Determine the Pattern: What is the Rule for the Sequence 60, 50, 40, 30?

Arithmetic Sequences with Decreasing Terms

What is the term-to-term rule of the following sequence?

60, 50, 40, 30, ...

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the sequence formula
00:04 Identify the first term according to the given data
00:10 Notice the constant difference between terms
00:19 This is the constant difference
00:23 Use the formula to describe an arithmetic sequence
00:33 Substitute appropriate values and solve to find the sequence formula
00:42 Expand brackets properly, multiply by each factor
00:50 Continue solving
01:00 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

What is the term-to-term rule of the following sequence?

60, 50, 40, 30, ...

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the common difference between the terms.
  • Step 2: Use the formula for an arithmetic sequence to find the general formula for the nth term.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: Observe the difference between consecutive terms: - The difference between the first and second terms (60 - 50) is 10. - The difference between the second and third terms (50 - 40) is also 10. - Similarly, the difference remains constant at 10 for the remaining terms (40 - 30 = 10).
Thus, the common difference d d is -10, as the terms are decreasing by 10 each time.

Step 2: Use the formula for an arithmetic sequence:
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence an a_n can be expressed as an=a1+(n1)d a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d , where a1 a_1 is the initial term and d d is the common difference.
Here, a1=60 a_1 = 60 and d=10 d = -10 . Plugging these into the formula, we have:
an=60+(n1)(10) a_n = 60 + (n-1)(-10)
Simplifying the expression:
an=6010n+10 a_n = 60 - 10n + 10
an=7010n a_n = 70 - 10n
Thus, the nth term is an=10n+70 a_n = -10n + 70 .

Therefore, the term-to-term rule for this sequence is 10n+70 -10n + 70 , which matches the correct answer choice 10n+70 \boxed{-10n + 70} .

3

Final Answer

10n+70 -10n+70

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Pattern Recognition: Find the common difference between consecutive terms
  • Formula Application: Use an=a1+(n1)d a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d where d = -10
  • Verification: Check that n=1 gives 60, n=2 gives 50 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Confusing the sign of the common difference
    Don't assume d = +10 because 60 - 50 = 10 = wrong formula like 10n + 50! This ignores that terms are decreasing. Always recognize that when terms decrease, d is negative, so d = -10.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Is there a term-to-term rule for the sequence below?

18 , 22 , 26 , 30

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know if the common difference is positive or negative?

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Look at the pattern! If terms are getting smaller (like 60, 50, 40), the common difference is negative. If terms are getting larger, it's positive.

Why is the formula -10n + 70 instead of 70 - 10n?

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Both expressions are mathematically identical! -10n + 70 = 70 - 10n. The answer choices use the first form, so that's what we match.

What does the 'n' represent in the formula?

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The variable n represents the position of the term in the sequence. For example, n=1 gives the 1st term (60), n=2 gives the 2nd term (50), and so on.

How can I double-check my formula is correct?

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Test it with the given terms! Substitute n=1, n=2, n=3 into your formula. If you get 60, 50, 40 respectively, your formula is correct!

What if I get confused about which number is a₁?

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a₁ is always the first term in the sequence. In this problem, a₁ = 60 because that's the first number we see: 60, 50, 40, 30...

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