To find the \( 12^\text{th} \) term in the sequence defined by the formula \( b(n) = -4 - 2(n - 1) \), we need to substitute \( n = 12 \) into the formula.
Let's calculate it step-by-step:
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Substitute \( n = 12 \) into the formula: \[ b(12) = -4 - 2(12 - 1) \]
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Simplify the expression inside the parentheses: \[ 12 - 1 = 11 \]
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Now substitute this value back into the equation: \[ b(12) = -4 - 2(11) \]
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Calculate \( 2(11) \): \[ 2(11) = 22 \]
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Now substitute this value back in: \[ b(12) = -4 - 22 \]
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Finally, calculate: \[ b(12) = -26 \]
Therefore, the \( 12^\text{th} \) term in the sequence is \( \boxed{-26} \).