Arithmetic Sequences

GROUP 2
WHAT IS ARITHMETIC
SEQUENCES?
An arithmetic sequence is a
sequence in which the difference
between any two consecutive
terms is the same. This constant
difference is called the common
difference denoted by d.
arithmetic sequence common difference
26,31,36,41,… d=31-26=5
12.3,13.8,15.3,16.8,… d=13.8-12.3=1.5
1/3,2/3,1,4/3,5/3,… d=2/3-1/3=1/3

Arithmetic sequence Not an arithmetic

sequence
31-26=5 10-8=2
36-31=5 15-10=5
41-36=5 23-15=8
46-41=5 36-23=13
Example 1
Find the next three terms of the
arithmetic sequence 7,5,3,1,-1,…?
ans.
-1+(-2)=-3 (6th term)
-3+(-2)=-5 (7th term)
-5+(-1)=-7 (8th term)
A sequence with a common difference is
an arithmetic sequence. The nth term of
the sequence is
an=a1+(n-1)d

where a1 is the first and n is the number

of terms, and d is the common difference
Example 2
Find the 14th term of the arithmetic
sequence 3,5,7,9,…?
ans.
an=a1+(n-1)d
a14 =3+(14-1)(2)
a14=3+(13)(2)
a14=3+26
a14=29
Example 3
Find the 7th term of an arithmetic sequence if
the third term is 5 and the fifth term is 11?
ans.
11=5+(3-1)d a6=11+3=14

11=5+2d a7=14+3=17
-2d=5-11
-2d=-6
d=3
Example 4
Insert three arithmetic means between 17
and 1?
ans.
1=17+(5-1)d a2=17+(-4)=13
1=17+4d a3=13+(-4)=9
-4d=16 a4=9+(-4)=5
d=-4
 
Example 5
An object falling from rest travels 16 feet
during the 1st second, 48 feet during the
2nd second, 80 feet during the 3rd second,
and so on. How far does the object fall?
a. After the 7th second?
b. After 7 seconds?