Question

How to find missing terms in a arithmetic sequence if there is no middle term?

Answer 1

You would use the formula for the specific term you wish to find;
The formula is:

`U_(n) = a + (n - 1)d`
a = starting value of the sequence
d = the common difference (i.e. the difference between any two consecutive terms of the sequence)
n = the value corresponding to the position of the desired term in the sequence (i.e. 1 is the first term, 2 is the second, etc.)
Un = the actual vaue of the the term

For example, if we have the arithmetic sequence:
2, 6, 10, 14, ...
And let's say we want to find the 62nd term;
Then:
a = 2
d = 4
(i.e. 6 - 2 = 4, 10 - 6 = 4, 14 - 10 = 4;
You should always get the same number no matter which two terms you find the difference between so long as they are both consecutive [next to each other], otherwise you are not dealing with an arithmetic sequence)
n = 62

And so:

`U_(62) = (2) + (62 - 1)(4) \\ = 2 + 61(4) \\ = 2 + 244 \\ = 246`