Question

If a1 =1 and an = -5an-1-4 then find the value of a3

Answer 1

According to a Wyzant page, if a1 = 1 and an = -5an-1+2, then we can find the value of a3 as follows:

a1 = 1 a2 = -5a1 + 2 = -5 + 2 = -3 a3 = -5a2 + 2 = -5(-3) + 2 = 15 + 2 = 17

Therefore, the value of a3 is 17.