Determining the Common Difference

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 73 views

Introduction

Arithmetic sequences are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and understanding how to describe them using recursive and explicit formulas is crucial for problem-solving in various fields. In this article, we will explore the concept of arithmetic sequences, and determine the recursive and explicit formulas that describe the given sequence.

What is an Arithmetic Sequence?

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common difference. For example, the sequence $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$ is an arithmetic sequence with a common difference of $3$ .

Given Sequence

The given sequence is $7, 13, 19, 25$ . We need to determine the recursive and explicit formulas that describe this sequence.

Recursive Formula

A recursive formula is a formula that describes a sequence by defining each term as a function of the previous term(s). In the case of an arithmetic sequence, the recursive formula can be written as:

a_n = a_{n-1} + d

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence, $a_{n-1}$ is the $(n-1)$ th term, and $d$ is the common difference.

Determining the Common Difference

To determine the common difference, we can subtract any two consecutive terms in the sequence. Let's subtract the first term from the second term:

13 - 7 = 6

This means that the common difference is $6$ . However, we can also subtract the second term from the third term:

19 - 13 = 6

This confirms that the common difference is indeed $6$ .

Recursive Formula for the Given Sequence

Now that we have determined the common difference, we can write the recursive formula for the given sequence:

a_n = a_{n-1} + 6

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence.

Explicit Formula

An explicit formula is a formula that describes a sequence by giving a direct expression for each term. In the case of an arithmetic sequence, the explicit formula can be written as:

a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence, $a_1$ is the first term, $n$ is the term number, and $d$ is the common difference.

Explicit Formula for the Given Sequence

Now that we have determined the common difference, we can write the explicit formula for the given sequence:

a_n = 7 + (n-1)6

Simplifying this expression, we get:

a_n = 7 + 6n - 6

a_n = 1 + 6n

Conclusion

In this article, we have determined the recursive and explicit formulas that describe the given arithmetic sequence. The recursive formula is:

a_n = a_{n-1} + 6

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence. The explicit formula is:

a_n = 1 + 6n

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence.

Example Problems

Find the next three terms in the sequence $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$ .
Find the 10th term in the sequence $3, 6, 9, 12, 15$ .
Find the recursive and explicit formulas that describe the sequence $4, 9, 14, 19, 24$ .

Solutions

Using the recursive formula, we can find the next three terms in the sequence:

a_6 = a_5 + 3 = 17

a_7 = a_6 + 3 = 20

a_8 = a_7 + 3 = 23

So, the next three terms in the sequence are $17, 20, 23$ .

Using the explicit formula, we can find the 10th term in the sequence:

a_{10} = 3 + (10-1)3 = 3 + 27 = 30

So, the 10th term in the sequence is $30$ .

To find the recursive and explicit formulas that describe the sequence $4, 9, 14, 19, 24$ , we can follow the same steps as before. The common difference is $5$ , and the recursive formula is:

a_n = a_{n-1} + 5

The explicit formula is:

a_n = 4 + (n-1)5

Simplifying this expression, we get:

a_n = 4 + 5n - 5

a_n = -1 + 5n

So, the recursive and explicit formulas that describe the sequence $4, 9, 14, 19, 24$ are:

a_n = a_{n-1} + 5

a_n = -1 + 5n$$<br/> **Arithmetic Sequences: Q&A** ========================== **Q: What is an arithmetic sequence?** ----------------------------------- A: An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers in which the difference between any two consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common difference. **Q: How do I determine the common difference of an arithmetic sequence?** ------------------------------------------------------------------- A: To determine the common difference, you can subtract any two consecutive terms in the sequence. For example, if the sequence is $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$, you can subtract the first term from the second term: $$5 - 2 = 3

This means that the common difference is $3$ .

Q: What is the recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence?

A: The recursive formula for an arithmetic sequence is:

a_n = a_{n-1} + d

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence, $a_{n-1}$ is the $(n-1)$ th term, and $d$ is the common difference.

Q: What is the explicit formula for an arithmetic sequence?

A: The explicit formula for an arithmetic sequence is:

a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d

where $a_n$ is the $n$ th term of the sequence, $a_1$ is the first term, $n$ is the term number, and $d$ is the common difference.

Q: How do I find the next term in an arithmetic sequence?

A: To find the next term in an arithmetic sequence, you can use the recursive formula:

a_n = a_{n-1} + d

For example, if the sequence is $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$ , and you want to find the next term, you can use the recursive formula:

a_6 = a_5 + 3 = 17

So, the next term in the sequence is $17$ .

Q: How do I find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence?

A: To find the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, you can use the explicit formula:

a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d

For example, if the sequence is $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$ , and you want to find the 10th term, you can use the explicit formula:

a_{10} = 2 + (10-1)3 = 2 + 27 = 29

So, the 10th term in the sequence is $29$ .

Q: What is the formula for the sum of an arithmetic sequence?

A: The formula for the sum of an arithmetic sequence is:

S_n = \frac{n}{2}(a_1 + a_n)

where $S_n$ is the sum of the first $n$ terms, $a_1$ is the first term, $a_n$ is the nth term, and $n$ is the number of terms.

Q: How do I find the sum of an arithmetic sequence?

A: To find the sum of an arithmetic sequence, you can use the formula:

S_n = \frac{n}{2}(a_1 + a_n)

For example, if the sequence is $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$ , and you want to find the sum of the first 5 terms, you can use the formula:

S_5 = \frac{5}{2}(2 + 14) = \frac{5}{2}(16) = 40

So, the sum of the first 5 terms in the sequence is $40$ .

Q: What is the formula for the average of an arithmetic sequence?

A: The formula for the average of an arithmetic sequence is:

\text{Average} = \frac{a_1 + a_n}{2}

where $a_1$ is the first term and $a_n$ is the nth term.

Q: How do I find the average of an arithmetic sequence?

A: To find the average of an arithmetic sequence, you can use the formula:

\text{Average} = \frac{a_1 + a_n}{2}

For example, if the sequence is $2, 5, 8, 11, 14$ , and you want to find the average, you can use the formula:

\text{Average} = \frac{2 + 14}{2} = \frac{16}{2} = 8

So, the average of the sequence is $8$ .

Conclusion

Arithmetic sequences are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and understanding how to describe them using recursive and explicit formulas is crucial for problem-solving in various fields. In this article, we have answered some common questions about arithmetic sequences, including how to determine the common difference, how to find the next term, how to find the nth term, and how to find the sum and average of an arithmetic sequence.