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?

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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

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

What does n represent in the formula?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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!

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