what does it mean when there is a tiny number in an algorithm ex. 15a1+ 14a2 (but the 1 and 2 is half the size)

Question

The full algorithm is 15a1+14a2+13a3+12a4+11a5+10a6+9a7+8a8+7a9+6a10+5a11+4a12+3a13+2a14+1a15 with all the letters after the a being miniature. I just don't understand what to do with the smaller numbers 

Answer 1

You should treat a1 and a2 as a₁, a₂.

Those digits after a's stand for indices - index notation that is.

 

Good luck!

Answer 2

 

Hi Sean,

 

Can you find out a sequence of 15 numbers or letters the algorithm/program needs to refer to?

a₁ and a₂ mean the first and the second number of that sequence.