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Find the common difference

Find the common difference-example-1

1 Answer

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Answer:

-1, -6, 13, 20 is an arithmetic sequence
d = 7

5, 12, 19, 26 is arithmetic sequence

d = 7

-3 - 9, -27, -81 is not an arithmetic sequence

Explanation:

Common difference is the difference between successive terms and must be the same for all terms

-1, -6, 13, 20 is an arithmetic sequence with common difference:
6 - (-1) = 13 - 6 = 20 - 13 = 7

5, 12, 19, 26 is arithmetic sequence with common difference
12- 5 = 19 - 12 = 26 - 19 = 7

-3 - 9, -27, -81 is not an arithmetic sequence
The difference between successive terms is not the same
-9 - (-3) = -9 + 3= -6

but

-27 - (-9) = -27 + 9 = -18

In fact it is a geometric sequence where each term = x previous term

-9 = 3 x -3

-27 = 3 x -9

etc

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