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Mathematics
First Quarter
WEEK 2 - Module 2: Arithmetic
Sequences

Mathematics – Grade 10

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Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 2: Arithmetic Sequences
Second Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

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Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Carcar City Division

Office Address: Department of Education

Learning Resources Management Section
P. Nellas St., Poblacion III, Carcar City, Cebu
Telefax: (032) 487 - 8495
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 10
Mathematics
Quarter 1 – Module 2:

Arithmetic Sequences

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 What I Need to Know

This lesson talks about arithmetic sequence. Arithmetic sequence can be applied
in real life by analyzing a certain pattern that we see in our daily life. From our day to day
living there are a lot of experiences that use the concepts of arithmetic sequence. For example,
is when we are waiting for a bus, if the traffic is moving at a constant speed, we can predict
when the next bus will come. Arithmetic sequence can be applied in almost all aspects of our
lives. We must analyze how it can be used in our day-to-day life. Having knowledge about this
kind of sequence can give us a different perspective on how things happen in our lives.

Lesson 1: Arithmetic Sequence

The knowledge you gain from this material will help you make better choices in
whatever endeavor you will be in the future.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. illustrate an arithmetic sequence;

2. find the arithmetic means between terms of an arithmetic sequence;
3. determine the nth term of a given arithmetic sequence;
4. determine the sum of the first n terms of a given arithmetic sequence; and
5. solve problems involving arithmetic sequence.

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 What I Know

Find out how much you already know about arithmetic sequence. Choose the letter of
the correct answer. Take note of the items that you were not able to answer will be
determined as you go through in this lesson.
1. Which of the following is not an arithmetic sequence?
a. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... c. 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, ...
b. 3, 9, 27, 81, ... d. 13, 2, -9, -20, -31 ...

2. What is the 8th term of the following arithmetic sequence: -5, -1, 3, 7, 11, ...
a. 23 b. 19 c. 27 d. 22

3. What is NOT true about the following arithmetic sequence: 25, 32, 39, 46, ...
a. The common difference is 7. c. The 6th term is 60.
b. The 7th term is 60. d. The general rule is a(n) = 18 + 7n.

4. What is the formula of arithmetic sequence?

a. an = a (n - 1) + d c. an = 2a (n - 1) + d
b. an = a (n - 1) - d d. an = a1 + (n - 1) d

5. Which of the following is TRUE about arithmetic sequence?

A. A sequence with a common denominator
B. A sequence with a common difference
C. A sequence with a common factor
D. A sequence with a common ratio

6. Find the arithmetic mean between 1 001 and 2 001.

A. 1510 B. 1501 C. 1150 D. 1105

7. What is the sum of all the even integers between 9 and 27?
A. 142 B. 162 C. 172 D. 182

8. How many terms of the arithmetic sequence 20, 18, 16,… must be added so that the sum
will be -100?
A. 22 B. 23 C. 24 D. 25

9. Find two arithmetic means between 2 and 8.

A. 3 and 5 B. 4 and 5 C. 4 and 6 D. 5 and 6

10. Edgar is the track and field representative of Carcar City Division for the
CVRAA. He begins training by running 5 miles during the first week, 6.5 miles
during the second week, and 8 miles on the third week. Assume this pattern
continues, how far will he run on the tenth week?
A. 18.5 miles B. 20 miles C. 21.5 miles D. 23 miles

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 Lesson

1 Arithmetic Sequences

In this lesson, you will be dealing with the concepts of arithmetic sequences.

What’s In

Below are squares formed by matchsticks.

Count the number of matchsticks in each figure and record the results in a table.
Number of squares 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of matchsticks

Questions:
1. Is there a pattern in the number of matchsticks? If there is, describe it.
2. How is each term (number of matchsticks) found?
3. What is the difference between any two consecutive terms?
The above activity illustrates a sequence where the difference between any two consecutive
terms is a constant. This constant is called the common difference and the said sequence is
called an arithmetic sequence.
4. What is an arithmetic sequence?
5. How to determine the common difference?

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 What’s New

A sequence where each succeeding term is obtained by adding a fixed number is called
an arithmetic sequence. This fixed number is the common difference d between any two
succeeding terms.
The sequences 1, 4, 7, 10, ... and 15, 11, 7, 3, ... are examples of arithmetic sequences.
Example 1:

1 4 7 10

+3 +3 +3

Note that in order to get the next term, a constant number 3 is being added to the
preceding terms.

1 4 7 10
-3 -3
-3

The figure above shows that in order to get the preceding term a common number is
being subtracted from the term that comes after it, hence, in the sequence 1, 4, 7, 10,… has a
common difference of 3.
Example 2:
15, 11, 7, 3, ...
Common Difference
11 -15 = -4
7 – 11 = -4
3 – 7 = -4
Therefore, -4 is the common difference of the sequence 15, 11, 7, 3, ...

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Let’s check if the given sequences below illustrate an arithmetic sequence or not.
1. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19
Solution:
7–3=4
The sequence illustrates an arithmetic
11 – 7 = 4 sequence since it has a common
difference of 4.
15 – 11= 4
19 – 15= 4
2. 4, 16, 64, 256
Solution:
16 – 4 = 12 The sequence is not arithmetic
sequence since it has no common
64 – 16 = 48
difference.
256 – 64 = 192
1 1
3. 1, , 0, - 2
2

Solution:
1 1
− 1 = −2
2 The sequence illustrates an arithmetic
1 1 sequence since it has a common
0 − 2 = −2 1
difference of− .
2
1 1
-2 − 0 = − 2
1 1 1 1
4. 2, 3, 4, 5, …

Solution:
1 1 1
−2 = −6 The sequence is not arithmetic
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1 1 1 sequence since it has no common
− 3 = − 12 difference.
4
1 1 1
− 4 = − 20
5

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 What is It

Finding the nth term of an Arithmetic Sequence

The nth term, 𝑎𝑛 of an arithmetic sequence can be determine using the formula:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 where,
𝑎1 refers to the first term
n refers to the number of the term from 𝑎1 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑛
d refers to the common difference
There are instances that problems on arithmetic sequences will not just focus on finding
the nth term but as well as finding 𝑎1 , 𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑑. Please see examples below.
Examples:
1. Find the 25th term of the arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, 19,...
Solution:
Using the formula, 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 , determine the following and substitute.
𝑎1 = 3 𝑛 = 25 𝑑 =7−3 = 4
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
𝑎25 = 3 + (25 − 1)4 Therefore, the 25th term of the
𝑎25 = 3 + (24)4 arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, 19,...
is 99.
𝑎25 = 3 + (24)4
𝑎25 = 3 + 96
𝑎25 = 99
𝟏
2. Find the 9th term of the arithmetic sequence with 𝒂𝟏 = 10 and d =− 𝟐 .

Solution: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
1
𝑎9 = 10 + (9 − 1)(− 2) Therefore, the 9th term of the arithmetic
1 sequence is 6.
𝑎9 = 10 + (8)(− )
2
8
𝑎9 = 10 + − 2

𝑎9 = 10 + −4
𝑎9 = 6

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 3. Find 𝒂𝟏 if 𝒂𝟖 = 54 and 𝒂𝟗 = 60.
Solution:
Note that the problem above is finding𝑎1 , to get the common difference 𝑑:
𝑑 = 𝑎9 − 𝑎8
𝑑 = 60 − 54
𝑑= 6
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 Use the formula
𝑎9 = 𝑎1 + (9 − 1)6 Substitute 𝑎𝑛 to 𝑎9 since it is the last term
60 = 𝑎1 + (8)6 Substitute the values and operate.

60 = 𝑎1 + (8)6
60 = 𝑎1 + 48
60 − 48 = 𝑎1 + 48 − 48 Addition Property of Equality

12 = 𝑎1 or 𝑎1 = 12 Reflexive Property of Equality

Therefore, 𝑎1 or the first term of the sequence is 12.

4. Which term of the arithmetic sequence is −18, given that 𝑎1 = 7 and 𝑎2 = 2?
Solution:
The problem above is finding n, the common difference is 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 2 − 7 = −5 and
𝑎𝑛 = 18.
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 Use the formula
𝑎𝑛 = 7 + (𝑛 − 1)(−5) Substitute the values
−18 = 7 + (𝑛 − 1)(−5) Distribute -5 to (n-1)
−18 = 7 + (−5𝑛) +5
−18 − 7 − 5 = 7 − 7 + (−5𝑛) +5 − 5 Addition Property of Equality

−30 = −5𝑛
−30 −5𝑛
= Divide both side of the equation by -5
−5 −5

6= 𝑛
Therefore, -18 is the 6th term of the arithmetic sequence.

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Finding the Arithmetic Means
The terms between 𝑎1 and 𝑎𝑛 of an arithmetic sequence are called arithmetic means
of 𝑎1 and 𝑎𝑛 .
For example, given the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
2 4 6 8 10
𝑎1 𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑎4 𝑎5

Arithmetic Means

The arithmetic means of 𝑎1 and 𝑎5 are 𝑎2 ,𝑎3 and 𝑎4 which are 4, 6 and 8.
Example 1. Insert one arithmetic mean in the sequence with 𝑎1 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 = 32.
Solution:
Since we must only insert one arithmetic mean between 2 and 32. We can solve this
right away by:
2+32 34
= = 17
2 2

So, the sequence is 2, 17, 32.

Example 2. Find four arithmetic means between 8 and -7.
Solution:
Since we must insert four numbers between 8 and -7, so we have 6 terms in all. That is,
𝑎1 = 8 and 𝑎6 = −7, we can solve d by using the formula.
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 Hence,

𝑎6 = 8 + (6 − 1)𝑑 𝑎2 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑 = 8 + (−3) = 5
−7 = 8 + 5𝑑 𝑎3 = 𝑎2 + 𝑑 = 5 + (−3) = 2
−7 − 8 = 8 − 8 + 5𝑑 𝑎4 = 𝑎3 + 𝑑 = 2 + (−3) = −1
−15 = 5𝑑 𝑎5 = 𝑎4 + 𝑑 = −1 + (−3) = −4
−15 5𝑑
5
= 5

−3 = 𝑑

Therefore, the four arithmetic means between 8 and -7 are 5, 2, -1 and -4.

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Finding the Sum of an Arithmetic Sequence
The Secret of Karl
What is 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 50 + 51 + ... + 98 + 99 + 100?
A famous story tells that this was the problem given by an elementary school
teacher to a famous mathematician to keep him busy. His name was Karl Friedrich
Gauss (1777-1885). He was able to find the sum in just few seconds. Let’s see how
he did it.
First, he paired the numbers, 1 and 100, 2 and 99, 3 and 98, so on and so
forth.

1 + 2 + 3 + ... + 50 + 51 + ... + 98 + 99 + 100

Second, he found out that there were 50 pairs in all, and each pair has a sum
of 101. Then he got the sum of the first 100 terms by: 50 (101) = 5050. Hence, the
derivation of formula in finding the sum of an arithmetic sequence was influenced
by the discovery of Karl.
With this, the formula for the sum of the n terms in an arithmetic sequence
with a1as the first term and an as the last term is:
𝒏
Sn = (a1 + an)
𝟐

Since we know that 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑, then by substitution, we have

𝒏 𝒏
Sn = [a1 + a1+ (n-1) d] or Sn = [2a1 + (n-1) d]
𝟐 𝟐

Example 1: Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the arithmetic sequence
4, 10, 16 …
Solution:
a1 = 4; n = 10; d = 6; S10 = ?
𝒏
Sn = 𝟐
[2a1 + (n-1) d]
𝟏𝟎
S10 = 𝟐 [2(4) + (10-1) 6]
S10 = 5 [8 + (9) 6]
S10 = 5 (62)
S10 = 310

Therefore, the sum of the first 10 terms is 310.

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Example 2: Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic series if the first
term is -3 and the last is 39.

Solution:
a1 = - 3; n = 20; an = 39
𝒏
Sn = 𝟐
(a1 +an)

𝟐𝟎
S10 = 𝟐
(-3 + 39)

S10 = 10 (36)

S10 = 360

What’s More

Activity 1.1. Determine whether the sequence is arithmetic or not. If it is, find the common
difference and the next three terms.
1. 2, 5, 8, 11,…
2. 2, -4, 6, -8, -10,…
3. -6, -10, -14, -18,…
4. 40, 42, 44, 46,…
5. 1.2, 1.8, 2.4,…
6. 1, 5, 9, 13,..
1 1 1 1
7. 2, 3, 4, 5,…

8. √5 , √6 , √7 , √8 ,…
9. 98, 95, 92, 89,..
4 5
10. 1, 3 , 3 , 2,…

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Activity 1.2. Insert the indicated number of arithmetic means between the given first and
last terms of an arithmetic sequence.

Number of
𝑎1 𝑎𝑛 arithmetic means
to be inserted
1. 68 3 4
2. 10 40 5
3.
1 2 2
2
4. a b 1
5. x+y 4x-2y 2

Activity 1.3. Determine the term indicated in each of the following arithmetic sequences.
1) 2, 4, 6, … 15th term ______

2) 13, 16, 19, 22, … 25th term ______

3) 99, 88, 77, 66, … 18th term ______

4) _1_, _1_, _3_, _1_, … 20th term ______

8 4 8 2

5) 99, 87, 75, 63, … 12th term ______

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 What I Have Learned

Do each of the following.

1. What should be the value of x so that x + 2, 3x – 2, 7x – 12 will form an arithmetic
sequence? Justify your answer.
2. Make a concept map for arithmetic sequences.

What I Can Do

Use the nth term of an arithmetic sequence (𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅) to answer

the following questions.
1. Find the 25th term of the arithmetic sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, 19,...
2. The second term of an arithmetic sequence is 24 and the fifth term is 3. Find the first term
and the common difference.
3. Give the arithmetic sequence of 5 terms if the first term is 8 and the last term is 100.
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4. Find the 9th term of the arithmetic sequence with a1= 10 and d =−2 .

5. How many terms are there in an arithmetic sequence with a common difference of 4 and
with first and last terms 3 and 59, respectively?
6. Which term of the arithmetic sequence is −18, given that a1 = 7 and a2 = 2?
7. How many terms are in an arithmetic sequence whose first term is -3, common difference is
2, and last term is 23?

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 Assessment

Read each item carefully and write the letter of the correct answer on the space provided
before the number.
_____1. Which of the following is an arithmetic sequence?
a. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9... c. 1, -1, -3, -5...
b. 1, 10, 20, 30... d. 7, -7, 7, -7...
_____2. 3,−2,−7,⋯ is an arithmetic sequence. What is the common difference of the
sequence?
a. 1 b. -5 c. 5 d. -1
_____3. a1=3 and a2=7. Which is true?
a. an=4n−3 b. an=4n+3 c. an=4n−1 d. an=4n+1
_____4. a3=4 and a5= 14. What is the common difference?
a. 6 b. 5 c. 4 d. 3
______5. If a1=4 and the common difference is 3, then what is the sum of the first twenty
terms of the sequence?
a. 620 b. 630 c. 640 d. 650
_____6. a1=−3 and a5=5. Find a10?
a. 14 b. 15 c. 16 d. 17
_____7. If a3=11 and a5=7 and ak is the k-th term of the sequence and ak=−9, then what is the
value of k?
a. 11 b. 12 c. 13 d. 14
_____8. If an=2n−8, then which one is not a term of this sequence?
a. 13 b. 16 c. 204 d. 198
_____9. −7,−4,−1,2,5,⋯ is an arithmetic sequence. What is the common difference?
a. -3 b. 3 c. 4 d. -4
_____10. an=3n+2 and bn=2−3n and cn=an+bn. Find c4?
a. -4 b. 12 c. 28 d. 4

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 Additional Activities

Answer the following word problems involving arithmetic sequence.

1. A writer wrote 890 words on the first day, 760 words on the second day and 630 words on
the third day and so on in an arithmetic sequence. How many words did the writer write in a
week?
2. There are 130 students in grade 7, 210 students in grade 8, 290 students in grade 8 and so
on in an arithmetic sequence. What is the total number of students in the secondary school?
3. A ceres bus travels 300 m the first minute, 420 the second minute, 540 m the third minute,
and so on in arithmetic sequence. What is the total distance the ceres bus travels in 5
minutes?

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References

Mathematics 10 Learner’s Module

https://www.slideshare.net/denmarmarasigan/arithmetic-sequences-and-
arithmetic-means
https://www.math10.com/en/tests/
https://www.slideshare.net/sophiamarieverdeflor/arithmetic-sequence-real-life-
problems

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Resources Management Section)

P. Nellas St., Poblacion III, Carcar City , Cebu

Philippines 6019

Tel. No. (032) 487 8495

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