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Addition and subtraction Multiplication and division SubstitutionHere you will learn what an arithmetic sequence is, how to continue an arithmetic sequence and how to generate an arithmetic sequence.
Students will first learn about arithmetic sequences as part of algebra in high school.
Arithmetic sequences (arithmetic progressions) are ordered sets of numbers that have a common difference (d) between each consecutive term.
If you add or subtract the same number each time to make the sequence, it is an arithmetic sequence.
For example,
A recursive formula uses the previous number in the sequence to determine the successive number.
The arithmetic sequence recursive formula is:
a_{n+1}= a_n + dWhere,
a_{n} is the n th term (general term)
a_{n+1} is the term after n
n is the term position
d is the common difference
An arithmetic sequence uses the position of the n th term of a sequence to calculate the n th term.
The arithmetic sequence explicit formula is:
a_n=a_1+d(n-1)Where,
a_{n} is the n th term (general term)
a_{1} is the first term
n is the term position
d is the common difference
You create both arithmetic sequence formulas by looking at the following example:
You can see the common difference (d) is 6, so d=6.
The recursive formula is a_{n+1}=a_n+d, for a_1=3.
\begin{aligned} & a_2=a_1+6=3+6=9 \\\\ & a_3=a_2+6=9+6=15 \\\\ & a_4=a_3+6=15+6=21 \\\\ & a_5=a_4+6=21+6=27 \end{aligned}The explicit formula is a_n=a_1+d(n-1), for a_1=3.
\begin{aligned} & a_2=3+6(2-1)=3+6(1)=9 \\\\ & a_3=3+6(3-1)=3+6(2)=15 \\\\ & a_4=3+6(4-1)=3+6(3)=21 \\\\ & a_5=3+6(5-1)=3+6(4)=27 \end{aligned}How does this relate to high school math?
Use this worksheet to check your grade 9 to 12 students’ understanding of arithmetic sequence formula. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREEUse this worksheet to check your grade 9 to 12 students’ understanding of arithmetic sequence formula. 15 questions with answers to identify areas of strength and support!
DOWNLOAD FREEIn order to continue an arithmetic series:
Calculate the next three terms for the arithmetic sequence shown in the graph below.
There are 5 terms shown. Any two consecutive terms of a geometric sequence can be used. Let’s use the third term and the fourth term: (3,10) and (4,13).
The x coordinate is the term position (first, second, third, etc.). The y coordinate is the actual term value.
So (3,10) is a_3=10 and (4,13) is the a_4=13.
2Subtract the first term from the next term to find the common difference, \textbf{d}.
d=13-10=33Add the common difference to the last term in the sequence to find the next term.
16+3=194Repeat Step \bf{3} for each new term.
\begin{aligned} & 19+3=22 \\\\ & 22+3=25 \end{aligned}The next three terms in the sequence are 19, 22, and 25.
Calculate the next three terms for the sequence in the table below.
To identify \textbf{d}, take two consecutive terms from the sequence.
There are 5 terms shown. Any two consecutive terms of a geometric sequence can be used. Let’s use the third term and the fourth term: (3,–15) and (4,–21).
In the table, the x value is the term position (first, second, third, etc.). The y value is the actual term value.
Subtract the first term from the next term to find the common difference, \textbf{d}.
Add the common difference to the last term in the sequence to find the next term.
Repeat Step \bf{3} for each new term.
The next three terms are -33, -39, and -45.
In order to find a formula for an arithmetic sequence:
Write the recursive and explicit formula for the sequence below.
0.1, \, 0.3, \, 0.5, \, 0.7, \, 0.9, …Identify the first term.
Subtract the second term by the first term to find the common difference, \textbf{d}.
Write the recursive formula, \bf{\textbf{a}}_{\textbf{n}_+1}={\textbf{a}}_{\textbf{n}}+{\textbf{d}}.
Replace d with 0.2 in the formula.
a_{n+1}=a_n+0.2
Write the explicit formula, \bf{\textbf{a}}_{\textbf{n}}={\textbf{a}}_1+{\textbf{d}}({\textbf{n}}-1).
Replace a_1 with 0.1 and d with 0.2 in the formula.
a_n=0.1+(0.2){n-1}
This can also be simplified to a_n=0.2n-0.1.
Write the recursive and explicit formula for the sequence below.
\cfrac{1}{2} \, , \, \cfrac{3}{4}\, , \, 1 \, , \, \cfrac{5}{4} \, , \, \cfrac{3}{2} \, , \ldotsIdentify the first term.
Subtract the second term by the first term to find the common difference, \textbf{d}.
Write the recursive formula, \bf{\textbf{a}}_{\textbf{n}_+1}={\textbf{a}}_{\textbf{n}}+{\textbf{d}}.
Replace d with \cfrac{1}{4} in the formula.
a_{n+1}=a_n+\cfrac{1}{4}
Write the explicit formula, \bf{\textbf{a}}_{\textbf{n}}={\textbf{a}}_1+{\textbf{d}}({\textbf{n}}-1).
Replace a_1 with \cfrac{1}{2} and d with \cfrac{1}{4} in the formula.
a_n=\cfrac{1}{2}+\cfrac{1}{4} \, (n-1)
This can also be simplified to a_n=\cfrac{1}{4} \, n+\cfrac{1}{4}.
In order to translate between recursive and explicit formulas:
The recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence is a_{n+1}=a_n-2.5 and a_1=3.1.
Identify the common difference, \textbf{d} and first term, \bf{\textbf{a}_1}.
d is the constant in the recursive formula, so d=-2.5 and a_1=3.1.
Rewrite the formula.
The explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence is a_n=a_1+d(n-1).
The explicit formula for this sequence is a_n=3.1+[-2.5(n-1)].
This can also be simplified to a_n=-2.5 n+5.6.
The explicit formula for an arithmetic sequence is a_n=2,000+4.5(n-1).
Identify the common difference, \textbf{d} and first term, \bf{\textbf{a}_1}.
a_1 is the constant in the explicit formula, so a_1=2,000.
d is the coefficient in the explicit formula, so d=4.5.
Rewrite the formula.
The recursive formula of an arithmetic sequence is a_{n+1}=a_n+d.
The recursive formula for this sequence is a_{n+1}=a_n+4.5 and a_1=2,000.
Note: Always define a_1 with the recursive formula.
1) Calculate the next three terms for the sequence in the graph below.
In the graph, the x coordinate is the term position (first, second, third, etc.). The y coordinate is the actual term value.
There are 4 terms shown. Any two consecutive terms of a geometric sequence can be used to find the common difference. Let’s use the first term and the second term: (1,0.22) and (2,0.32).
The common difference:
d = 0.32-0.22 = 0.1
Use the common difference to calculate the next three terms.
0.52+0.1=0.62
0.62+0.1=0.72
0.72+0.1=0.82
2) Calculate the next three terms for the given sequence below.
In the table, the x value is the term position (first, second, third, etc.). The y value is the actual term value.
There are 5 terms shown. Any two consecutive terms of a geometric sequence can be used to find the common ratio. Let’s use the first term and the second term: (1,5) and (2,3).
The common difference:
d = 3-5 = -2
Use the common difference to calculate the next three terms.
-3+(-2)=-5
-5+(-2)=-7
-7+(-2)=-9
3) What is the recursive formula for the sequence -37, -31, -25, -19, -13, …?
a_{n+1}=a_n-6 and a_1=-37
a_{n+1}=a_n+6 and a_1=-37
Identify the first term.
a_1=-37
The common difference:
d=-31-(-37) = 6
Write the recursive formula, a_{n+1}=a_n+d.
Replace d with 6 in the formula.
a_{n+1}=a_n+6
4) What is the explicit formula for the sequence \cfrac{3}{4} \, , \, \cfrac{5}{4} \, , \, \cfrac{7}{4} \, , \, \cfrac{9}{4} \, , \, \cfrac{11}{4}, \ldots?
a_{n+1}=\cfrac{3}{4}+\cfrac{2}{4} \,(n-1) and a_1=\cfrac{3}{4}
Identify the first term.
a_1=\cfrac{3}{4}
The common difference:
\begin{aligned} & d=\cfrac{5}{4}-\cfrac{3}{4} \\\\ & d=\cfrac{2}{4} \end{aligned}
Write the explicit formula, a_n=a_1+d(n-1).
Replace a_1 with \cfrac{3}{4} and d with \cfrac{2}{4} in the formula.
a_n=\cfrac{3}{4}+\cfrac{2}{4} \, (n-1)
This can also be simplified to a_n=\cfrac{2}{4} \, n+\cfrac{1}{4}.
5) The recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence is a_{n+1}=a_n-0.05 and a_1=-1. What is the explicit formula?
d is the coefficient in the recursive formula, so d=-0.05 and a_1=-1.
The explicit formula of an arithmetic sequence is a_n=a_1+d(n-1).
The explicit formula for this sequence is a_n=-1+[-0.05(n-1)].
This can also be simplified to a_n=-0.05 n-0.95.
6) The explicit formula for an arithmetic sequence is a_n=3.4+2(n-1). What answer choice does NOT represent the sequence?
First five terms: 3.4, 5.4, 7.4, 9.4, 11.4
a_{n+1}=a_n+2 and a_1=3.4
Use the distributive property to simplify.
\begin{aligned} & a_n=3.4+2(n-1) \\\\ & a_n=3.4+2 n-2 \\\\ & a_n=2 n+3.4-2 \\\\ & a_n=2 n+1.4 \end{aligned}
AND
The first five terms:
\begin{aligned} & a_1=3.4+2(1-1)=3.4+2(0)=3.4 \\\\ & a_2=3.4+2(2-1)=3.4+2(1)=5.4 \\\\ & a_3=3.4+2(3-1)=3.4+2(2)=7.4 \\\\ & a_4=3.4+2(4-1)=3.4+2(3)=9.4 \\\\ & a_5=3.4+2(5-1)=3.4+2(4)=11.4 \end{aligned}
AND
a_1 is the coefficient in the explicit formula, so a_1=3.4.
d is the coefficient in the explicit formula, so d=2.
The recursive formula of an arithmetic sequence is a_{n+1}=a_n+d.
The recursive formula for this sequence is a_{n+1}=a_n+2 and a_1=3.4.
Unless defined otherwise, a sequence can extend infinitely, meaning the list of numbers (or terms) never stops, so there is no last number in the sequence.
The recursive formula requires the term before it to calculate the next term. The explicit formula uses the term position (n th term of an arithmetic sequence ) to calculate the term value.
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