55.7k views
0 votes
What is common ratio versus common difference?

1 Answer

3 votes

If we are given a sequence of the form:


a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4...a_n,a_(n+1)

The common ratio is the number that is obtained by dividing one term by the previous term and is constant for any pair of terms:


r=(a_(n+1))/(a_n)

When a sequence has a common ratio it is called a geometric sequence.

A common difference is a number obtained by the difference between a term and the previous term:


d=a_(n+1)-a_n

A sequence with a common difference is called an arithmetic sequence.

User AaronD
by
7.9k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.