Find the Term-to-Term Rule: Analyzing Sequence 2, 5, 8

Arithmetic Sequences with Formula Derivation

What is the term-to-term rule for the sequence below?

2,5,8 2,5,8\ldots

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00:00 Find the sequence formula

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Understand the problem

What is the term-to-term rule for the sequence below?

2,5,8 2,5,8\ldots

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Step-by-step solution

To solve for the term-to-term rule of the sequence 2,5,8,2, 5, 8, \ldots, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the First Term and Common Difference
The first term a1a_1 of the sequence is 22.
To find the common difference dd, subtract the first term from the second term: 52=35 - 2 = 3.
Thus, the common difference dd is 33.

Step 2: Derive the Formula for the nn-th Term
Since the sequence is arithmetic, use the general formula for an arithmetic sequence:
an=a1+(n1)d a_n = a_1 + (n-1) \cdot d
Substitute the known values, a1=2a_1 = 2 and d=3d = 3:
an=2+(n1)3 a_n = 2 + (n-1) \cdot 3
Simplify the expression:
an=2+3n3a_n = 2 + 3n - 3
Combine like terms:
an=3n1a_n = 3n - 1

Step 3: Verify the Formula
Check the derived formula an=3n1a_n = 3n - 1 with the terms given in the sequence:
- For n=1n = 1, a1=3×11=2a_1 = 3 \times 1 - 1 = 2 (matches the first term).
- For n=2n = 2, a2=3×21=5a_2 = 3 \times 2 - 1 = 5 (matches the second term).
- For n=3n = 3, a3=3×31=8a_3 = 3 \times 3 - 1 = 8 (matches the third term).

Therefore, the term-to-term rule for the sequence is an=3n1a_n = 3n - 1.

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Final Answer

an=3n1 an=3n-1

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Pattern Recognition: Find common difference by subtracting consecutive terms
  • Formula Application: Use an=a1+(n1)d a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d where d = 3
  • Verification: Check formula with all given terms: 2, 5, 8 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Writing the nth term formula without checking
    Don't assume your formula is correct without testing = wrong answers on every term! Students often rush and write formulas like 3n+1 without substituting back. Always verify your formula works for n=1, n=2, and n=3 with the given sequence values.

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

Why is the answer 3n-1 and not 3n+1?

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Let's check both! For 3n+1: when n=1, we get 3(1)+1=4, but the first term is 2. For 3n-1: when n=1, we get 3(1)-1=2 ✓. Always substitute n=1 to check your formula!

How do I know this is an arithmetic sequence?

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Check if the difference between consecutive terms is constant. Here: 5-2=3 and 8-5=3. Since the common difference is always 3, this is arithmetic!

What does the 'n' represent in the formula?

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The n represents the position number of the term. So n=1 gives the 1st term, n=2 gives the 2nd term, and so on. It's like asking "what's the nth term in the sequence?"

Can I use a different method to find the formula?

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Yes! You can also notice that each term is 3 times its position minus 1. But the standard method using an=a1+(n1)d a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d is most reliable and works for all arithmetic sequences.

What if I get confused about which answer choice is correct?

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Test each option by substituting n=1, n=2, and n=3. The correct formula should give you 2, 5, and 8 respectively. This eliminates guesswork!

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