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What is the general term of this sequence?

I have long been fascinated with sequences, may it be an arithmetic sequence, a geometric sequence, or a general sequence. After a week, I have thought of a sequence where the terms are the number of points in cubes (except for the first term where it is a point). In each consecutive term, the number of points on each edge of the previous cube increases by $$1$$.

I have attempted to solve for the $$n^{th}$$ term of this sequence I have thought of more than $$2$$ months ago, but unfortunately even after many attempts and many methods, I have failed.

Can anyone solve for the general term of $$1, 8, 20, 32, 44, 56, 68, 80, 92, 128, \ldots$$? Is it possible to do so, or does it not have a general term?"

Note: This view is in perspective.

2 years ago

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The only hiccup is the first term $$1$$. Otherwise, if we dropped that and went with $$8, 20, 32, 44...$$, the series formula $$12n-4$$ will do. That might be why you're having so much trouble.

If it's really important to include that first term $$1$$, it's still possible but won't be so simple.

Edit: Okay, here it is. This will generate your series, for $$n=1,2,3,4,5,6...$$ it delivers $$1,8,20,32,44,56...$$

$$f\left( n \right) =\dfrac { 5 }{ 2 } \left(1-{ \left( -1 \right) }^{ { 2 }^{ n-1 } }\right)+12n-16$$

I told you it wouldn't be simple. · 2 years ago

May I ask, how did you get this formula? · 1 year, 2 months ago

I see that substituting $$1$$ for $$n$$ in that function will also result in $$1$$. Unfortunately, it does not work for greater positive integers. However, I have noticed that substituting $$2$$, $$3$$, $$4$$, $$5$$, $$6$$, $$7$$, $$8$$, $$9$$ and $$10$$ for $$n$$ in the function $$f(n) = 12n - 16$$ will give the right value for $$f(n)$$, respectively. · 2 years ago

The difference between successive terms should be 12, starting with the 2nd and 3rd terms. The only counterexample to that is between the 1st and 2nd term. The formula I have is quite correct, it works. · 2 years ago