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The common difference of an arithmetic sequence is -4, and the 10th term is -11. Find the 1st term.

1 Answer

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Answer:

an=a1+(n-1)d

an=a1+(n-1)-4

an=a1+-4n+4

-11=a1+-4n+4

-a1=11-4n+4

-a1=-4n+11+4

-a1=-4n+15

-a1=-4(10)+15

-a1=-40+15

-a1=-25

-a1/-1=-25/-1

a1=-25

Explanation:

used the formula an=a1+(n-1)d

an is -11 its the value of the last term

a10 is -11

d is -4 which is the common difference

a1 is missing we don't know yet

n is 10 which is we called the number of terms

dont get confused:) goodluck

u can try checking it by adding the common difference until u reach the a10 so u can see if it's correct, for instance as I get 25 as an a1 as an answer is we 25, 21, 17,13,9,5,1,-3,-7,-11

as u can see notice carefully that 25-4=21-4=17,.....until u reached the -11

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User Ttarik
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