Problem 1:
The first term of an arithmetic sequence is equal to 6 and the common difference is equal to 3. Find a formula for the n th term and the value of the 50 th term
Solution to Problem 1:
Use the value of the common difference d = 3 and the first term a1 = 6 in the formula for the n th term given above
an = a1 + (n - 1 )d
= 6 + 3 (n - 1)
= 3 n + 3
The 50 th term is found by setting n = 50 in the above formula.
a50 = 3 (50) + 3 = 153
Problem 2:
The first term of an arithmetic sequence is equal to 200 and the common difference is equal to
-10. Find the value of the 20 th term
Solution to Problem 2:
Use the value of the common difference d = -10 and the first term a1 = 200 in the formula for the n th term given above and then apply it to the 20 th term
a20 = 200 + (-10) (20 - 1 ) = 10
Problem 3:
An arithmetic sequence has a common difference equal to 10 and its 6 th term is equal to 52. Find its 15 th term.
Solution to Problem 3:
We use the n th term formula for the 6 th term, which is known, to write
a6 = 52 = a1 + 10 (6 - 1 )
The above equation allows us to calculate a1.
a1 = 2
Now that we know the first term and the common difference, we use the n th term formula to find the 15 th term as follows.
a15 = 2 + 10 (15 - 1) = 142
Problem 4:
An arithmetic sequence has a its 5 th term equal to 22 and its 15 th term equal to 62. Find its 100 th term.
Solution to Problem 4:
We use the n th term formula for the 5 th and 15 th terms to write
a5 = a1 + (5 - 1 ) d = 22
a15 = a1 + (15 - 1 ) d = 62
We obtain a system of 2 linear equations where the unknown are a1 and d. Subtract the right and left term of the two equations to obtain
62 - 22 = 14 d - 4 d
Solve for d.
d = 4
Now use the value of d in one of the equations to find a1.
a1 + (5 - 1 ) 4 = 22
Solve for a1 to obtain.
a1 = 6
Now that we have calculated a1 and d we use them in the n th term formula to find the 100 th formula.
a100 = 6 + 4 (100 - 1 )= 402