Formula to Find the nth Term of an AP

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 19 views

Identifying the First Negative Term in an Arithmetic Progression (AP)

Understanding Arithmetic Progression (AP)

An arithmetic progression (AP) is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common difference. The general form of an AP is given by: a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, ...

Given AP: 45, 41, 37, 33, ...

In this given AP, the first term (a) is 45, and the common difference (d) is -4. To find the first negative term, we need to find the term where the value becomes negative.

Formula to Find the nth Term of an AP

The nth term of an AP can be found using the formula: an = a + (n - 1)d, where 'a' is the first term, 'd' is the common difference, and 'n' is the term number.

Finding the First Negative Term

To find the first negative term, we need to find the term number (n) where the value of an becomes negative. We can do this by plugging in different values of n into the formula and checking if the result is negative.

Let's start by finding the next few terms of the AP:

a1 = 45
a2 = 45 + (-4) = 41
a3 = 41 + (-4) = 37
a4 = 37 + (-4) = 33
a5 = 33 + (-4) = 29
a6 = 29 + (-4) = 25
a7 = 25 + (-4) = 21
a8 = 21 + (-4) = 17
a9 = 17 + (-4) = 13
a10 = 13 + (-4) = 9
a11 = 9 + (-4) = 5
a12 = 5 + (-4) = 1
a13 = 1 + (-4) = -3

Conclusion

The first negative term in the given AP is the 13th term, which is -3.

Why is it Important to Identify the First Negative Term?

Identifying the first negative term in an AP is important in various mathematical and real-world applications, such as:

Finance: In finance, the first negative term can represent the point at which an investment or a loan becomes unprofitable.
Science: In science, the first negative term can represent the point at which a physical system becomes unstable or reaches a critical point.
Engineering: In engineering, the first negative term can represent the point at which a mechanical system becomes unstable or reaches a critical point.

Real-World Examples

Population Growth: In a population growth model, the first negative term can represent the point at which the population becomes extinct.
Epidemiology: In epidemiology, the first negative term can represent the point at which a disease becomes eradicated.
Economics: In economics, the first negative term can represent the point at which a business becomes insolvent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, identifying the first negative term in an AP is an important mathematical concept with various real-world applications. By understanding the formula to find the nth term of an AP and using it to find the first negative term, we can gain insights into various mathematical and real-world phenomena.

Final Answer

The final answer is: 13
Q&A: Identifying the First Negative Term in an Arithmetic Progression (AP)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is an arithmetic progression (AP)?

A1: An arithmetic progression (AP) is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common difference.

Q2: How do I find the first negative term in an AP?

A2: To find the first negative term in an AP, you need to find the term number (n) where the value of an becomes negative. You can do this by plugging in different values of n into the formula an = a + (n - 1)d and checking if the result is negative.

Q3: What is the formula to find the nth term of an AP?

A3: The formula to find the nth term of an AP is: an = a + (n - 1)d, where 'a' is the first term, 'd' is the common difference, and 'n' is the term number.

Q4: How do I determine the common difference (d) in an AP?

A4: The common difference (d) in an AP can be found by subtracting any two consecutive terms. For example, if the AP is 45, 41, 37, 33, ..., the common difference (d) is -4.

Q5: What is the significance of identifying the first negative term in an AP?

A5: Identifying the first negative term in an AP is important in various mathematical and real-world applications, such as finance, science, engineering, population growth, epidemiology, and economics.

Q6: Can you provide some real-world examples of identifying the first negative term in an AP?

A6: Yes, here are some real-world examples:

Population Growth: In a population growth model, the first negative term can represent the point at which the population becomes extinct.
Epidemiology: In epidemiology, the first negative term can represent the point at which a disease becomes eradicated.
Economics: In economics, the first negative term can represent the point at which a business becomes insolvent.

Q7: How do I find the term number (n) where the value of an becomes negative?

A7: To find the term number (n) where the value of an becomes negative, you can plug in different values of n into the formula an = a + (n - 1)d and check if the result is negative.

Q8: What is the final answer to the problem of finding the first negative term in the given AP: 45, 41, 37, 33, ...?

A8: The final answer is: 13

Conclusion

Additional Resources

Arithmetic Progression (AP) Formula: an = a + (n - 1)d
Common Difference (d): d = a2 - a1
Term Number (n): n = (an - a) / d + 1

Final Answer

The final answer is: 13