# 11.1 Sequences and their notations  (Page 4/15)

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Write an explicit formula for the $n\text{th}$ term of the sequence.

$\text{{9,}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}-\text{81,}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{729,}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}-\text{6,561,}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{59,049,}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\text{…}}$

${a}_{n}={\left(-1\right)}^{n+1}{9}^{n}$

Write an explicit formula for the $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}n\text{th}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ term of the sequence.

$\left\{-\frac{3}{4},-\frac{9}{8},-\frac{27}{12},-\frac{81}{16},-\frac{243}{20},...\right\}$

${a}_{n}=-\frac{{3}^{n}}{4n}$

Write an explicit formula for the $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}n\text{th}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}$ term of the sequence.

${a}_{n}={e}^{n-3}$

## Writing the terms of a sequence defined by a recursive formula

Sequences occur naturally in the growth patterns of nautilus shells, pinecones, tree branches, and many other natural structures. We may see the sequence in the leaf or branch arrangement, the number of petals of a flower, or the pattern of the chambers in a nautilus shell. Their growth follows the Fibonacci sequence, a famous sequence in which each term can be found by adding the preceding two terms. The numbers in the sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34,…. Other examples from the natural world that exhibit the Fibonacci sequence are the Calla Lily, which has just one petal, the Black-Eyed Susan with 13 petals, and different varieties of daisies that may have 21 or 34 petals.

Each term of the Fibonacci sequence depends on the terms that come before it. The Fibonacci sequence cannot easily be written using an explicit formula. Instead, we describe the sequence using a recursive formula , a formula that defines the terms of a sequence using previous terms.

A recursive formula always has two parts: the value of an initial term (or terms), and an equation defining ${a}_{n}$ in terms of preceding terms. For example, suppose we know the following:

We can find the subsequent terms of the sequence using the first term.

$\begin{array}{l}{a}_{1}=3\\ {a}_{2}=2{a}_{1}-1=2\left(3\right)-1=5\\ {a}_{3}=2{a}_{2}-1=2\left(5\right)-1=9\\ {a}_{4}=2{a}_{3}-1=2\left(9\right)-1=17\end{array}$

So the first four terms of the sequence are .

The recursive formula for the Fibonacci sequence states the first two terms and defines each successive term as the sum of the preceding two terms.

To find the tenth term of the sequence, for example, we would need to add the eighth and ninth terms. We were told previously that the eighth and ninth terms are 21 and 34, so

${a}_{10}={a}_{9}+{a}_{8}=34+21=55$

## Recursive formula

A recursive formula    is a formula that defines each term of a sequence using preceding term(s). Recursive formulas must always state the initial term, or terms, of the sequence.

Must the first two terms always be given in a recursive formula?

No. The Fibonacci sequence defines each term using the two preceding terms, but many recursive formulas define each term using only one preceding term. These sequences need only the first term to be defined.

Given a recursive formula with only the first term provided, write the first $n$ terms of a sequence.

1. Identify the initial term, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}{a}_{1},$ which is given as part of the formula. This is the first term.
2. To find the second term, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}{a}_{2},$ substitute the initial term into the formula for ${a}_{n-1}.$ Solve.
3. To find the third term, $\text{\hspace{0.17em}}{a}_{3},$ substitute the second term into the formula. Solve.
4. Repeat until you have solved for the $n\text{th}$ term.

## Writing the terms of a sequence defined by a recursive formula

Write the first five terms of the sequence defined by the recursive formula.

The first term is given in the formula. For each subsequent term, we replace ${a}_{n-1}$ with the value of the preceding term.

$\begin{array}{ll}n=1\begin{array}{lllll}\hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill & \hfill \end{array}\hfill & {a}_{1}=9\hfill \\ n=2\hfill & {a}_{2}=3{a}_{1}-20=3\left(9\right)-20=27-20=7\hfill \\ n=3\hfill & {a}_{3}=3{a}_{2}-20=3\left(7\right)-20=21-20=1\hfill \\ n=4\hfill & {a}_{4}=3{a}_{3}-20=3\left(1\right)-20=3-20=-17\hfill \\ n=5\hfill & {a}_{5}=3{a}_{4}-20=3\left(-17\right)-20=-51-20=-71\hfill \end{array}$

The first five terms are See [link] .

I've run into this: x = r*cos(angle1 + angle2) Which expands to: x = r(cos(angle1)*cos(angle2) - sin(angle1)*sin(angle2)) The r value confuses me here, because distributing it makes: (r*cos(angle2))(cos(angle1) - (r*sin(angle2))(sin(angle1)) How does this make sense? Why does the r distribute once
How can you tell what type of parent function a graph is ?
generally by how the graph looks and understanding what the base parent functions look like and perform on a graph
William
if you have a graphed line, you can have an idea by how the directions of the line turns, i.e. negative, positive, zero
William
y=x will obviously be a straight line with a zero slope
William
y=x^2 will have a parabolic line opening to positive infinity on both sides of the y axis vice versa with y=-x^2 you'll have both ends of the parabolic line pointing downward heading to negative infinity on both sides of the y axis
William
y=x will be a straight line, but it will have a slope of one. Remember, if y=1 then x=1, so for every unit you rise you move over positively one unit. To get a straight line with a slope of 0, set y=1 or any integer.
Aaron
yes, correction on my end, I meant slope of 1 instead of slope of 0
William
what is f(x)=
I don't understand
Joe
Typically a function 'f' will take 'x' as input, and produce 'y' as output. As 'f(x)=y'. According to Google, "The range of a function is the complete set of all possible resulting values of the dependent variable (y, usually), after we have substituted the domain."
Thomas
Sorry, I don't know where the "Â"s came from. They shouldn't be there. Just ignore them. :-)
Thomas
Darius
Thanks.
Thomas
Â
Thomas
It is the Â that should not be there. It doesn't seem to show if encloses in quotation marks. "Â" or 'Â' ... Â
Thomas
Now it shows, go figure?
Thomas
what is this?
i do not understand anything
unknown
lol...it gets better
Darius
I've been struggling so much through all of this. my final is in four weeks 😭
Tiffany
this book is an excellent resource! have you guys ever looked at the online tutoring? there's one that is called "That Tutor Guy" and he goes over a lot of the concepts
Darius
thank you I have heard of him. I should check him out.
Tiffany
is there any question in particular?
Joe
I have always struggled with math. I get lost really easy, if you have any advice for that, it would help tremendously.
Tiffany
Sure, are you in high school or college?
Darius
Hi, apologies for the delayed response. I'm in college.
Tiffany
how to solve polynomial using a calculator
So a horizontal compression by factor of 1/2 is the same as a horizontal stretch by a factor of 2, right?
The center is at (3,4) a focus is at (3,-1), and the lenght of the major axis is 26
The center is at (3,4) a focus is at (3,-1) and the lenght of the major axis is 26 what will be the answer?
Rima
I done know
Joe
What kind of answer is that😑?
Rima
I had just woken up when i got this message
Joe
Rima
i have a question.
Abdul
how do you find the real and complex roots of a polynomial?
Abdul
@abdul with delta maybe which is b(square)-4ac=result then the 1st root -b-radical delta over 2a and the 2nd root -b+radical delta over 2a. I am not sure if this was your question but check it up
Nare
This is the actual question: Find all roots(real and complex) of the polynomial f(x)=6x^3 + x^2 - 4x + 1
Abdul
@Nare please let me know if you can solve it.
Abdul
I have a question
juweeriya
hello guys I'm new here? will you happy with me
mustapha
The average annual population increase of a pack of wolves is 25.
how do you find the period of a sine graph
Period =2π if there is a coefficient (b), just divide the coefficient by 2π to get the new period
Am
if not then how would I find it from a graph
Imani
by looking at the graph, find the distance between two consecutive maximum points (the highest points of the wave). so if the top of one wave is at point A (1,2) and the next top of the wave is at point B (6,2), then the period is 5, the difference of the x-coordinates.
Am
you could also do it with two consecutive minimum points or x-intercepts
Am
I will try that thank u
Imani
Case of Equilateral Hyperbola
ok
Zander
ok
Shella
f(x)=4x+2, find f(3)
Benetta
f(3)=4(3)+2 f(3)=14
lamoussa
14
Vedant
pre calc teacher: "Plug in Plug in...smell's good" f(x)=14
Devante
8x=40
Chris
Explain why log a x is not defined for a < 0
the sum of any two linear polynomial is what
Momo
how can are find the domain and range of a relations
the range is twice of the natural number which is the domain
Morolake
A cell phone company offers two plans for minutes. Plan A: $15 per month and$2 for every 300 texts. Plan B: $25 per month and$0.50 for every 100 texts. How many texts would you need to send per month for plan B to save you money?
6000
Robert
more than 6000
Robert
For Plan A to reach $27/month to surpass Plan B's$26.50 monthly payment, you'll need 3,000 texts which will cost an additional \$10.00. So, for the amount of texts you need to send would need to range between 1-100 texts for the 100th increment, times that by 3 for the additional amount of texts...
Gilbert
...for one text payment for 300 for Plan A. So, that means Plan A; in my opinion is for people with text messaging abilities that their fingers burn the monitor for the cell phone. While Plan B would be for loners that doesn't need their fingers to due the talking; but those texts mean more then...
Gilbert