应该是减2 机翻的: Suppose there is an item a_x in this column that satisfies a_x = 3n + 2. (n is a natural number.) Then a_(x+1) = 3(3n + 2) - 4 = 9n + 2. That is: If one item meets the condition, then all subsequent items will also meet the condition. Verification: a_1 = 5 = 3 + 2 Therefore, all the items in this sequence meet the condition. a_n=2+3^n 假设此列中存在一项a_x满足a_x=3n+2 (n为自然数) 则a_(x+1)=3(3n+2)-4=9n+2 即:若一项满足条件则此后各项都满足条件 验证:a_1=5=3+2 故此数列各项都满足条件 a_n=2+3^n
Dear Peter, I'm glad to help you solve this problem from The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. The sequence starts with a_1 = 5 , and each subsequent term is defined by a_{n+1} = 3a_n - 4 . To find the 12th term, we can derive the general formula a_n = 4 \times 3^{n-1} + 1 . Plugging in n = 12 , we get a_{12} = 708589 . For the sum of the first n terms, we calculate S_n = 2(3^n - 1) + n . To prove that a_n - 1 is a multiple of 3, notice that a_n - 1 = 4 \times 3^{n-1} , which is clearly divisible by 3. Look forward to your early reply. Yours, Li Hua