Math Problem Statement
What is the nth term in the sequence 10,12,17,19?
Solution
To find the nth term in the sequence , let's analyze the pattern.
- Identify the differences between consecutive terms:
Thus, the differences alternate: .
- Observe the pattern: The differences alternate between and .
So, the next difference after should be , and then again.
Generalizing the nth term:
Let's consider the sequence in blocks of two terms, where:
- For odd-indexed terms, the difference is .
- For even-indexed terms, the difference is .
We can express the -th term depending on whether is even or odd:
- For odd , the term is increasing by 2 from the previous odd term.
- For even , the term is increasing by 5 from the previous even term.
Formula for the nth term:
Let's divide the sequence into two cases:
-
For odd (first, third, fifth terms, etc.):
-
For even (second, fourth, sixth terms, etc.):
This captures the alternating pattern of differences.
Would you like more detailed steps on deriving this formula or have any questions?
Related questions:
- What is the 10th term of this sequence?
- How do we derive the general formula for arithmetic and alternating sequences?
- What is the sum of the first 15 terms of this sequence?
- Can we express this sequence using a recursive formula?
- How does this sequence compare to standard arithmetic progressions?
Tip:
For sequences with alternating differences, look for patterns in how the differences change between terms to help identify the general term.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Arithmetic Sequences
Alternating Differences
Patterns
Formulas
For odd n: a_n = 10 + 7 * ((n - 1) / 2)
For even n: a_n = 12 + 7 * ((n - 2) / 2)
Theorems
Arithmetic Sequence Theorem
Pattern Recognition
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 6-8
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