ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

- Arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the difference between the
consecutive terms is constant.

Examples :

1. 2 , 4 , 6 , 8,… solution 4–2=2 6–4=6 8–6=2

2. 25 , 20, 15, 10,… solution 20 – 25 = -5 15 -20 = -5 10 – 15 = -5
3. 4 , 11, 18, 25 solution 11 – 4 = 7 18 – 11 = 7 25 – 18 = 7
4. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 solution 10 – 3 = 7 17 – 10 = 7 24 – 17 = 7 31 – 24 =7

Formula

WHERE :

PROBLEM 1
Find the 7th term of an arithmetic sequence given the first 3 terms 2, 5, 10.
Formula
Given :
a₁ = 2
d=4
n=7
a₇ = ?
SOLUTION
a₇= 2 + (7 – 1 ) ( 4 )
= 2 + ( 6 )(4)
= 2 + 24
a₇ = 26
PROBLEM 2
Find the 10th term of an arithmetic sequence given the first 4 terms 10, 19, 28, 37
FORMULA
GIVEN
a₁ = 10
d=9
n = 10
a₁₀ = ?
SOLUTION
19 – 10 = 9…
FORMULA
a₁₀ = 10 + (10 – 1 ) (9)
= 10 + (9)(9)
= 10 + 81
 a₁₀ = 91
DRILL
PROBLEM 1
Find the 12th term of an arithmetic sequence whose first term is 38 and common
difference of -2
FORMULA
GIVEN
a₁ = 38
d = -2
n = 12
a₁₂ = ?
SOLUTION
FORMULA
a₁₂ = 38 + (12 – 1 )( -2 )
= 38 + (11)(-2)
= 38 -22
a₁₂ = 16
CHALLENGE
PROBLEM 1
What is the 1st term of an arithmetic sequence with common difference of 5 and its fourth
term is 32.

____ ____ ____ 32

FORMULA
[[[[[[[[[
GIVEN
a₁ = ?
d=5
n=4
a₄ = 32
SOLUTION
FORMULA
32 = a₁ + (4-1)(5)
= a₁ + (3)(5)
= a₁ + 15 (transpose)

32 – 15 = a₁

PROBLEM 2

Find the 1st term of an arithmetic sequence with common difference of -6 and the 15 th term is 2

FORMULA

GIVEN

a₁ = ?
d = -6

n = 15

a₁₅ = 2

SOLUTION

FORMULA

2 = a₁ + (15 – 1 )(-6)

= a₁ + (14)(-6)

= a₁ - 84

2 + 84 = a₁

DRILL

The 9th term an arithmetic sequence is 78 and its common difference is 8. What is the value of the first
term?

Formula

Given

a₁ = ?

d=8

n=9

a₉ = 78

SOLUTION

Formula

78 = a₁ + ( 9 -1) (8)

= a₁ + (8)(8)

= a₁ + 64

78 – 64 = a₁

a₁ = 14