Here are the first three terms of a linear sequence:
5, 11, 17
Write down the next term.
How to approach this question
1. Find the difference between the first and second terms.
2. Find the difference between the second and third terms.
3. If the difference is constant, add this difference to the third term to find the next term.
Full Answer
A linear sequence (or arithmetic sequence) is a sequence of numbers where the difference between consecutive terms is constant. This constant difference is called the common difference.
1. **Find the difference between the first two terms:**
11 - 5 = 6
2. **Find the difference between the next two terms:**
17 - 11 = 6
The common difference is 6. To find the next term, add 6 to the last given term (17).
17 + 6 = 23.
The next term is 23.
Common mistakes
✗ Calculating the common difference incorrectly.
✗ Subtracting the difference instead of adding it.
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