Arithmetic Sequences
Arithmetic Sequence Notes
An __arithmetic_________ sequence is a set of __numbers/terms__ where the difference
between each pair of _consecutive_____ terms are the same. We call this difference the
common___difference______.
Find the common difference, d, for each arithmetic sequence.
2, 5, 8, 11, 14, …
5 - 2 = 3
8 - 5 = 3
11 - 8 = 3
14 - 11 = 3
common difference = 3
2. 7, 3, -1, -5, …
3 - 7 = -4
-1 - 3 = -4
-5 - -1= -4
common difference = -4
3. 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, …
9 - 4 = 5
14 - 9 = 5
19 - 14 = 5
24 - 19 = 5
common difference = 5
Terminology
d - difference
a1- first term
a2- second term
an- nth term
an-1- n -1 term