Answer
$a_1 = -3$
$a_2 = -5$
$a_3 = -7$
$a_4 = -9$
$a_5 = -11$
Work Step by Step
Substitute numbers $1$ through $5$ to find the first five terms of this series:
For $n = 1$:
$a_1 = -2(1) - 1$
Multiply first, according to order of operations:
$a_1 = -2 - 1$
Subtract to simplify:
$a_1 = -3$
For $n = 2$:
$a_2 = -2(2) - 1$
Multiply first, according to order of operations:
$a_2 = -4 - 1$
Subtract to simplify:
$a_2 = -5$
For $n = 3$:
$a_3 = -2(3) - 1$
Multiply first, according to order of operations:
$a_3 = -6 - 1$
Subtract to simplify:
$a_3 = -7$
For $n = 4$:
$a_4 = -2(4) - 1$
Multiply first, according to order of operations:
$a_4 = -8 - 1$
Subtract to simplify:
$a_4 = -9$
For $n = 5$:
$a_5 = -2(5) - 1$
Multiply first, according to order of operations:
$a_5 = -10 - 1$
Subtract to simplify:
$a_5 = -11$
