Question

Is this still considered a correct answer?

Answer 1

I was supposed to write an expression for the apparent nth term of the sequence (assume n begins with 1) : 1, -1, 1, -1, 1

Answer 2

I came up with \[a_{n}=\frac{ (-1)^n }{ -1 }\]

Answer 3

but the answer key says it's\[a_{n}= (-1)^{n+1}\]

Answer 4

both should yield the same result

Answer 5

essentially, the difference between your answer and the textbook answer is that yours divides each consecutive term by -1 and the other answer multiplies each consecutive term by -1, which produces the same sequence

an = (-1)^(n+1) = (-1)^n * (-1)^1, using our exponent rules

Answer 6

^_^ thanks!