Write a formula for the general term (the nth term) of each arithmetic sequence. Do not use a recursion formula. Then use the formula for an to find a20, the 20th term of the sequence. an= an-1 -10, a1 = 30
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9. Sequences, Series, & Induction
Arithmetic Sequences
Problem 41
Textbook Question
Find the sum of the first 60 positive even integers.
Verified step by step guidance1
Recognize that the first 60 positive even integers form an arithmetic sequence where the first term \(a_1\) is 2 and the common difference \(d\) is also 2.
Use the formula for the \(n\)-th term of an arithmetic sequence: \(a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d\). Here, calculate the 60th term \(a_{60}\) as \(2 + (60-1) \times 2\).
Recall the formula for the sum of the first \(n\) terms of an arithmetic sequence: \(S_n = \frac{n}{2} (a_1 + a_n)\).
Substitute \(n=60\), \(a_1=2\), and the value of \(a_{60}\) from step 2 into the sum formula to set up the expression for the sum.
Simplify the expression to find the sum of the first 60 positive even integers.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Even Integers
Even integers are whole numbers divisible by 2 without a remainder. The first positive even integers start from 2 and increase by 2 each time (2, 4, 6, ...). Understanding this sequence helps identify the terms involved in the problem.
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Arithmetic Sequence
An arithmetic sequence is a list of numbers with a constant difference between consecutive terms. Here, the even integers form an arithmetic sequence with a common difference of 2. Recognizing this allows the use of formulas to find sums efficiently.
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Sum of an Arithmetic Series
The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence can be found using the formula S_n = n/2 * (first term + last term). This formula simplifies calculating the total of many terms without adding each individually.
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