Question

An arithmetic sequence has the first term a1 = 18 and common difference d = −8. What are the first five terms?

Answer 1

Consider an arithmetic sequence with first term a1 = 18 and common difference d = -8.

First term of the sequence is a1 = 18.

 

Compute second term of the sequence as follows:

a2 = a1 + d

      = 18 + (-8)

     = 10

 

Compute third term of the sequence as follows:

a3 = a2 + d

     = 10 +(-8)

     = 2

 

Compute fourth term of the sequence as follows:

a4 = a3 + d

     = 2 + (-8)

     = -6

 

Compute fifth term of the sequence as follows:

a5 = a4 + d

     = -6 + (-8)

     = -14

 

Therefore, the first five terms of given arithmetic sequence are {18, 10, 2, -6, -14}.

Therefore, the first five terms of given arithmetic sequence are {18, 10, 2, -6, -14}.