Answer 1

a_n = 2n² – 6

a₁ = 2(1)² – 6 = 2 – 6 = – 4

a₂ = 2(2)² – 6 = 8 – 6 = 2

a₃ = 2(3)² – 6 = 18 – 6 = 12

a₄ = 2(4)² – 6 = 32 – 6 = 26

∴ The first four terms are – 4, 2, 12, 26, …