HOW TO DETERMINE THE COMMON DIFFERENCE?

We had explained earlier (in our first blog) the meaning of a sequence. Now, let us learn about determining the common difference in a sequence. Why do we even need to determine the common difference?

Determining the common difference in a sequence helps us verify if the sequence is an Arithmetic or Non-Arithmetic sequence (which will be further explained in our next blog).

Since we already know what a sequence is, we will now proceed on getting its common difference.

For example, a sequence of : 4 , 10 , 16 , 22 , 28 , 34

To determine its common difference, we just subtract from right to left. The number which is in the right side is what we call ''the last TERM''.

What is a term? Each number in a sequence is called term.

So, back to determining. What we need to do to determine the common difference is to to just simply subtract the last term to the previous term. Since the last term is 34, we subtract it with 28.

34 - 28 = 6

continue on subtracting the other terms.

28 - 22 = 6

22 - 16 = 6

16 - 10 = 6

10 - 4 = 6

Since all of the terms that we had subtracted has the same answer which is 6, then our common difference is '' 6 '' . Simple as that. :)