Math Problem Statement

Find the

twentiethtwentieth

term of the arithmetic sequence whose first term is

6

and whose common difference is

negative −2.

Question content area bottom

Part 1

a 20a20equals=enter your response here

Solution

To find the 20th term (a20a_{20}) of an arithmetic sequence, we use the formula:

an=a1+(n1)da_n = a_1 + (n - 1) \cdot d

Where:

  • ana_n is the nn-th term,
  • a1a_1 is the first term,
  • dd is the common difference,
  • nn is the term position.

Given:

  • a1=6a_1 = 6,
  • d=2d = -2,
  • n=20n = 20.

Substitute into the formula:

a20=6+(201)(2)a_{20} = 6 + (20 - 1) \cdot (-2) a20=6+19(2)a_{20} = 6 + 19 \cdot (-2) a20=638a_{20} = 6 - 38 a20=32a_{20} = -32

Final Answer:

a20=32a_{20} = -32

Would you like more details or have any questions? Here are 5 related questions to explore further:

  1. How do you determine the general term formula for any arithmetic sequence?
  2. What happens to the terms of an arithmetic sequence when the common difference is negative?
  3. Can you derive the sum of the first 20 terms of this sequence?
  4. How would the 20th term change if the common difference were positive?
  5. What are some real-world applications of arithmetic sequences?

Tip: Always double-check the signs of the common difference and ensure proper substitution into formulas to avoid errors.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Arithmetic Sequences
Algebra

Formulas

General formula for the n-th term of an arithmetic sequence: a_n = a_1 + (n - 1) * d

Theorems

Arithmetic sequence properties

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 8-10