Question

What is the common difference for this arithmetic sequence? 31, 48, 65, 82, ...

a. 79
b. 99
c. 7
d. 17

Answer 1

The common difference is :

↬ 17

Solution:

To find the common difference, we should subtract the previous term from the one after it. Let me elaborate on this concept.

We subtract 48 - 31 = 17

We subtract 65 - 48 = 17

We subtract 82 - 65 = 17

Since I got 17 each time, that is the common difference in this arithmetic sequence.

Hence, the answer is d.

Info related to the question

• Arithmetic sequence/progression - uses addition/subtraction to arrive at the nth term
• Geometric sequence/progression - uses multiplication/division to arrive at the nth term.

Answer 2

d

Explanation:

the common difference d is the difference between a term and the one preceding it, that is

d = 48 - 31 = 65 - 48 = 82 - 65 = 17