← Chapter 14
College Algebra · Chapter 14

Explicit vs Recursive

A sequence is just an ordered list of numbers. There are two ways to describe the same list: an explicit formula that jumps straight to any term, and a recursive rule that builds each term from the one before. Watch both routes land on the identical value.

The sequence, plotted

Term 1 of 6press Next to grow the sequence
Explicit rule
Recursive rule
Explicit · plug in n directly
Recursive · use the term before