Is this arithmetic or geometric ?

$ {4n^2} $

Not sure how to approach this one. Do I $4(n-1)^2 $

Question

Is this arithmetic or geometric ?

$ {4n^2} $

Not sure how to approach this one. Do I $4(n-1)^2 $

anonymous · Answer

This has to do with Sequences

anonymous · Answer

@peachpi

anonymous · Answer

it's neither

anonymous · Answer

How do I check? Do I just  4*1^2 =16     4*2^2 = 64 and then check the for the difference and ratio ?

anonymous · Answer

you can do 3 consecutive terms to check.
$$a_1=4(1)^2=4$$
$$a_2=4(2)^2=16$$
$$a_3=4(3)^2=36$$

If $\frac{ a_2 }{ a_1 }=\frac{ a_3 }{ a_2 }$ then it's geometric.
If $a_3-a_2=a_2-a_1$, then it's arithmetic

anonymous · Answer

Neither of those is true so the sequence is neither arithmetic or geometric

anonymous · Answer

Ok, that is what I was thinking. Thank you and I messed up on my on my powers. I was thinking (4*1)^2 for some reason but it is the way you have it.

anonymous · Answer

no problem. the geometric sequences will look like exponential functions and arithmetic sequences look like linear functions. If it's a higher order polynomial or some other type of function it's neither.