Definition and Basic Examples of Arithmetic

Sequence
An arithmetic sequence is a list of numbers with a definite pattern. If you take any number in the
sequence then subtract it by the previous one, and the result is always the same or constant then
it is an arithmetic sequence.

The constant difference in all pairs of consecutive numbers in a sequence is called common
difference, denoted by the letter “d“. We use the common difference to go from one term to
another. How? Take the current term and add the common difference to get to the next term,
and so on. That is how the terms in the sequence are generated.

Examples of How to Apply the Concept of Arithmetic Sequence

Example 1: Find the next term in the sequence below.

First, find the common difference of each pair of consecutive numbers.

15−7 = 8

23−15 = 8

31−23 = 8

Since the common difference is 8 or written as d = 8, we can find the next term after 31 by
adding 8 to it. Therefore, we have 31 + 8 = 39.

Example 2: Find the next term in the sequence below.

Observe that the sequence is decreasing. We expect to have a common difference that is negative
in value.
24−31 = −7

17−24 = −7

10−17 = −7

To get to the next term, we will add this common difference of d = −7 to the last term in the
sequence. Therefore, 10 + (−7) = 3.

Example 3: Find the next three terms in the sequence below.

Be careful here. Don’t assume that if the terms in the sequence are all negative numbers, it is a
decreasing sequence. Remember, it is decreasing whenever the common difference is negative. So
let’s find the common difference by taking each term and subtracting it by the term that comes
before it.

The common difference here is positive four (+ 4) which makes this an increasing arithmetic
sequence. We can obtain the next three terms by adding the last term by this common difference.
Whatever is the result, add again by 4, and do it one more time.

Here’s the calculation:

The next three terms in the sequence are shown in red.

Example 4: Find the seventh term (7th) in the sequence below.

Sometimes you may encounter a problem in an arithmetic sequence that involves fractions. So be
ready to use your previous knowledge on how to add or subtract fractions.
Also, always make sure that you understand what the question is asking so that you can have the
correct strategy to approach the problem.

In this example, we are asked to find the seventh term, not simply the next term. It is a good
practice to write all the terms in the sequence and label them, if possible.

Now we have a clear understanding on how to work this out. Find the common difference, and
use this to find the seventh term.

Finding the common difference,

Then we find the 7th term by adding the common difference of starting with the 4th term, and
so on. Here’s the complete calculation.

Therefore, the seventh term of the sequence is zero (0). We can write the final answer as,