I have been trying to solve this arithmetical sequence but I can't find a1;a2;a3 if:
Is it a_3 or a_5?
Anway, use the basic property of an arithmetic sequence to convert everything in terms of a_1 and the difference of the sequence, I'll call that v.
We then have:
Use this on all terms except a_1 of course and then you have a system of two equations in two unknowns (a_1 and v).
Countinuing where TD! left of, we have that,
Where is the common difference.
Now for the second equation,
by equation (1)
Simply (2) as,
Now you have the two equations, solve them,
substitute for from (1),
Now just check which one works.
There's a slight mistake here, for k = -6 we have that a_1 = 2.Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker
Furthermore, there is not reason to check which one 'works' since there's no physical interpretation or whatever which has to be checked. All we did was solving the system of equations algebraiclly so both of our solutions are fine, i.e. meet the conditions which were given.
I erred again, but it is the method not the answer that is important.Originally Posted by TD!
You statement about the checking the two solutions; I know the two solutions work for the algebraic equations but not necessarily for the conditions given for the problem thus we must check.
Well the problem was that knowing we were dealing with an arithmetic sequence, "find a1;a2;a3 if: (the two equations)".
Both solutions are fine, there is no reason to discard one since there's nothing left to check! Unless, of course, totalnewbie didn't give the entire problem (but I think he did or at least I assumed so).
That's why I asked if it was a_3 or a_5. From what I understand now, it was actually a_5 used in the equation but you were asked to find a_1,a_2 and a_3?
In that case, just repeat the exact same method but use a_5 instead of a_3, a_5 can be converted to a_1 + 4v.
You have the entire method now, try it