Question

Find the 17th term in the sequence for which a1 = 10 and d = -3.

a.
-42
c.
24
b.
34
d.
-38


Please select the best answer from the choices provided

Answer 1

d. -38

Explanation:

Arithmetic sequence concepts:

The general rule of an arithmetic sequence is as follows:

`a_(n+1) = a_(n) + d`

In which d is the common diference between each term.

We can expand the general equation to find the nth term from the first, by the following equation:

`a_(n) = a_(1) + (n-1)*d`

In this question:

`a_(1) = 10, d = -3`

17th term:

`a_(17) = a_(1) + (17-1)*d = 10 + 16*(-3) = -38`

So the correct answer is:

d. -38