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a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d

Given the first term and the common difference of an arithmetic sequence, find the first several terms.

  1. Add the common difference to the first term to find the second term.
  2. Add the common difference to the second term to find the third term.
  3. Continue until all of the desired terms are identified.
  4. Write the terms separated by commas within brackets.

Writing terms of arithmetic sequences

Write the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence    with a 1 = 17 and d = 3 .

Adding 3 is the same as subtracting 3. Beginning with the first term, subtract 3 from each term to find the next term.

The first five terms are { 17 , 14 , 11 , 8 , 5 }

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List the first five terms of the arithmetic sequence with a 1 = 1 and d = 5 .

{ 1 ,   6 ,   11 ,   16 ,   21 }

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Given any the first term and any other term in an arithmetic sequence, find a given term.

  1. Substitute the values given for a 1 , a n , n into the formula a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d to solve for d .
  2. Find a given term by substituting the appropriate values for a 1 , n , and d into the formula a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d .

Writing terms of arithmetic sequences

Given a 1 = 8 and a 4 = 14 , find a 5 .

The sequence can be written in terms of the initial term 8 and the common difference d .

{ 8 , 8 + d , 8 + 2 d , 8 + 3 d }

We know the fourth term equals 14; we know the fourth term has the form a 1 + 3 d = 8 + 3 d .

We can find the common difference d .

a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d a 4 = a 1 + 3 d a 4 = 8 + 3 d Write the fourth term of the sequence in terms of   a 1   and   d . 14 = 8 + 3 d Substitute   14   for   a 4 .   d = 2 Solve for the common difference .

Find the fifth term by adding the common difference to the fourth term.

a 5 = a 4 + 2 = 16
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Given a 3 = 7 and a 5 = 17 , find a 2 .

a 2 = 2

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Using recursive formulas for arithmetic sequences

Some arithmetic sequences are defined in terms of the previous term using a recursive formula    . The formula provides an algebraic rule for determining the terms of the sequence. A recursive formula allows us to find any term of an arithmetic sequence using a function of the preceding term. Each term is the sum of the previous term and the common difference. For example, if the common difference is 5, then each term is the previous term plus 5. As with any recursive formula, the first term must be given.

a n = a n 1 + d n 2

Recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence

The recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence with common difference d is:

a n = a n 1 + d n 2

Given an arithmetic sequence, write its recursive formula.

  1. Subtract any term from the subsequent term to find the common difference.
  2. State the initial term and substitute the common difference into the recursive formula for arithmetic sequences.

Writing a recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence

Write a recursive formula    for the arithmetic sequence    .

{ 18 7 4 15 26 , … }

The first term is given as −18 . The common difference can be found by subtracting the first term from the second term.

d = −7 ( −18 ) = 11

Substitute the initial term and the common difference into the recursive formula for arithmetic sequences.

a 1 = 18 a n = a n 1 + 11 ,  for  n 2
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Do we have to subtract the first term from the second term to find the common difference?

No. We can subtract any term in the sequence from the subsequent term. It is, however, most common to subtract the first term from the second term because it is often the easiest method of finding the common difference.

Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
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Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
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BenJay
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Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
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Sir
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Amoon
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Amoon
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Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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