Correct answer: CThis recurrence rule defines each term as the sum of the two terms immediately before it. The initial values are a1 = 2 and a2 = 9. Therefore, calculate in order: a3 is 9 + 2 = 11, a4 is 11 + 9 = 20, and a5 is 20 + 11 = 31. Thus the correct choice is option C. The order of the two previous terms does not change the sum, but their positions must be tracked correctly.
The safest method is to write every term with its index before continuing. The list is 2, 9, 11, 20, 31. In the final step, the two terms immediately before a5 are a4 = 20 and a3 = 11, so a5 = a4 + a3 = 20 + 11 = 31. A value such as 29 could come from an incorrect addition or from using the wrong earlier terms. The supplied answer C and explanation are accurate.