Arithmetic

Sequence
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the
students will be able to:
• Identify whether the given
sequence is an arithmetic
sequence;
• Find the common difference if the
sequence is arithmetic; and
• Generate arithmetic sequence
given the first term, number of
terms and common difference.
Review
Find the next three terms of each
sequence.
1. 5,25,45,65,85, … 105, 125, 145
2. 4,8,16,32,64, … 128,256,512
3. 3,17,31,45,59, … 73,87,101
4. 17,15,13,11,9, … 7,5,3,1
5. −1, −12, −23, −34, … −45, −56, −67
 WHAT IS AN ARITHMETIC
SEQUENCE?
•Arithmetic sequence is a
sequence where every term after
the first is obtained by adding a
constant called the common
difference 𝒅 .
WHAT IS AN ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE?
The sequence 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … , 𝑎𝑛 , is
arithmetic if there is a number d
such that:
𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 𝑑, 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 𝑑, 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 𝑑
and so on. The number 𝑑 is the
common difference in the
arithmetic sequence.
HOW TO VERIFY IF THE SET OF NUMBERS
FORMS AN ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE.
1. Label each term as 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , …
and so on.
2. Find the difference between two
consecutive terms.
3. If the difference is the same, then
it is arithmetic. However, if the
difference is not the same, then it
is not arithmetic.
HOW TO VERIFY IF THE SET OF NUMBERS
FORMS AN ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE.

•If the sequence has a first

difference, then it is an
arithmetic sequence.
Example 1
• Is 2,8,14,20,26 an example of arithmetic sequence?
𝑎1 = 2 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 8 − 2 = 6
𝑎2 = 8 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 14 − 8 = 6
𝑎3 = 14
𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 20 − 14 = 6
𝑎4 = 20
𝑎5 − 𝑎4 = 26 − 20 = 6
𝑎5 = 26
Therefore2,8,14,20,26 is an example of an arithmetic
sequence since the common difference is 𝑑 = 6.
Example 2
• Is 4,8,16,32,64 an example of arithmetic sequence?
𝑎1 = 4 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 8 − 4 = 4
𝑎2 = 8 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 16 − 8 = 8
𝑎3 = 16
𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 32 − 16 = 16
𝑎4 = 32
𝑎5 − 𝑎4 = 64 − 32 = 32
𝑎5 = 64
Therefore 4,8,16,32,64 is not an example of an arithmetic
sequence since there is no common difference.
Example 3
• Is 17,15,13,11,9 an example of arithmetic sequence?
𝑎1 = 17 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 15 − 17 = −2
𝑎2 = 15 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 13 − 15 = −2
𝑎3 = 13
𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 11 − 13 = −2
𝑎4 = 11
𝑎5 − 𝑎4 = 9 − 11 = −2
𝑎5 = 9
Therefore 17,15,13,11,9 is an example of an arithmetic
sequence since each term is obtained by adding d = −2 to
the previous term
Example 4
• Is −3, −17, −31, −45, −59 an example of arithmetic sequence?
𝑎1 = −3 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = −17 − (−3) = −14
𝑎2 = −17 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = −31 − (−17) = −14
𝑎3 = −31
𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = −45 − (−31) = −14
𝑎4 = −45
𝑎5 − 𝑎4 = −59 − (−45) = −14
𝑎5 = −59
Therefore −3, −17, −31, −45, −59 is an example of an
arithmetic sequence since each term is obtained by adding
𝑑 = −14 to the previous term
Example 5
• Is −10, −8, −6, −4, −2 an example of arithmetic sequence?
𝑎1 = −10 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = −8 − (−10) = 2
𝑎2 = −8 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = −6 − (−8) = 2
𝑎3 = −6
𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = −4 − (−6) = 2
𝑎4 = −4
𝑎5 − 𝑎4 = −2 − (−4) = 2
𝑎5 = −2
Therefore −10, −8, −6, −4, −2 is an example of an arithmetic
sequence since each term is obtained by adding 𝑑 = 2 to the
previous term
Example 6
1 1
• Is 1, 1 , 2, 2 an example of arithmetic sequence?
2 2
1 1
𝑎1 = 1 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 1 − 1 =
2 2
1
𝑎2 = 1 1 1
2 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 2 − 1 =
𝑎3 = 2 2 2
1 1 1
𝑎4 = 2 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 2 − 2 =
2 2 2
1 1
Therefore1, 1 , 2, 2 is an example of an arithmetic sequence
2 2
1
since each term is obtained by adding d = to the previous term
2
Example 7
• Is 3.5, 2, 0.5, −1 an example of arithmetic sequence?
𝑎1 = 3.5 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 2 − 3.5 = −1.5
𝑎2 = 3 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 0.5 − 2 = −1.5
𝑎3 = 0.5
𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = −1 − 0.5 = −1.5
𝑎4 = −1
𝑎5 − 𝑎4 = −2.5 − (−1) = −1.5
𝑎5 = −2.5
Therefore 3.5, 2, 0.5, −1 is an example of an arithmetic
sequence since each term is obtained by adding 𝑑 = −1.5 to
the previous term
Example 8
• Is 25 2, 15 2, 5 2, −5 2 an example of arithmetic sequence?

𝑎1 = 25 2 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 15 2 − 25 2 = −10 2
𝑎2 = 15 2 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 5 2 − 15 2 = −10 2
𝑎3 = 5 2 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = −5 2 − 5 2 = −10 2
𝑎4 = −5 2
Therefore 25 5, 15 5, 5 5, −5 5 is an example of an
arithmetic sequence since each term is obtained by adding
d = −10 2 to the previous term
Example 9
• Is 5 5, 7 5, 9 5, 11 5 an example of arithmetic sequence?

𝑎1 = 5 5 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 7 5 − 5 5 = 2 5
𝑎2 = 7 5 𝑎3 − 𝑎 2 = 9 5 − 7 5 = 2 5
𝑎3 = 9 5 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 11 5 − 9 5 = 2 5
𝑎4 = 11 5
Therefore 5 5, 7 5, 9 5, 11 5 is an example of an arithmetic
sequence since each term is obtained by adding d = 2 5 to
the previous term
Example 10
• Is 5𝑥, 9𝑥, 13𝑥, 17𝑥 an example of arithmetic sequence?

𝑎1 = 5𝑥 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = 9𝑥 − 5𝑥 = 4𝑥
𝑎2 = 9𝑥 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = 13𝑥 − 9𝑥 = 4𝑥
𝑎3 = 13𝑥 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = 17𝑥 − 13𝑥 = 4𝑥
𝑎4 = 17𝑥
Therefore 5𝑥, 9𝑥, 13𝑥, 17𝑥 is an example of an arithmetic
sequence since each term is obtained by adding d = 4𝑥 to
the previous term
Example 11
• Is −𝑎2 , −7𝑎2 , −13𝑎2 , −19𝑎2 an example of arithmetic sequence?
2 𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = −19𝑎2 − −13𝑎2 = −6𝑎2
𝑎1 = −𝑎
𝑎2 = −7𝑎 2 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = −13𝑎2 − −7𝑎2 =−6𝑎2
𝑎3 = −13𝑎 2 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = −7𝑎2 − −𝑎2 = −6𝑎 2
𝑎4 = −19𝑎 2

Therefore−𝑎2 , −7𝑎2 , −13𝑎2 , −19𝑎2 is an example of an

arithmetic sequence since each term is obtained by adding
d = −6𝑎2 to the previous term
Example 12
5 2 1
•Is 1, , , , … an example of arithmetic
6 3 2
sequence?
𝑎 =11
5 5 6
𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = − 1 = − = −
1
5 6 6 6 6
𝑎2 =
6 2 5 4 5 1
𝑎3 =
2 𝑎3 − 𝑎 2 = − = − = −
3 3 6 6 6 6
1 2 1 4 3 1
𝑎4 =
2 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = − = − = −
3 2 6 6 6
5 2 1
Therefore1, , , , …is an example of an arithmetic sequence since
6 3 2
1
each term is obtained by adding d = − to the previous term
6
Example 13
1 1 1 1
• Is , , , , … an example of arithmetic sequence?
2 4 6 8
1 1 1 1 2 1
𝑎1 =
2
𝑎2 − 𝑎1 = − = − = −
1 4 2 4 4 4
𝑎2 =
4
1 1 2 3 1
1 𝑎3 − 𝑎2 = − = − =−
𝑎3 = 6 4 12 12 12
6 1 1 3 4 1
1 𝑎4 − 𝑎3 = − = − =−
𝑎4 = 24
8 8 6 24 24
1 1 1 1
Therefore not an example of an
, , , , …is
2 4 6 8
arithmetic sequence.
Example 14 (Think Critically)
If each term of the arithmetic sequence
3,7,11,15,19, … is increased by 5, does the resulting
sequence illustrate an arithmetic sequence?
Solution:
Add 5 to each term of the given sequence to form
8,12,16,20,24
The resulting sequence illustrates an arithmetic
sequence where the common difference is 4.
Example 15 (Think Critically)
If each term of the arithmetic sequence
1,6,11,16,21, … is decreased by 3, does the resulting
sequence illustrate an arithmetic sequence?
Solution:
Add −3 to each term of the given sequence to form
−2,3,8,13,18,…
The resulting sequence illustrates an arithmetic
sequence where the common difference is 5.
Generating the
Terms of an
Arithmetic
Sequence
How do you generate an arithmetic sequence
given the first term, the number of terms and
the common difference?

•Identify the given

•Add the common difference to
the first term and so on until you
reached the nth term
Example 1
Illustrate an arithmetic sequence with 𝑎1 = 5, 𝑛 = 5 and 𝑑 = 7.
Given: 𝑎1 = 5, 𝑛 = 5, 𝑑 = 7

5 12 19 26 33
+7 +7 +7 +7
The sequence generated is 5,12,19,26,33.
Example 2
Illustrate an arithmetic sequence with 𝑎1 = 10, 𝑛 = 3 and 𝑑 = −2.
Given: 𝑎1 = 10, 𝑛 = 3, 𝑑 = −2

10 8 6
+(−2) +(−2)
The sequence generated is 10,8,6.
Example 3
Illustrate an arithmetic sequence with 𝑎1 = 8, 𝑛 = 6 and 𝑑 = 1.5.
Given: 𝑎1 = 8, 𝑛 = 6 𝑑 = 1.5

8 9.5 11 12.5 14 15.5

+1.5 +1.5 +1.5 +1.5 +1.5
The sequence generated is
8, 9.5,11,12.5,14,15.5
PRACTICE
EXERCISES
 find the
impostor
Are you Ready?
How to Play
There are 4 teams.
How to Play
Each team has 5 lives.
How to Play
Each round, 1 team chooses
a place on the map.

3 2
 How to Play
You will be given a list of number sequences. Most of them follow
an arithmetic pattern, but one does not.

A B C
 How to Play
Vote which
crewmate you think is not an arithmetic sequence.

A B C
 How to Play
The teacher will show you the answer.

Cyan was the impostor.

 How to Play
If the impostor had the most votes,
all teams stay alive.

A B C
 How to Play
But if the impostor didn’t have
the most votes…

Purple was the impostor.

 How to Play
But if the impostor didn’t have
the most votes…

A B C
 How to Play
the teams who didn’t vote for the
impostor lose a life…

A B
 How to Play
and the teams who did vote for the
impostor gain a life.

C
 How to Play
If you lose all your lives, your
team becomes a ghost.
 How to Play
Your team still votes, but you
can’t gain anymore lives.
 How to Play
The team(s) with the most lives
at the end of the game wins!
Team 1 Team 4

Team 2 Team 5
Map

Team 3 Team 6
Choose a nu
• 1 person from each team stands up
• You will see a task on the next screen
• The first person to raise their hand and complete
the task wins a life for their team
• If your team is a ghost and you win, you can come
back to life

REVEAL TASK

REVEAL TASK
What is the common difference?

𝟓, 𝟐, −𝟏, −𝟒, …
Answer 𝑑 = −3
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟏𝟏, 𝟖, 𝟓, 𝟐, … 𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑, …

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

−𝟏𝟏, −𝟓, 𝟏, 𝟕

1 2 3 4 5 6
Green was the impostor.
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟑, 𝟒, 𝟓, 𝟔 𝟐 𝟐, 𝟑 𝟐, 𝟒 𝟐, …
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟏, 𝟏 + 𝟓, 𝟏 + 𝟐 𝟓

1 2 3 4 5 6
Green was the impostor.
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟒𝒙, −𝟑𝒙, −𝟏𝟎𝒙 𝟐𝒂 − 𝟏, 𝟐𝒂, 𝟐𝒂 + 𝟏, …

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟐𝒙𝟑 , 𝟑𝒙𝟒 , 𝟒𝒙𝟓 , …

1 2 3 4 5 6
Brown was the impostor.
• 1 person from each team stands up
• You will see a task on the next screen
• The first person to raise their hand and complete
the task wins a life for their team
• If your team is a ghost and you win, you can come
back to life

REVEAL TASK

REVEAL TASK
 Find the common difference:
𝟐𝒂 − 𝟏, 𝟐𝒂, 𝟐𝒂 + 𝟏, …

Answer 1
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟑 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑 𝟒
𝟏, , , , … , , , ,…
𝟒 𝟐 𝟒 𝟐 𝟑 𝟒 𝟓
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟏 𝟐 𝟒
, , 𝟏, , …
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑
1 2 3 4 5 6
Red was the impostor.
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟓, 𝟏𝟐, 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟓, … 5,11,17,23,…

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

20,14,8,2,…

1 2 3 4 5 6
Green was the impostor.
• 1 person from each team stands up
• You will see a task on the next screen
• The first person to raise their hand and complete
the task wins a life for their team
• If your team is a ghost and you win, you can come
back to life

REVEAL TASK

REVEAL TASK
 Find the common difference:

20,14,8,2,…
Answer −6
 There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏, 𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏, 𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏, 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏, 𝟔𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟑𝒙𝟐 , 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐, 𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒

1 2 3 4 5 6
Red was the impostor.
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟓 𝟑
𝒂, 𝟐𝒂, 𝒂, … 𝒂𝟐 , 𝟒𝒂𝟐 , 𝟕𝒂𝟐 , 𝟏𝟎𝒂𝟐 , …
𝟐 𝟐
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟏𝟐𝒂, 𝟐𝟒𝒃, 𝟑𝟔𝒄, …

1 2 3 4 5 6
Red was the impostor.
 There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟏. 𝟓, 𝟑. 𝟓, 𝟒. 𝟓, 𝟔, … 𝟏. 𝟓, 𝟏. 𝟖, 𝟐. 𝟏, 𝟐. 𝟒, …

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟏. 𝟓, 𝟑, 𝟒. 𝟓, 𝟔, …

1 2 3 4 5 6
Purple was the impostor.
• 1 person from each team stands up
• You will see a task on the next screen
• The first person to raise their hand and complete
the task wins a life for their team
• If your team is a ghost and you win, you can come
back to life

REVEAL TASK

REVEAL TASK
 Find the common difference:

𝟏. 𝟓, 𝟑, 𝟒. 𝟓, 𝟔, …
Answer 1.5
There is one sequence among us that is not arithmetic.
Vote for who the impostor is!

𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟕, 𝟒𝟖, … 𝟑 𝟐, 𝟒 𝟐, 𝟓 𝟐, …

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

𝟓, 𝟔, 𝟕, 𝟖, …

1 2 3 4 5 6
Brown was the impostor.