Solved on Jan 18, 2024

Find the first term u1u_1 and the common difference dd given u7=11u_7=11 and u12=56u_{12}=56 in an arithmetic sequence.

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. The sequence is arithmetic, meaning there is a common difference dd between each term.
2. u7u_7 represents the 7th term in the sequence, which is 11.
3. u12u_{12} represents the 12th term in the sequence, which is 56.
4. u1u_1 represents the first term in the sequence, which we need to find.
5. dd represents the common difference between the terms, which we also need to find.

STEP 2

The formula for the nn-th term of an arithmetic sequence is given by:
un=u1+(n1)du_n = u_1 + (n - 1)d

STEP 3

We can set up two equations using the given terms u7u_7 and u12u_{12}:
u7=u1+6du_7 = u_1 + 6d u12=u1+11du_{12} = u_1 + 11d

STEP 4

Substitute the given values for u7u_7 and u12u_{12} into the equations:
11=u1+6d11 = u_1 + 6d 56=u1+11d56 = u_1 + 11d

STEP 5

We now have a system of two equations with two unknowns:
\begin{align*} u_1 + 6d &= 11 \\ u_1 + 11d &= 56 \end{align*}

STEP 6

Subtract the first equation from the second equation to eliminate u1u_1 and solve for dd:
(u1+11d)(u1+6d)=5611(u_1 + 11d) - (u_1 + 6d) = 56 - 11

STEP 7

Simplify the equation to find dd:
11d6d=561111d - 6d = 56 - 11

STEP 8

Combine like terms:
5d=455d = 45

STEP 9

Divide both sides by 5 to solve for dd:
d=455d = \frac{45}{5}

STEP 10

Calculate the value of dd:
d=9d = 9

STEP 11

Now that we have the value of dd, we can substitute it back into one of the original equations to find u1u_1. Let's use the first equation:
u1+6d=11u_1 + 6d = 11

STEP 12

Substitute the value of dd into the equation:
u1+6(9)=11u_1 + 6(9) = 11

STEP 13

Simplify the equation:
u1+54=11u_1 + 54 = 11

STEP 14

Subtract 54 from both sides to solve for u1u_1:
u1=1154u_1 = 11 - 54

STEP 15

Calculate the value of u1u_1:
u1=43u_1 = -43
The first term of the sequence is u1=43u_1 = -43 and the common difference is d=9d = 9.

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