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Arithmetic Sequence.: Common Difference

The document defines an arithmetic sequence as a sequence where a constant value can be added to each term to generate the next term. This constant value is called the common difference and can be found by subtracting any term from the following term. It provides an example arithmetic sequence and uses the formula tn = a + (n - 1)d to find the nth term, where a is the first term and d is the common difference.

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Charles Fleming
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23 views

Arithmetic Sequence.: Common Difference

The document defines an arithmetic sequence as a sequence where a constant value can be added to each term to generate the next term. This constant value is called the common difference and can be found by subtracting any term from the following term. It provides an example arithmetic sequence and uses the formula tn = a + (n - 1)d to find the nth term, where a is the first term and d is the common difference.

Uploaded by

Charles Fleming
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A sequence in which a constant (d) can be added to each term to get the next term is called an Arithmetic Sequence.

The constant (d) is called the Common Difference. To find the common difference (d), subtract any term from one that follows it.
t1 t2 t3 t4 t5

Now you try!


Find the first term and the common difference of each of these arithmetic sequences.
a) 1, -4, -9, -14, .

11

14

b) 11, 23, 35, 47, .

Find the 14th term of the arithmetic sequence 4, 7, 10, 13,

tn = a + (n 1) d
t14 = 4 (14 1) 3

The first term of an arithmetic sequence is (a) . We add (d) to get the next term. There is a pattern, therefore there is a formula we can use to give use any term that we need without listing the whole sequence .
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is given by:

Answers with solutions


a) 1, -4, -9, -14, .
a=1 and

d = a2 - a1 = - 4 - 1 = - 5

4 (13)3

4 39 43 The 14th term in this sequence


is the number 43!

tn = a + (n 1) d
The last # in the sequence/or the # you are looking for
First term

b) 11, 23, 35, 47, . a = 11 and d = a2 - a1 = 23 - 11 = 12

The position the term is in

The common difference

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