The first term of an arithmetic sequence is -3 and the fifteenth term is 53. What is the common difference of the sequence?

14/13
25/7
4

Question

The first term of an arithmetic sequence is -3 and the fifteenth term is 53. What is the common difference of the sequence?

14/13
25/7
4

mathmale · Answer

The following formula may be helpful:  l = a + (n-1)d, where l is the "last term" or "nth term," a is the first term, n is the number of terms, and d is the "common difference."

mathmale · Answer

The first term of an arithmetic sequence is -3 and the fifteenth term is 53. What is the common difference of the sequence?      Here you are told right away that the first term, a, is -3.  What would be your next step?