Calculating nth Term of Sequences: What Now?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the nth term of two sequences and clarifying a homework question. The first sequence's nth term is identified as -2n + 4, while the second sequence's nth term is 2n - 24. The key question is determining the value of n for which the first sequence's term equals four times the second sequence's term. After clarification, the confusion about the question is resolved. The focus is on solving the equation a_n = 4b_n for n.
BerriesAndCream
Messages
7
Reaction score
2
Homework Statement
The nth term of the sequence 2, 0, -2, -4, -6 ... is 4 times the nth term of the sequence -22, -20, -18, -16, -14, ... Work out the value of n.
Relevant Equations
.
I don't understand what the question is asking.

the nth term of the first sequence i can calculate to be -2n+4, while 2n-24 is the nth term for the second sequence. now what? The question isn't clear.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
BerriesAndCream said:
Homework Statement:: The nth term of the sequence 2, 0, -2, -4, -6 ... is 4 times the nth term of the sequence -22, -20, -18, -16, -14, ... Work out the value of n.
Relevant Equations:: .

I don't understand what the question is asking.

the nth term of the first sequence i can calculate to be -2n+4, while 2n-24 is the nth term for the second sequence. now what? The question isn't clear.
If ##a_n = -2n + 4## is the n-th term of the first sequence, and ##b_n = 2n - 24## is the n-th term of the second sequence, what they're asking is this: For which value of n is ##a_n = 4b_n##?
 
Mark44 said:
If ##a_n = -2n + 4## is the n-th term of the first sequence, and ##b_n = 2n - 24## is the n-th term of the second sequence, what they're asking is this: For which value of n is ##a_n = 4b_n##?
oh... all clear now. thank you.
 
  • Like
Likes WWGD and berkeman
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...

Similar threads

Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
17
Views
5K
Back
Top