The first four terms of a sequence are shown below.

8, 5, 2, -1

Which of the following functions best defines this sequence?

a.f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) + 3; for n ≥ 1

b. f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) - 5; for n ≥ 1

c.f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) + 5; for n ≥ 1

d. f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) - 3; for n ≥ 1

Question

The first four terms of a sequence are shown below.

8, 5, 2, -1

Which of the following functions best defines this sequence? 

a.f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) + 3; for n ≥ 1

b. f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) - 5; for n ≥ 1 

c.f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) + 5; for n ≥ 1 

d. f(1) = 8, f(n + 1) = f(n) - 3; for n ≥ 1

mathmale · Answer

Have you actually tried out any of the possible answers?

Looking at the sequence, I see that each new term equals the previous term, less 3.

anonymous · Answer

am new to this so am not really sure how to solve problems like this

mathmale · Answer

If the first term of your sequence is 8, what would you do to this 8 to get the next term of the sequence, 5?

anonymous · Answer

minus 3

mathmale · Answer

Right.  Now look at the four answer choices.  Do any of them feature a "-3"?

anonymous · Answer

yea D.