Question

What the recursive formula for the sequence

Answer 1

$\bf n^{th}\textit{ term of an arithmetic sequence} \\\\ a_n=a_1+(n-1)d\qquad \begin{cases} n=n^{th}\ term\\ a_1=\textit{first term's value}\\ d=\textit{common difference} \end{cases} \\\\[-0.35em] \rule{34em}{0.25pt}\\\\ a_n=2-5(n-1)\implies a_n=\stackrel{\stackrel{a_1}{\downarrow }}{2}+(n-1)(\stackrel{\stackrel{d}{\downarrow }}{-5})$

so, we know the first term is 2, whilst the common difference is -5, therefore, that means, to get the next term, we subtract 5, or we "add -5" to the current term.

$\bf \begin{cases} a_1=2\\ a_n=a_{n-1}-5 \end{cases}$

just a quick note on notation:

$\bf \stackrel{\stackrel{\textit{current term}}{\downarrow }}{a_n}\qquad \qquad \stackrel{\stackrel{\textit{the term before it}}{\downarrow }}{a_{n-1}} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ \stackrel{\textit{current term}}{a_5}\qquad \quad \stackrel{\textit{term before it}}{a_{5-1}\implies a_4}~\hspace{5em}\stackrel{\textit{current term}}{a_{12}}\qquad \quad \stackrel{\textit{term before it}}{a_{12-1}\implies a_{11}}$