Mathematics > Standard Multiple Choice
Read the following SAT test question and then click on a button to select your answer.
8, a, 14, b, 20, ...
The first term of the sequence above is 8. Which of the following could be the formula for finding the nth term of this sequence for any positive integer n?
(A) 2n+6
(B) 3n+5
(C) 5n+3
(D) 6n+2
(E) 6n+5
The Correct answer is B.
Explanation
You do not know the value of the 
term or the 
term of the sequence, but you do know the values of the 
, 
<, and 
terms. The correct formula must give 
as the value of the 
term, 
as the value of the 
term, and 
as the value of the 
term. Choice E, 
, gives 
, not 
, as the value of the 
term. Choice A, 
, gives 
, not 
, as the value of the 
term. Choice C, 
, gives 
, not 
, as the value of the 
term. Choice D, 
, gives 
, not 
, as the value of the 
term. This leaves choice B, 
, which gives the correct values for the 
, 
, and 
terms of the sequence.