How do u know if a problem is arithmetic or geometric?

Question

Mathematics

Kallie Burgess

14 February, 10:20

How do u know if a problem is arithmetic or geometric?

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Answers (2)

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Rocco Peters · Answer 1

The defining characteristic of an arithmetic sequence is called the common difference. This just means that the difference between each term and the previous term is a constant. It has the form:

a (n) = a+d (n-1), a=initial term, d=common difference, n=term number ...

The defining characteristic of a geometric sequence is called the common ratio. This means that the quotient between each term and the previous term is a constant. It has the form:

a (n) = a*r^ (n-1), a=initial term, r=common ratio, n=term number.

So in even simpler terms, an arithmetic sequence is a linear sequence and a geometric sequence is an exponential sequence.

Shyann Heath · Answer 2

Geometry deals with shapes and degrees. Arithmetic is the opposite of that