Name ________________________________________ Date __________________ Class __________________

LESSON
Constructing Arithmetic Sequences
4-2
Reading Strategies: Use a Concept Map
Use the concept map to help you understand arithmetic sequences.

Definition Formula
An arithmetic sequence The n th term of an arithmetic
is a list of numbers sequence can be found using
whose terms all differ by an = a1 + (n − 1)d
the same non-zero where a1 is the first term and
number. d is the common difference.
Arithmetic
Examples
Sequence Non-Examples
−2, 1, 4, 7, 10, …
−4, −3, −1, 2, 6, …
+3 +3 +3 +3
+1 +2 +3 +4
9, 7.5, 6, 4.5, 3, … 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, …

−1.5 −1.5 −1.5 −1.5 ×2 ×2 × 2 × 2

Answer each question.

1. Explain why −4, −3, −1, 2, 6, … is a non-example of an arithmetic
sequence.

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2. Explain why 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, … is a non-example of an arithmetic

sequence.

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3. Give an example of an arithmetic sequence whose common

difference is 5.

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4. Find the common difference and the next three terms of the sequence
1 1
8, 7 , 7, 6 , 6, …
2 2

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Find the indicated term of each arithmetic sequence using the

formula given above.
5. 25th term: −14, −8, −2, 4, 10, … 6. 18th term: 122, 120, 118, 116, 114, …

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