What is the difference between an arithmetic and a geometric sequence? How can you tell the difference? What would you do to find out if it is arithmetic or geometric? Beas detailed as possible.



Answer :

Answer

In an arithmetic sequence, the terms can be obtained by adding or subtracting a constant to the preceding term, wherein in case of geometric progression each term is obtained by multiplying or dividing a constant to the preceding term.

An example of an arithmetic sequence is

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 etc.

We can see that the common difference is 2

An example of a geometric sequence is

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 etc

We can see that the common ratio is 2

The way to distinguish an arithmetic sequence from a geometric sequence is to try to obtain the common difference and common ratio using different sets of consecutive terms.

If the common difference is constant for different sets of consecutive terms, then, this is an arithmetic sequence.

If the common ratio is constant for different sets of consecutive terms, then, this is an geometric sequence.

Hope this Helps!!!