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How do you find the nth term of 1, 5, 9, 13?

To determine the nnth term of the sequence 1,5,9,131, 5, 9, 13, we can utilize the formula 4n34n - 3.

This sequence is classified as an arithmetic sequence, characterized by a constant difference between consecutive terms. To find the nnth term, we first need to establish the common difference. By calculating the difference between the second term and the first term, specifically 515 - 1, we discover that the common difference is 44. This indicates that each term is 44 greater than the preceding term.

Next, we seek a formula that accurately represents the nnth term of this sequence. The general formula for the nnth term of an arithmetic sequence is given by:

a+(n1)da + (n-1)d

where aa represents the first term, and dd denotes the common difference. In our case, the first term aa is 11, and the common difference dd is 44. Substituting these values into the formula yields:

nth term=1+(n1)×4\text{nth term} = 1 + (n-1) \times 4

Now, let’s simplify this expression:

nth term=1+4n4\text{nth term} = 1 + 4n - 4 nth term=4n3\text{nth term} = 4n - 3

Consequently, the nnth term of the sequence 1,5,9,131, 5, 9, 13 can be expressed by the formula 4n34n - 3. This formula enables you to calculate any term in the sequence by plugging in the desired position of the term (nn) into the equation.

For instance, to find the 33rd term, substitute n=3n = 3 into the formula:

3rd term=4×33=123=9\text{3rd term} = 4 \times 3 - 3 = 12 - 3 = 9

This calculation confirms that the formula accurately represents the given sequence.

Answered by: Prof. Peter Brown
IB Maths Tutor
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