Precalculus Examples
Popular Problems Precalculus Identify the Sequence 5 , 8 , 11 , 14
5
,
8
,
11
,
14
This is an arithmetic sequence since there is a common difference between each term. In this case, adding
3
to the previous term in the sequence gives the next term. In other words,
a
n
=
a
1
+
d
(
n
−
1
)
.
Arithmetic Sequence:
d
=
3
This is the formula of an arithmetic sequence.
a
n
=
a
1
+
d
(
n
−
1
)
Substitute in the values of
a
1
=
5
and
d
=
3
.
a
n
=
5
+
(
3
)
(
n
−
1
)
a
n
=
5
+
3
n
−
3
Subtract
3
from
5
.
a
n
=
3
n
+
2
