if the letter n represents a positive integers {1,2,3,4. . .}, write algebraic expression for each of the following

Question

the integers preceding n

Answer 1

The integers preceding a positive integer \( n \) can be represented by the expression \( n - 1 \).

If you want to refer to multiple preceding integers, you could express them as:

• The first integer preceding \( n \): \( n - 1 \)
• The second integer preceding \( n \): \( n - 2 \)
• The third integer preceding \( n \): \( n - 3 \)

And so forth. In general, the \( k \)-th integer preceding \( n \) can be represented as:

\[ n - k \]

where \( k \) is a positive integer (1 for the first preceding integer, 2 for the second, etc.).