Answer
a. The first 5 terms are 3, 9, 27, 81, 243
b. The common ratio is 3
c. To graph the first 5 terms let n = values on the x-axis the terms = values on the y-axis. Plot the values on the coordinate plane to make a graph.
Work Step by Step
a. The sequence is represented by $a_{n} = 3^{n-1}$ To find the first term plug in n = 1 and solve: $a_{n} = 3^{1-1}$ $a_{n} = 3^{0}$ = $ 1\times \ 1 =1 $. Repeat for n =2,3,4, and 5.
b. The common ratio is the r value in the formula - the ratio each term is multiplied by. In this case each term is multiplied by 3 so the common ratio is 3.
c. See above for how to graph the first five terms of the sequence.
