Explicit Equations

Explicit Equations - a formula that calculates an directly without needing to know an-1.

A. Arithmetic Sequence – is a sequence where every term after the first is obtained by
adding a constant called the common difference.

Arithmetic Sequence:

Writing an explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence

1. 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, …

a. Formulate the explicit formula of the sequence.

Step1: Identify the first term and the common difference of the sequence.
𝒂𝟏 = 𝟒 𝒅 = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒂𝟏
𝑑 = 9−4=5
𝑑 = 14 − 9 = 5
𝑑 = 19 − 14 = 5
𝒅=𝟓

Step 2: Substitute the value of 𝑎1 and d to 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1).

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1)
𝑎𝑛 = 4 + 5(𝑛 − 1)
𝑎𝑛 = 4 + 5𝑛 − 5
𝑎𝑛 = 5𝑛 − 1
Explicit Formula: 𝒂𝒏 = 𝟓𝒏 − 𝟏
b. Find the 90th term of the sequence.

𝑛 = 90

𝑎𝑛 = 5𝑛 − 1
𝑎90 = 5(90) − 1
𝑎90 = 449
The 90th term of the sequence is 449.

2. 7, 5, 3, 1, -1, …

a. Formulate the explicit formula of the sequence.

Step1: Identify the first term and the common difference of the sequence.
𝒂𝟏 = 𝟕 𝒅 = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒂𝟏
𝑑 = 5 − 7 = −2
𝑑 = 3 − 5 = −2
𝑑 = 1 − 3 = −2
𝑑 = −1 − 1 = −2
𝒅 = −𝟐

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 Step 2: Substitute the value of 𝑎1 and d to 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1).
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑(𝑛 − 1)
𝑎𝑛 = 7 + (−2)(𝑛 − 1)
𝑎𝑛 = 7 − 2 (𝑛 − 1)
𝑎𝑛 = 7−2𝑛+2
𝑎𝑛 = 9 − 2𝑛
Explicit Formula: 𝒂𝒏 = 𝟗 − 𝟐𝒏
b. Find the 50th term of the sequence.

𝑛 = 50

𝑎𝑛 = 9 − 2𝑛
𝑎50 = 9 − 2(50)
𝑎50 = −91
The 50th term of the sequence is -91.

B. Geometric Sequence – is a sequence where each term after the first is obtained by
multiplying the preceding term by a nonzero constant called the common ratio.

Geometric Sequence:

Writing an explicit formula of a geometric sequence

1. 2, 8, 32, 128, …

a. Formulate the explicit formula of the sequence.

Step1: Identify the first term and the common ratio of the sequence.
𝒂𝟏 = 𝟐 𝒂𝟐
𝒓=
𝒂𝟏
8
𝑟= =4
2
32
𝑟= =4
8
128
𝑟= =4
32
𝒓=𝟒

Step 2: Substitute the value of 𝑎1 and r to 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 (𝑟)𝑛−1 .

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 (𝑟)𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = 2(4)𝑛−1

Explicit Formula: 𝒂𝒏 = 𝟐(𝟒)𝒏−𝟏

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 b. Find the 13th term of the sequence.

𝑛 = 13

𝑎𝑛 = 2(4)𝑛−1
𝑎13 = 2(4)13−1
𝑎13 = 33,554,432
The 13th term of the sequence is 33,554,432.

2. 1, -2, 4, -8, 16, …

a. Formulate the explicit formula of the sequence.

Step1: Identify the first term and the common ratio of the sequence.
𝒂𝟏 = 𝟏 𝒂𝟐
𝒓=
𝒂𝟏
−2
𝑟= = −2
1
4
𝑟= = −2
−2
128
𝑟= =4
32
𝒓 = −𝟐

Step 2: Substitute the value of 𝑎1 and r to 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 (𝑟)𝑛−1 .

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 (𝑟)𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = 1(−2)𝑛−1
𝑎𝑛 = (−2)𝑛−1

Explicit Formula: 𝒂𝒏 = (−𝟐)𝒏−𝟏

b. Find the 20th term of the sequence.

𝑛 = 20

𝑎𝑛 = (−2)𝑛−1
𝑎20 = (−2)20−1
𝑎20 = −524,288
The 20th term of the sequence is -524,288.

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