Find the first term of the arithmetic sequence in which a subscript 27 baseline equals negative Start Fraction 1 over 2 End Fraction and the common difference is 2.

(1 point)
Responses

Start Fraction 103 over 2 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction 103 over 2 End Fraction

negative Start Fraction 105 over 2 End Fraction
Image with alt text: negative Start Fraction 105 over 2 End Fraction

negative Start Fraction 103 over 2 End Fraction
Image with alt text: negative Start Fraction 103 over 2 End Fraction

Start Fraction 111 over 2 End Fraction

1 answer

To find the first term of the arithmetic sequence given \( a_{27} = -\frac{1}{2} \) and the common difference \( d = 2 \), we can use the formula for the \( n \)-th term of an arithmetic sequence:

\[ a_n = a_1 + (n - 1)d \]

Where:

  • \( a_n \) is the \( n \)-th term,
  • \( a_1 \) is the first term,
  • \( d \) is the common difference,
  • \( n \) is the term number.

Given:

  • \( n = 27 \)
  • \( a_{27} = -\frac{1}{2} \)
  • \( d = 2 \)

We can substitute these values into the formula:

\[ -\frac{1}{2} = a_1 + (27 - 1) \cdot 2 \]

This simplifies to:

\[ -\frac{1}{2} = a_1 + 26 \cdot 2 \] \[ -\frac{1}{2} = a_1 + 52 \]

Now, to isolate \( a_1 \), subtract 52 from both sides:

\[ a_1 = -\frac{1}{2} - 52 \]

We can convert \( 52 \) to a fraction with a denominator of 2:

\[ 52 = \frac{104}{2} \] \[ a_1 = -\frac{1}{2} - \frac{104}{2} = -\frac{1 + 104}{2} = -\frac{105}{2} \]

Thus, the first term \( a_1 \) is:

\[ \boxed{-\frac{105}{2}} \]