NAME: _____________________________ YEAR & SECTION: _______________

Mathematics 10 – 1st Quarter, Week 2:

Arithmetic Sequence
DEFINITION

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence where every term after the first is obtained by adding a
constant called the common difference.

Common difference (d) is the constant number added to the preceding term of the arithmetic
sequence. It can be calculated by subtracting any two consecutive terms in the arithmetic sequence.

In general, the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence with a1 as first term and d as common
difference are
a1, a1 + d, a1 + 2d1, …, a1 + (n – 1)d.
If a1 and d are known, it is easy to find any term in an arithmetic sequence by using the rule

an = a1 + (n – 1)d.
Example: What is the 10th term of the arithmetic sequence 5, 12, 19, 26, ...?
Solution: Since a1 = 5 and d = 7, then a10 = 5 + (10 – 1) (7) = 68.

Things to Remember
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.
To find the common difference, d, simply subtract the first term from the second term, a2 – a1,
or the second term from the third term, a3 – a2, or the third term from the fourth term, a4 – a3; or in
general,
d = an – an – 1

ACTIVITY 1: What is missing?

Directions: Find the missing terms in each arithmetic sequence.

A.
1. 3, 12, 21, ____, ____, ____ 6. 17, 14, ____, ____, 5, ____

2. 8, 3, -2, ____, ____, ____ 7. 4, ____, ____, 19, 24, ____, …

3. 5, 12, ____, 26, ____, ____ 8. ____, ____, ____, 8, 12, 16

4. 2, ____, 20, 29, ____, ____ 9. -1, ____, ____, ____, 31, 39

5. ____, 4, 10, 16, ____, ____ 10. 13, ____, ____, ____, -11, -17

B.
Find three terms between 2 and 34 of an arithmetic sequence.
2, ____, ____, ____, 34

Mastery Tests
 A. Determine whether the sequence is arithmetic or not.
1. 2, 5, 8, 11, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
2. 2, -4, 6, -8, 10, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
3. -6, -10, -14, -18, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
4. 40, 42, 44, 46, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
5. 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
6. 1, 5, 9, 13, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
7. 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
8. √ 5, √ 6 , √ 7 , … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
9. 98, 95, 92, 89, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic
10. 1, 4/3, 5/3, 2, … □ arithmetic □ not arithmetic

B. Find the next three terms of the given arithmetic sequence.

1. 1, 10, 19, 28, ____, ____, ____
2. 1, 3, 5, 7, ____, ____, ____
3. 5.5, 7, 8.5, 10, ____, ____, ____
4. 43, 39, 35, ____, ____, ____
5. 7, 4, 1, ____, ____, ____

C. Give the common difference of the following sequence.

1. 2, 4, 6, … d = _____ 6. -8, -3, 2, 7, … d = _____
2. 13, 16, 19, 22, … d = _____ 7. 91, 84, 77, 70,… d = _____
3. 99, 88, 77, 66, … d = _____ 8. √ 3, 2 √3 , 3 √ 3, …d = _____
4. 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, … d = _____ 9. 25, 34, 43, 52, … d = _____
5. 99, 87, 75, 63, … d = _____ 10. 10, 4, -2, -8, … d = _____

D. Solve the following problems. (5 points each)

1. Mr. Simon bought a house at the beginning of 1995 for PhP 150,000.00. If it increased
PhP 10,000.00 in value each year, how much was it worth at the end of 2005?
ANSWER: _______________

2. A restaurant has square tables which seat four people. When two tables are placed together,
six people can be seated. (see the diagram)

If 20 square tables are placed together to form one long table, how many people can be
seated?
ANSWER: _______________