Question

The third term of an arithmetic sequence is 21, and the eighth term is 56. The first term is

Answer 1

$a_3=21;\ a_8=56\\\\a_8-a_3=5d\\\\5d=56-21\\5d=35\ \ \ |divide\ both\ sides\ by\ 5\\d=7\\\\a_1=a_3-2d\\\\a_1=21-2\cdot7\\a_1=21-14\\a_1=7\\\\Answer:\boxed{a_1=7}$