Write an arithmetic formula, if possible, to describe the sequence of numbers and determine \[ 7,12,17,22,27 \ldots \] \( a_{8}=5+7(n-1) ; a_{8}=54 \) \( a_{n}=7-5(n-1) ; a_{8}=-28 \) \( a_{n}=7+5(n-1) ; a_{8}=42 \) \( a_{n}=5-7(n-1) ; a_{8}=-44 \)
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This sequence is linear, and you can see that each number increases by 5. The first term is 7, which gives us a nice starting point. The general formula for this arithmetic sequence can be represented as: \[ a_n = 7 + 5(n-1) \] When you plug \( n = 8 \) into the formula, you'll find that \( a_8 = 7 + 5(8-1) = 7 + 35 = 42 \). This means the correct option is \( a_n = 7 + 5(n-1) ; a_{8} = 42 \). The beauty of arithmetic sequences is their consistency and simplicity! To understand how this works in the real world, consider how many things in everyday life follow a pattern—like saving money weekly or counting the days to a special event. Each increment is predictable, just like counting by 5s in this sequence!