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Lesson 2
Illustration of
Arithmetic
Sequence
Activity 1: What do we have in common?
1.Below are squares formed by matchsticks.

2. Count the number of matchsticks in each figure and record

the results in a table.

number of squares 1 2 3 4

number of matchsticks        
 number of squares 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

number of matchsticks                    

Guide Questions:
• Is there a pattern in the number of matchsticks? If there is,
described it.
• How is each term (number of matchsticks) found? What is
the difference between any two consecutive terms?
number of
squares 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

number of
 4 7 10  13   16 19 22  25  28  31  34 37
34 37
matchsticks

+3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3

Notice that a constant number, 3, is added to each

term to get the next term in the sequence.
http://www.virtualnerd.com/algebra-2/sequences-series/a
rithmetic/arithmetic-sequences/arithmetic-sequence-defi
nition

http://www.virtualnerd.com/algebra-2/sequences-series/arit
hmetic/arithmetic-sequences/common-difference-definition

http://www.virtualnerd.com/algebra-2/sequences-series/ari
thmetic/arithmetic-sequences/sequence-common-differen
ce-example
 A sequence where each succeeding term is
obtained by adding a fixed number is called an
arithmetic sequence. The fixed number is called
the common difference d.

To identify if a pattern is an arithmetic sequence,

we must examine consecutive terms. If all
consecutive terms have a common difference
you can conclude that the sequence is arithmetic.
 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
 
Illustrative example:
1. Determine if the sequence is arithmetic or
not. If it is, find the common difference and the
next three terms.
-11, -4, 3, 10, …
Solution:
To find out if the sequence is arithmetic, there must be a common difference
between any two terms in the sequence. So that
d = a2 – a1 = -4 – (-11) = 7
= a3 – a2 = 3 – (-4) = 7
= a4 – a3 = 10 – 3 = 7
The sequence is arithmetic, and the common difference is 7. The next
three terms are obtained by adding 7 to the preceding term, so that
a5 = a4 + 7 = 10 + 7 = 17
a6 = a5 + 7 = 17 + 7 = 24
a7 = a6 + 7 = 24 + 7 = 31
 Let’s try this one…
Activity 2: Arithmetic or Not?
  1. 2, 5, 8, 11,…
2. 2, -4, 6, -8, 10,…
3. -6, -10, -14, -18,…
4. 40, 42, 44, 46,…
5. 1.2, 1.8, 2.4,…
6. 1, 5, 9, 13,…

8. …
9. 98, 95, 92, 89,…
10. 1,
 Common
Sequence Yes No
Difference
1. 12, 16, 20, 24, ….      
2. 35, 32, 29, 26, …      
3. 40, 45, 50, 55, …      
4. -3. -23, -43, -63, …      
5. 4, 9, 13, 17, …      
6. -34, -64, -94, -124, …      
7. -30, -40, -50, -60, …      
8. -8, -3, 1, 4, …      
9. -7, -9, -11, -13, …      
10. 9, 14, 19, 24, …      
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