Meaning & use

arithmetic sequence

phrase·Academic

A list of numbers in which each term differs from the one before it by a constant amount.

See it in a sentence

In the arithmetic sequence 2, 5, 8, 11, each term is three more than the last.

Students found the tenth term of the arithmetic sequence using a simple formula.

A note on using this word

The constant difference between terms is called the 'common difference'; a geometric sequence instead multiplies by a constant ratio.

Words with a similar meaning

arithmetic progression

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