d\left(n-1\right)

Thus, we can write:

a_n = -4+ 3\left(n-1\right) \\=- 4+3n-3\\=3n-7

For n≥1, a_n=3n-7

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See also
  • Course : Sequences
  • Exercise : Determine whether a any sequence defined by a graph increases, decreases or is not monotonic
  • Exercise : Find the term of an arithmetic sequence
  • Exercise : Find the term of a geometric sequence
  • Exercise : Convert a geometric sequence between recursive and explicit form
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