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Exercises Sequences, counting and probability

Example 1 from Algebra and Trigonometry, 13.2 Arithmetic Sequences

Finding Common Differences

Is each sequence arithmetic? If so, find the common difference.

ⓐ ${1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ...}$
ⓑ ${- 3, 1, 5, 9, 13, ...}$

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

1
Solution
Subtract each term from the subsequent term to determine whether a common difference exists.
1. ⓐThe sequence is not arithmetic because there is no common difference.
2. ⓑThe sequence is arithmetic because there is a common difference. The common difference is 4.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Is the given sequence arithmetic? If so, find the common difference.

{18, 16,

How did it go?

PreviousWriting the Terms of a Sequence Using Factorials Next Writing Terms of Arithmetic Sequences

From Algebra and Trigonometry (1st edition) by OpenStax (Rice University), section 13.2, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original at openstax.org. We split the solution into steps; the words, numbers and figures are the book's. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.