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Expert: Sherry Wallin - 12/8/2010


Question
Ms.Sherry,
    I am not at all able to understand what is the difference between recursive and explicit formula, and also I dont know the meaning of both of them.I am trying to understand what the book says but it is all going up!
                      Thankyou So Much!
                        Xiang.

Answer
Xiang~

The difference between recursive and explicit is, for example, with the geometric sequence the explicit is a(1-r^n)/(1-r) because all you need to know is the value of a and r and you can find the answer for any n. The recursive formula that I showed you originally was S_n = S_n-1 + .0016*5^(n-1) and it is recursive because you are gettin S_n based on your knowledge of the previous term S_n-1. I hope this makes sense.

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Sherry Wallin

Expertise

I can answer most questions up through Calculus and some in Number Theory and Abstract Algebra.

Experience

I have had my Bachelor's Degree since 1987 and have been a teacher since 1988. I earned my Masters Degree in Mathematics May 2010. I have been teaching at the same community college since 2002.

Education/Credentials
I have taught 12 years at the community college level, medical college, and technical college as well as a high school instructor and alternative education instructor and charter school instructor.

Awards and Honors
Master's GPA 3.56 Bachelor's GPA 3.34 Post grad work not degree related GPA 4.0

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