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For the following exercises, write the first four terms of the sequence.

a n = n ! n 2

First four terms: 1 , 1 2 , 2 3 , 3 2

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a n = 3 n ! 4 n !

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a n = n ! n 2 n 1

First four terms: 1 , 2 , 6 5 , 24 11

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a n = 100 n n ( n 1 ) !

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Graphical

For the following exercises, graph the first five terms of the indicated sequence

a n = { 4 + n 2 n if  n  is even 3 + n if  n  is odd

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a 1 = 2 ,   a n = ( a n 1 + 1 ) 2

Graph of a scattered plot with points at (1, 2), (2, 1), (3, 0), (4, 1), and (5, 0). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.
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a n = 1 ,   a n = a n 1 + 8

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a n = ( n + 1 ) ! ( n 1 ) !

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 2), (2, 6), (3, 12), (4, 20), and (5, 30). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.
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For the following exercises, write an explicit formula for the sequence using the first five points shown on the graph.

For the following exercises, write a recursive formula for the sequence using the first five points shown on the graph.

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 6), (2, 7), (3, 9), (4, 13), and (5, 21). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.

a 1 = 6 ,   a n = 2 a n 1 5

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Technology

Follow these steps to evaluate a sequence defined recursively using a graphing calculator:

  • On the home screen, key in the value for the initial term a 1 and press [ENTER] .
  • Enter the recursive formula by keying in all numerical values given in the formula, along with the key strokes [2ND] ANS for the previous term a n 1 . Press [ENTER] .
  • Continue pressing [ENTER] to calculate the values for each successive term.

For the following exercises, use the steps above to find the indicated term or terms for the sequence.

Find the first five terms of the sequence a 1 = 87 111 ,   a n = 4 3 a n 1 + 12 37 . Use the> Frac feature to give fractional results.

First five terms: 29 37 , 152 111 , 716 333 , 3188 999 , 13724 2997

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Find the 15 th term of the sequence a 1 = 625 ,   a n = 0.8 a n 1 + 18.

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Find the first five terms of the sequence a 1 = 2 ,   a n = 2 [ ( a n 1 ) 1 ] + 1.

First five terms: 2 , 3 , 5 , 17 , 65537

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Find the first ten terms of the sequence a 1 = 8 ,   a n = ( a n 1 + 1 ) ! a n 1 ! .

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Find the tenth term of the sequence a 1 = 2 ,   a n = n a n 1

a 10 = 7 , 257 , 600

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Follow these steps to evaluate a finite sequence defined by an explicit formula. Using a TI-84, do the following.

  • In the home screen, press [2ND] LIST .
  • Scroll over to OPS and choose “seq(” from the dropdown list. Press [ENTER] .
  • In the line headed “Expr:” type in the explicit formula, using the [ X,T , θ , n ] button for n
  • In the line headed “Variable:” type in the variable used on the previous step.
  • In the line headed “start:” key in the value of n that begins the sequence.
  • In the line headed “end:” key in the value of n that ends the sequence.
  • Press [ENTER] 3 times to return to the home screen. You will see the sequence syntax on the screen. Press [ENTER] to see the list of terms for the finite sequence defined. Use the right arrow key to scroll through the list of terms.

Using a TI-83, do the following.

  • In the home screen, press [2ND] LIST .
  • Scroll over to OPS and choose “seq(” from the dropdown list. Press [ENTER] .
  • Enter the items in the order “Expr” , “Variable” , “start” , “end” separated by commas. See the instructions above for the description of each item.
  • Press [ENTER] to see the list of terms for the finite sequence defined. Use the right arrow key to scroll through the list of terms.

For the following exercises, use the steps above to find the indicated terms for the sequence. Round to the nearest thousandth when necessary.

List the first five terms of the sequence a n = 28 9 n + 5 3 .

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List the first six terms of the sequence a n = n 3 3.5 n 2 +   4.1 n 1.5 2.4 n .

First six terms: 0.042 , 0.146 , 0.875 , 2.385 , 4.708

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List the first five terms of the sequence a n = 15 n ( 2 ) n 1 47

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List the first four terms of the sequence a n = 5.7 n + 0.275 ( n 1 ) !

First four terms: 5.975 , 32.765 , 185.743 , 1057.25 , 6023.521

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List the first six terms of the sequence a n = n ! n .

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Extensions

Consider the sequence defined by a n = 6 8 n . Is a n = 421 a term in the sequence? Verify the result.

If a n = 421 is a term in the sequence, then solving the equation 421 = 6 8 n for n will yield a non-negative integer. However, if 421 = 6 8 n , then n = 51.875 so a n = 421 is not a term in the sequence.

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What term in the sequence a n = n 2 + 4 n + 4 2 ( n + 2 ) has the value 41 ? Verify the result.

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Find a recursive formula for the sequence 1 ,   0 ,   1 ,   1 ,   0 ,   1 ,   1 ,   0 ,   1 ,   1 ,   0 ,   1 ,   1 ,   ...   . ( Hint : find a pattern for a n based on the first two terms.)

a 1 = 1 , a 2 = 0 , a n = a n 1 a n 2

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Calculate the first eight terms of the sequences a n = ( n + 2 ) ! ( n 1 ) ! and b n = n 3 + 3 n 2 + 2 n , and then make a conjecture about the relationship between these two sequences.

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Prove the conjecture made in the preceding exercise.

( n + 2 ) ! ( n 1 ) ! = ( n + 2 ) · ( n + 1 ) · ( n ) · ( n 1 ) · ... · 3 · 2 · 1 ( n 1 ) · ... · 3 · 2 · 1 = n ( n + 1 ) ( n + 2 ) = n 3 + 3 n 2 + 2 n

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Practice Key Terms 8

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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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