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3 Introduction To Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence where each term is obtained by adding a constant value (the common difference) to the preceding term. The common difference is the constant number added between consecutive terms and can be calculated by subtracting any two consecutive terms. The explicit formula for finding the nth term of an arithmetic sequence is: an = a1 + (n - 1)d, where an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, n is the number of terms, and d is the common difference. Some examples are worked out using this formula to find later terms of arithmetic sequences.

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80 views1 page

3 Introduction To Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence where each term is obtained by adding a constant value (the common difference) to the preceding term. The common difference is the constant number added between consecutive terms and can be calculated by subtracting any two consecutive terms. The explicit formula for finding the nth term of an arithmetic sequence is: an = a1 + (n - 1)d, where an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, n is the number of terms, and d is the common difference. Some examples are worked out using this formula to find later terms of arithmetic sequences.

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Ashly Denise
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Lecture# 3: Introduction to Arithmetic Sequence

STEP 2: Solve using the formula


An arithmetic sequence is a sequence where every term after the first term 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅
𝑎16 = 1 + (16 − 1)4
is obtained by adding a constant called the common difference.
𝑎16 = 1 + (15)4
𝑎16 = 1 + 60
Common difference denoted by d is the constant number added to the 𝒂𝟏𝟔 = 𝟔𝟏
preceding term of the arithmetic sequence. It can be calculated by
subtracting any two consecutive term in the arithmetic sequence. The 16th term of the sequence 1, 5, 9, 13, … is 61

Examples: 2) Find the 30th term of the sequence 3, 6, 9, 12, …


Find the first term and the common difference of each: Solution:
STEP 1: Supply the given
1.) 4,9,14,19, 24 Given: an = ?
a1 = 3
First term (a): 4
n = 30
Common difference (d): = 9 – 4 = 5 d=3
Ascending order: Common difference is POSITIVE
STEP 2: Solve using the formula
2.) 34, 27, 20,13,6, −1, −8,.... 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅
First term (a): 34 𝒂𝟑𝟎 = 𝟑 + (𝟑𝟎 − 𝟏)3
𝒂𝟑𝟎 = 𝟑 + (𝟐𝟗)3
Common difference (d): = – 7
𝒂𝟑𝟎 = 𝟑 + 𝟖𝟕
Descending order: Common difference is NEGATIVE
𝒂𝟑𝟎 = 𝟗𝟎
BE CAREFUL: ALWAYS CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE DIFFERENCE IS THE SAME
BETWEEN EACH TERM ! The 30th term of the sequence 3, 6, 9, 12, … is 90

3) In the arithmetic sequence 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, …, what is the 80th term?
Nth term of an arithmetic sequence Solution:
Explicit Formula : STEP 1: Supply the given
𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏) 𝒅 Given: an = ?
Where: a1 = 4
an = nth term n= number of terms n = 80
a1 = 1st term d = common difference d=4

Examples: STEP 2: Solve using the formula


1) Find the 16th term of the sequence 1, 5, 9, 13, … 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅
Solution: 𝑎80 = 4 + (80 − 1)4
STEP 1: Supply the given 𝑎80 = 4 + (79)4
Given: an = ? 𝑎80 = 4 + 316
a1 = 1 𝒂𝟖𝟎 = 𝟑𝟐𝟎
n = 16
d=4 The 80th term of the sequence 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, … is 320

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