Given the explicit formula : a5=8+ (5-1) 3
what term is the formula finding?
The formula is finding the 5th term of the sequence.
The term that the formula is finding is a5.
To determine the term that the formula is finding, we need to understand the components of the formula. The explicit formula you provided is:
aₙ = 8 + (n - 1) * 3
In this formula, "aₙ" represents the term that is being found, and "n" represents the position or number of the term.
In the given formula, the expression (n - 1) * 3 is added to 8. This expression indicates that each term in the sequence is obtained by multiplying the position of the term (n) by 3, and then subtracting 3. Finally, 8 is added to this result.
Now, let's plug in the value of 5 into the formula to find the term at the fifth position (a₅):
a₅ = 8 + (5 - 1) * 3
a₅ = 8 + 4 * 3
a₅ = 8 + 12
a₅ = 20
Therefore, the formula is finding the term at the fifth position, which is a₅ = 20.