If (a_1=6) and (a_{n+1}=a_n+n+2), what is the value of (a_5)?
The recursive rule adds a different value at each step. For \(n=1,2,3,4\), the added values are \(3,4,5,6\), respectively. Thus \(a_2=9\), \(a_3=13\), \(a_4=18\), and \(a_5=24\). Hence, 24 is correct; 18 is actually \(a_4\). Exam tip: while finding \(a_{n+1}\), substitute the index \(n\) of the current term first.