Objectives:
At the end of this video you will be
able to:
a. illustrate arithmetic sequence;
b. determine nth term of an arithmetic
sequence; and
c. solve problem involving arithmetic
sequence.
What’s Next?
4+3=7
7 + 3 = 10
10 + 3 = 13
13 + 3 = 16
What is an arithmetic sequence?
An arithmetic sequence or
arithmetic progression (AP) is a
sequence of numbers such that
the difference between the
consecutive terms is constant.
𝑎1 = 4
𝑎2 = 7 16 − 13 = 3
𝑎3 = 10 13 − 10 = 3
𝑎4 = 13 10 − 7 = 3
𝑎5 = 16 7−4=3
Common difference
In arithmetic sequence, the
constant difference between
the consecutive terms is
called common difference. It
is usually denoted by d.
𝑑=3
𝑎1 = 4 𝑎2 = 4 + 3 = 7 𝑎3 = 4 + 3 + 3 = 10
𝑎2 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑 𝑎3 = 𝑎1 + 𝑑 + 𝑑
𝑎3 = 𝑎1 + 2𝑑
Hence, 272 is the46 th
term of the sequence
2, 8, 14, 20, 26, …,
𝑑 = 𝑎2 − 𝑎1
𝑑 = 10 − 3
𝑑=7
𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 𝑎3 − 𝑎2
Equation 1 Equation 2
This gives a system of two equations with two
variables. Subtract the 1st equation from the second
equation.
We can find 𝑎1 by substituting 𝑑 = 8 to either of
the two equations.
The car travels 1380 𝑚
in 10 minutes.
Let’s Wrap it Up!
✓ An arithmetic sequence or arithmetic
progression is a sequence of numbers
such that the difference between the
consecutive terms is constant.
✓ The common difference (d) is the
difference of any two consecutive terms
in an arithmetic sequence.
✓ The general formula for the 𝒏𝒕𝒉 term of an
arithmetic sequence is given by
𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 + 𝒏 − 𝟏 𝒅.