Find the 4th and 5th Terms in the Sequence 10n-9: Step-by-Step Solution

Sequence Terms with Position Substitution

10n9 10n-9

What are the fourth and fifth terms of the sequence above?

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find elements 4,5
00:05 We'll substitute the desired element position in the sequence formula and solve
00:20 Always solve multiplication and division before addition and subtraction
00:27 This is the 4th element in the sequence
00:33 We'll use the same method to find the next element
00:37 We'll substitute the desired element position in the sequence formula and solve
00:49 Always solve multiplication and division before addition and subtraction
00:56 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

10n9 10n-9

What are the fourth and fifth terms of the sequence above?

2

Step-by-step solution

The fourth and fifth terms in the sequence are the terms: a4,a5 a_4,\hspace{4pt}a_5 meaning in the general term formula given:

an=10n9 a_n=10n-9 we need to substitute the position (of the requested term in the sequence):

n=4 n=4 for - a4 a_4 and-

n=5 n=5 for-

a5 a_5 Let's do this for the fourth term:

an=10n9n=4a4=1049=409a4=31 a_{\underline{n}}= 10\underline{n}-9 \\ n=\underline{4}\\ \downarrow\\ a_{\underline{4}}= 10\cdot\underline{4}-9=40-9\\ a_4=31 when we substituted in place of n the position (of the requested term in the sequence): 4, substitution is shown with an underline in the expression above,

Similarly, for the fifth term, a5 a_5 we get:

a5=1059=509a5=41 a_{\underline{5}}= 10\cdot\underline{5}-9=50-9\\ a_5=41 which means that:

a4=31,a5=41 a_4=31,\hspace{4pt}a_5=41 Therefore the correct answer is answer A.

3

Final Answer

31, 41

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: General term an=10n9 a_n = 10n - 9 gives any sequence term
  • Technique: Substitute position number for n: a4=10(4)9=31 a_4 = 10(4) - 9 = 31
  • Check: Verify by calculating each term independently and comparing results ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Using the term value instead of position number
    Don't substitute the previous term value for n = wrong formula usage! This confuses the term's value with its position in the sequence. Always substitute the position number (4th position, 5th position) for n in the formula.

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

What does n represent in the formula?

+

The variable n represents the position of the term in the sequence. For the 4th term, n = 4. For the 5th term, n = 5. It's not the value of the term itself!

How do I find any term in this sequence?

+

Use the formula an=10n9 a_n = 10n - 9 and substitute the position number for n. For example: 1st term (n=1), 2nd term (n=2), etc.

Can I use this method for negative positions?

+

Mathematically yes, but sequences typically start at n = 1. If you substitute n = 0 or negative values, you'll get valid calculations but they may not represent meaningful sequence terms.

What if I get the wrong answer choices?

+

Double-check your arithmetic! Make sure you're substituting the correct position numbers and following order of operations: multiply first, then subtract 9.

How can I verify my answers are correct?

+

Calculate a few more terms to see the pattern. The sequence should increase by 10 each time: 1, 11, 21, 31, 41... This confirms your 4th and 5th terms are correct!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Series questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations