Question

Write out the first five terms of the sequence.an = n - 4

Answer 1

$\begin{gathered} \text{Given} \\ a_n=n-4 \end{gathered}$

Substitute n = 1,2,3,4, and 5 to the given and we have the following terms

$\begin{gathered} \text{If }n=1 \\ a_{n}=n-4 \\ a_1=1-4 \\ a_1=-3 \\ \\ \text{If }n=2 \\ a_{n}=n-4 \\ a_2=2-4 \\ a_2=-2 \\ \\ \text{If }n=3 \\ a_n=n-4 \\ a_{3}=3-4 \\ a_3=-1 \\ \\ \text{If }n=4 \\ a_{n}=n-4 \\ a_4=4-4 \\ a_4=0 \\ \\ \text{If }n=5 \\ a_{n}=n-4 \\ a_5=5-4 \\ a_5=1 \end{gathered}$

Therefore, the first five sequence is -3,-2,-1,0,1.