please help!!
T1=19 ; tn = tn-1 - 8
I need to
find the first five terms of the sequence.

Question

please help!!
T1=19  ;  tn = tn-1 - 8 
I need to
find the first five terms of the sequence.

anonymous · Answer

what unit   and lesson is tthis ?

anonymous · Answer

series and sequences

anonymous · Answer

n and n-1 is subscript. 1 in T1 is also subscript

anonymous · Answer

This is a recursive definition for an arithmetic sequence.

anonymous · Answer

i need to know the first five terms...

anonymous · Answer

t1 is your first term.  The other part tells you what to do to get the next term.  So...

anonymous · Answer

can you show an example please

anonymous · Answer

Certainly:

t1 = 11:  tn =tn-1 + 3    will yield this sequence

11, 14, 17, 20, ....

anonymous · Answer

the answer sheet i got is shows 19,11,3, -5 and -13.

anonymous · Answer

remember 1 in t1 is a subscript. and n and n-1 is also subscript

anonymous · Answer

sorry, t1 is 19, my bad. I am siorry

anonymous · Answer

$$t _{1} = 19 :  t _{n}=t _{n-1} -8$$

anonymous · Answer

yes that is exactly what i have

anonymous · Answer

Did you notice in my example that the first term is 11 and to calculate  to each new term I added 3?  See how that relates to my formula?

anonymous · Answer

yes got it.thanks. much appreciated.

anonymous · Answer

but what does the tn=tn−1 part mean?

anonymous · Answer

tn represents a term like t8.  tn-1 represents the term before t7.  What the formula says is:  If you want to know a term you have to look at the one before and do something to it.  In you problem it said:  To get a term look at the one before and subtract 8 from it.