AR I T H M ET IC S E Q U E N C E

QUARTER 1 LESSON 2
OBJECTIVES:
•Define arithmetic sequence;
•Derive the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic
sequence; and
•Given the first few terms of an arithmetic sequence, find the
common difference and the nth term for the specified n.
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE
A sequence in which a constant, d , is added
to the previous term to get the next term is
called an arithmetic sequence. The constant is
called the common difference.
 For each arithmetic sequence, identify the first term , the
common difference , and next term in the sequence.
Sequence First term, d Next term

2, 5, 8, 11, … 2 3 14
1, , 1 2
1 3 2
3

17, 12, 7, 2, -3 17 -5 -8
2, 5, 8, 11, …

MEANING…

THEREFORE, NTH TERM OF AN ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE IS

Find the 16th tern of the sequence 1, 5, 9, 13, …

GIVEN
SOLUTION

since 9-5=4
n=16
Find the 2oth term of the sequence 25, 23, 21, 19,
17, … SOLUTION

GIVEN

since 23-25=-2

n=20
Find the nth term of the sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, …
Subsitute the values of a and d

GIVEN

Therefore
since 7-3=4
Find the nth term of the sequence 1, 5, 9, 13, …

Subsitute the values of a and d

GIVEN

since 5-1=4 Therefore

In the sequence 50, 45, 40, 35, …, which term is 5?

GIVEN Subsitute

since 45-50=-5

Therefore
5 is the 10th term or
In the sequence 7, 10, 13, 16, …, which term is 43?
Subsitute

GIVEN

since 10-7=3

Therefore
43 is the 13th term or
The 4th term of an arithmetic sequence is 34 and
the 10th term is 22. Find
A company offers jeffrey a starting
yearly salary of php 240, 000 with
raises of php 20, 000 per year. What
will be his salary on the 10 year?
th
PRACTICE
CHECK WHETHER THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES ARE
ARITHMETIC.
1. 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, …
2.9, 13, 17, 21, 25,...
3.1, -1, 1, -1, 1, -1,...
4.a - 3, a - 5, a -7,...
ARITHMETIC EXTREMES
The first and last terms of a finite
arithmetic sequences and the terms in
between are called ARITHMETIC MEANS.
 In the sequence 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24; the
terms 4 and 24 are the arithmetic
extremes, while 8, 12, 16, and 20 are the
arithmetic means. Also, 8 is the arithmetic
mean of the arithmetic extremes, 4 and 12.
The arithmetic mean between two numbers is
sometimes called the average of two numbers.
If more than one arithmetic means will be
inserted between two arithmetic extremes, the
formula for d, which is can be used.
EXAMPLE

A. What is the arithmetic mean between 10 and 24?

17 is the arithmetic mean of 10 and 24.

B. Insert three arithmetic means between 8 and 16.
Solution:
• If three arithmetic means will be inserted between 8 and 16, then
and
• Using the formula for d, compute for the common difference.
• The arithmetic means are

• Thus, the three arithmetic means between the arithmetic extremes,

8 and 16, are 10, 12, and 14.
FIND THE SUM OF THE TERMS OF THE GIVEN
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

If first and last term is given

If last term is not given