Answer:
-7
Step-by-step explanation:
Given
[tex]\begin{array}{ccc}x & {y} & {First\ difference} & {-2} & {34} & {}&{-1} & {27} & {} &{0} & {20} & {} & {1} & {13} & {} & {2} & {6} &{} \ \end{array}[/tex]
Required
The first difference
To do this, we simply calculate the difference between the consecutive y-values.
i.e.
[tex]d = y_{n+1} - y_n[/tex]
So, we have:
[tex]d = y_2 - y_1 = 27 - 34 = -7[/tex]
[tex]d = y_3 - y_2 = 20 - 27 = -7[/tex]
[tex]d = y_4 - y_3 = 13 - 20 = -7[/tex]
[tex]d = y_5 - y_4 = 6-13 = -7[/tex]
Hence, the first differences are -7 (all through)