Question

Algebra help please! (much appreciated)

Find the common difference, d, for the arithmetic sequence -4, -2, 0, 2, …

Answer 1

Alrighty, so you have a sequence of numbers, an arithmetic sequence of numbers, i'll show you the general idea, say that your sequence looks like this for instance,\[A,B,C,D,E\]to find the common difference between these, you take and of the numbers (letters in this case) and subtract the one that came before it, so it'd be like this\[difference=B-A\]to give one example, hope this helps you understand

Answer 2

If it helps:
A. -2
B. 2
C. 4
D. 6
@Embryo

Answer 3

Another way to look at it, is how did you get from the first number to the second number?

Answer 4

add 2

Answer 5

there you go, and just to make sure that you did it right, check the next numbers, how did you get to the third number from the second number?

Answer 6

subtract 2 so if you flip it around then you added 2, so do I continue to add 2? so then since it's not asking me for a certain number in the sequence, the answer would be 2 (B)?

Answer 7

Bam, you got it, the common difference, d, is just as you said, 2

Answer 8

I tried the same method on this problem, Find the next three terms of the arithmetic sequence 11, 3, -5, -13, … & I'm a little lost once again. Do you have time to help on one more? @Embryo

Answer 9

so how do you get from 11 to 3, how do you go from 3 to -5, what do you add or subtract from 11 to get to 3

Answer 10

The common difference just means "starting at this number, how did i get to the next number"

Answer 11

subtract 8, I figured that out but then the next numbers I got 7

Answer 12

do the numbers continue to subtract like -8, -7, -6... (?)

Answer 13

No, you never increase what you're subtracting or adding by, that's the point of it being the "common" difference, it doesn't change, you'll constantly be subtracting 8 from a number to get the next number

Answer 14

oh wait, I subtracted wrong. it's all -8

Answer 15

That's why I was confused, thank you for all your help! I really appreciate it!

Answer 16

:) no problemo