alleryStart learning →In a linear sequence, what exactly is the common difference?
AAny term plus the term before it
BAny term minus the term before it
CAny term times the term before it
DThe first term of the sequence
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Any term minus the term before it
1. A linear sequence steps up or down by the same amount every time.
2. The common difference is the difference between any two consecutive terms.
3. It is found by subtracting a term from the term that follows it.
4. Subtracting in the wrong order gives the right size but the wrong sign.
5. If the difference is not the same for every pair, the sequence is not linear.
_Source: Siyavula Mathematics Grade 11 (Everything Maths, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 3: Number patterns_
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