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

Step-by-step written solution

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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

12 ☐ 10 ☐ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Which numbers are missing from the sequence so that the sequence has a term-to-term rule?

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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