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Trigonometry 18 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Find the first five terms of the geometric sequence for which a1= 3 and r=-2?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

\[a_{n} = a_{1}*r^{n-1}\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i dont know how to find n

OpenStudy (anonymous):

n is the number of the term you're finding.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh!

OpenStudy (anonymous):

You already know that a1 = 3, so the next one you want is a2 where n = 2.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

So as an example, \[a_2 = 3 * -2^{2-1} = -6\] And this just needs to be repeated until you get to 5.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

is \[a _{3}=12?\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Yes.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so 3, 6, 12, 24, 48?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Don't forget about the negative sign on r.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

did i do it wrong?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

It should be 3, -6, 12, -24, 48 because r=-2, not just 2.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

oh!

OpenStudy (anonymous):

thanks i have more questions still haha..

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Start a new question for any separate questions.

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