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

Look at the following set of numbers and determine if there is any property, if so, what is it?

\( 94,96,98,100,102,104 \)

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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