Question:
Let < an > be a sequence. Write the first five terms in each of the following:
(i) a1 = 1, an = an − 1 + 2, n ≥ 2
(ii) a1 = 1 = a2, an = an − 1 + an − 2, n > 2
(iii) a1 = a2 = 2, an = an − 1 − 1, n > 2
Solution:
(i) $a_{1}=1, a_{n}=a_{n-1}+2, n \geq 2$
$a_{2}=a_{1}+2=1+2=3$
$a_{3}=a_{2}+2=5$
$a_{4}=a_{3}+2=7$
$a_{5}=a_{4}+2=9$
Hence, the five terms are 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
(ii) a1 = 1 = a2, an = an − 1 + an − 2, n > 2
$a_{3}=a_{2}+a_{1}=1+1=2$
$a_{4}=a_{3}+a_{2}=2+1=3$
$a_{5}=a_{4}+a_{3}=3+2=5$
Hence, the five terms are 1, 1, 2, 3 and 5.
(iii) a1 = a2 = 2, an = an − 1 − 1, n > 2
$a_{3}=a_{2}-1=2-1=1$
$a_{4}=a_{3}-1=1-1=0$
$a_{5}=a_{4}-1=0-1=-1$
Hence, the five terms are $2,2,1,0$ and $-1$.