ARITHMETIC &

GEOMETRIC
SEQUENCES
 OBJECTIVE
differentiates a geometric sequence from
an arithmetic sequence (M10AL-Id-1)
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

• In an Arithmetic Sequence the difference between one

term and the next term is a constant.
• We just add some value each time on to infinity.
• For example:
• 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, …
• This sequence has a difference of 3 between each number.
• It’s rule is an = 3n – 2.
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

• In general, we can write an arithmetic sequence like this:

• a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, …
• a is the first term.
• d is the difference between the terms (called the “common
difference”)
• The rule is:
• xn = a + d(n-1)
• (We use “n-1” because d is not used on the 1st term.)
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

• For each sequence, if it is arithmetic,

find the common difference.
1. d = -3
1. -3, -6, -9, -12, …
2. d = 1.1
2. 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, … 3. d = -9
3. 41, 32, 23, 14, 5, … 4. Not an arithmetic
sequence.
4. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, …
 ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE

• Write the explicit rule for the sequence Find the 12th term of this sequence.
• 19, 13, 7, 1, -5, … Substitute 12 in for “n.”
• Start with the formula: xn = a + d(n-1) x12 = 19 - 6(12-1)
• a is the first term = 19 x12 = 19 - 6(11)
• d is the common difference: -6 x12 = 19 – 66
• The rule is: x12 = 19 - 6(12-1)
• xn = 19 - 6(n-1)
x12 = -47
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

• In a Geometric Sequence each term is found by

multiplying the pervious term by a constant.
• For example:
• 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, …
• The sequence has a factor of 2 between each number.
• It’s rule is xn = 2n
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

• In general we can write a geometric sequence like this:

• a, ar, ar2, ar3, …
• a is the first term
• r is the factor between the terms (called the “common
ratio”).
• The rule is xn = ar(n-1)
• We use “n-1” because ar0 is the 1st term.
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

• For each sequence, if it is geometric,

find the common ratio.
1. r = 4
1. 2, 8, 32, 128, …
2. r = 1.1
2. 1, 10, 100, 1000, … 3. r = -1
3. 1, -1, 1, -1, … 4. Not a geometric sequence.
4. 20, 16, 12, 8, 4, …
 GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

• Write the explicit rule for the sequence Find the 12th term of this sequence.
• 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, … Substitute 12 in for “n.”
• Start with the formula: xn = ar(n-1) x12 = (3)(2)(12-1)
• a is the first term = 3 x12 = (3)(2)(11)
• r is the common ratio: 2 x12 = (3)(2048)
• The rule is: x12 = 6,144
• xn = (3)(2)(n-1)
• (Order of operations states that we would take care of exponents before you multiply.)
EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ARITHMETIC
AND GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE.
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