DMOC

This question has some subscripts, so if you see a(1) that is really a with a subscript of 1. a(n) is the nth term of the sequence.

Question: If a(1) = 5 and a(n) = 1 + sqrt(a(n)-1) find a(3)

A. 2.623
B. 2.635
C. 2.673
D. 2.799
E. 3.323

The Barrons 8th Edition of Math II says this is B, but I'm confused because when I follow their directions I get D instead.

NYEM

a2=1+sqrt(5)
a3=1+sqrt(1+sqrt(5))=2.799


Unless you typed it incorrectly, or I read the problem wrong, it must be a printing mistake.

DMOC

Yeah, that's exactly what I did. That must be a typo. This is the fourth error I've founded in Barrons.


Their solution:

Press 5 ENTER in your graphing calculator. Then enter sqrt(ans) + 1 and press enter twice to get the answer.

SwaGGeReR

Barrons is notorious for their errors