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Simplest solution for this specific problem:
(A)
Make the assumption that you have to do with a geometric sequence.
Stricly speaking, the evidence for this is flimsy; it is based on the
look of three terms and two ratios. The two ratios happen to be equal.
If you would assume that you have to do with an arithmetic sequence:
no!, except if c=1 - since only for c=1 the two differences you have at
your disposal are equal. But for c=1 the problem is no longer there.
In general the three terms given define a second-order arithmetic
sequence. This is no common classroom stuff, I guess.
This is an example of the usual well-known situation in classroom and
intelligence test problems.
BTW, I like much to play schoolmaster and beyond once in a while.
(B)
Just write down the first ten terms: the exponents are -4, -2, 0, 2, 4,
6, 8, 10, 12, 14.
Cheers: Johan E. Mebius
Shaynelle@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
I'm having a bit of trouble with solving this sequence: (I need to
supply the tenth term)
(I'm putting extra spaces in between because I find it difficult to
read otherwise)
c ^ - 4, -c ^ - 2, 1...
the difference appears to be - c ^ -2 - correct? If so, when I try and
solve for the tenth term, I have the following:
term 10 = term1 + (n-1) d
= c ^ - 4 + (9) (- c ^ - 2)
= c ^ - 4 + (- 9 c ^ - 2)
= c ^ - 4 - 9 c ^ - 2
Do I have this correct so far? If so, I'm clueless what to do next. I
do know that c ^ - 4 = 1/c^4 but don't know if this helps at all here.
Any advice would be much appreciated,
Thank you,
Shaynelle
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