Section 13.

2 Arithmetic Sequences

When the difference between successive terms of a sequence is always the same number (called the common difference), the sequence is arithmetic. The general formula for an arithmetic sequence is : difference An arithmetic sequence may be defined recursively as: Given the sequence {2, 5, 8, 11, 14, ...}, we find the common difference to be 3 and can find the next ( ) , where d is the common

term by using the general formula: ( )

Now find the 50th term of the above sequence: Using the general formula for an arithmetic sequence, we get ( )

To show that a sequence is arithmetic: Find the first term and the common difference. Example: Show that the sequence * + The first term is ( Their difference is ) ( * . The ( and ) ( ) + is arithmetic: )st and th terms are

Since the difference of two successive terms does not depend on (it always equals the same number, -1), the sequence is arithmetic and the common difference is -1.

Assignment: 2, 4, 12, 14, 20, 22