Question

The yearbook staff is unpacking a box of school yearbooks. The

arithmetic sequence 281, 270, 259, 248 ... represents the total number of ounces
that the box weighs as each yearbook is taken out of the box.
a. Write a function to represent this sequence.

Answer 1

The function representing the arithmetic sequence of the yearbook box's weight as yearbooks are removed is f(n) = 281 + (n - 1)(-11), with n representing the number of yearbooks taken out.

Step-by-step explanation:

The yearbook staff's arithmetic sequence represents the total number of ounces the box weighs as each yearbook is taken out. An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which each term after the first is obtained by adding a constant difference to the previous term. In this case, the difference is -11 ounces (281 - 270, 270 - 259, etc.).

To write a function for this arithmetic sequence, we will start with the first term, a1, which is 281 ounces. The common difference, d, is -11 ounces. The function will represent the total weight after n yearbooks are removed. The nth term an of an arithmetic sequence is given by:

an = a1 + (n - 1)d

Thus, the function representing this arithmetic sequence is:

f(n) = 281 + (n - 1)(-11)

This function allows us to calculate the total weight of the box for any number of yearbooks removed.