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Definition

Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence in which every pair of consecutive terms differs by the same fixed amount. In other words, if we subtract any term from the term that immediately follows it, the result is always the same value. Using subscript notation, a sequence a1,a2,a3,a_1, a_2, a_3, \dots is arithmetic when anan1a_n - a_{n-1} yields the same number for every integer n2n \geq 2. For example, 7,10,13,16,19,22,7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, \dots is arithmetic because each term is exactly 33 more than the one before it, while a sequence like 4,9,12,17,20,25,4, 9, 12, 17, 20, 25, \dots is not arithmetic because the gaps between successive terms alternate between 55 and 33.

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Updated 2026-05-25

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