explicit and recursive

Question

find the fifth term in the sequence that is defined as follows:

a_n= 2(-1)ⁿ

Answer 1

The first term (a₁) is when n = 1 so it is 2(-1)¹ = 2(-1) = -2

The second term (a₂) is when n = 2 so it is 2(-1)² = 2(-1)(-1) = 2(1) = 2

The third term (a₃) is when n = 3 so it is 2(-1)³ = 2(-1)(-1)(-1) = 2(1)(-1) = -2

The fourth term (a₄) is when n = 4 so it is 2(-1)⁴ = 2(-1)(-1)(-1)(-1) = 2(1)(1) = 2

The fifth term (a₅) is when n = 5 so it is 2(-1)⁵ = 2(-1)(-1)(-1)(-1)(-1) = 2(1)(1)(-1) = -2