Writing the First Six Terms

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 23 views

Introduction

Arithmetic sequences are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and they play a crucial role in various mathematical operations and applications. An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. In this article, we will focus on writing the first six terms of an arithmetic sequence given the first term and the common difference.

What is an Arithmetic Sequence?

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common difference, denoted by the symbol 'd'. The first term of the sequence is denoted by the symbol 'a1'. The general formula for an arithmetic sequence is:

an = a1 + (n - 1)d

where an is the nth term of the sequence, a1 is the first term, n is the term number, and d is the common difference.

Given Information

In this problem, we are given the first term, a1 = -8, and the common difference, d = 2. We need to write the first six terms of the arithmetic sequence.

Writing the First Six Terms

To write the first six terms of the arithmetic sequence, we will use the formula an = a1 + (n - 1)d. We will substitute the given values of a1 and d into the formula and calculate the first six terms.

Term 1

To find the first term, we will substitute n = 1 into the formula:

a1 = a1 + (1 - 1)d a1 = -8 + (1 - 1)(2) a1 = -8 + 0 a1 = -8

Term 2

To find the second term, we will substitute n = 2 into the formula:

a2 = a1 + (2 - 1)d a2 = -8 + (2 - 1)(2) a2 = -8 + (1)(2) a2 = -8 + 2 a2 = -6

Term 3

To find the third term, we will substitute n = 3 into the formula:

a3 = a1 + (3 - 1)d a3 = -8 + (3 - 1)(2) a3 = -8 + (2)(2) a3 = -8 + 4 a3 = -4

Term 4

To find the fourth term, we will substitute n = 4 into the formula:

a4 = a1 + (4 - 1)d a4 = -8 + (4 - 1)(2) a4 = -8 + (3)(2) a4 = -8 + 6 a4 = -2

Term 5

To find the fifth term, we will substitute n = 5 into the formula:

a5 = a1 + (5 - 1)d a5 = -8 + (5 - 1)(2) a5 = -8 + (4)(2) a5 = -8 + 8 a5 = 0

Term 6

To find the sixth term, we will substitute n = 6 into the formula:

a6 = a1 + (6 - 1)d a6 = -8 + (6 - 1)(2) a6 = -8 + (5)(2) a6 = -8 + 10 a6 = 2

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed arithmetic sequences and how to write the first six terms of an arithmetic sequence given the first term and the common difference. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about arithmetic sequences.

Q: What is the difference between an arithmetic sequence and a geometric sequence?

A: An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. A geometric sequence, on the other hand, is a sequence of numbers in which the ratio between any two consecutive terms is constant.

Q: How do I find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence?

A: To find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, you can use the formula an = a1 + (n - 1)d, where an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, n is the term number, and d is the common difference.

Q: What is the formula for the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence?

A: The formula for the sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence is:

Sn = (n/2)(a1 + an)

where Sn is the sum of the first n terms, n is the number of terms, a1 is the first term, and an is the nth term.

Q: How do I find the common difference of an arithmetic sequence?

A: To find the common difference of an arithmetic sequence, you can use the formula d = an - a(n-1), where d is the common difference, an is the nth term, and a(n-1) is the (n-1)th term.

Q: What is the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence in terms of the sum of the first n terms?

A: The formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence in terms of the sum of the first n terms is:

an = Sn - (n-1)d

where an is the nth term, Sn is the sum of the first n terms, n is the term number, and d is the common difference.

Q: How do I determine if a sequence is arithmetic or geometric?

A: To determine if a sequence is arithmetic or geometric, you can look at the differences or ratios between consecutive terms. If the differences are constant, the sequence is arithmetic. If the ratios are constant, the sequence is geometric.

Q: What are some real-world applications of arithmetic sequences?

A: Arithmetic sequences have many real-world applications, including:

Finance: Arithmetic sequences are used to calculate interest rates and investment returns.
Music: Arithmetic sequences are used to create musical scales and melodies.
Science: Arithmetic sequences are used to model population growth and decay.
Engineering: Arithmetic sequences are used to design and optimize systems.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions about arithmetic sequences. We have discussed the difference between arithmetic and geometric sequences, how to find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, and some real-world applications of arithmetic sequences.