a) Using the given recurrence,
[tex]x_2 = \dfrac{{x_1}^3-1}4 = \dfrac{(-1)^3-1}4 = -\dfrac12 = -0.5[/tex]
[tex]x_3 = \dfrac{{x_2}^3-1}4 = \dfrac{\left(-\frac12\right)^3-1}4 = -\dfrac9{32} = -0.28125[/tex]
b) Proceeding as above, you'll find that successive values of [tex]x_n[/tex], starting at n = 7, gravitate towards a solution of about -0.254102.
