Question

For the following arithmetic progressions write the first term a and the common difference d:

 –5, –1, 3, 7, ...

Answer 1

In the given problem, we need to write the first term (a) and the common difference (d) of the given A.P

−5, −1, 3, 7 …

Here, the first term of the given A.P is (a) = −5

Now, we will find the difference between the two terms of the given A.P

`a_2 - a_1 = -1 - (-5)`

`a_2 - a_1 = 4`

Similarly

`a_3 - a_2 = 3 - (-1)`

`a_3 - a_2 = 4`

`a_4 - a_3 = 7 - 3`

`a_4 - a_3 = 4`

As `a_2 - a_1 = a_3 - a_2 = a_4 - a_3 = 4`

Therefore, the first term of the given A.P is `a = -5` and the common difference of the given is d = 4.