SSAT Upper Level Math : How to find the next term in an arithmetic sequence

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

What is the value of x in the sequence below?

\(\displaystyle 99, 33, 11, x\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 11\frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{2}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{2}{3}\)

Explanation:

In this sequence, each subsequent number is equal to one third of the preceding number. 

One third of 11 is equal to:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{3}=3\frac{2}{3}\)

Therefore, the correct answer is: \(\displaystyle 3\frac{2}{3}\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

 

\(\displaystyle 24, 29, 34, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 39\)

\(\displaystyle 38\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 39\)

Explanation:

The common difference for this sequence is \(\displaystyle 5\). To find the next number in the sequence, add \(\displaystyle 5\) to the last given number.

\(\displaystyle 34+5=39\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of this arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle -15, -8, -1, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\)

Explanation:

The common difference for this sequence is \(\displaystyle 7\). Add this to the last given term to find the next one.

\(\displaystyle -1+7=6\)

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle -4, 5, 14, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 22\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 23\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 23\)

Explanation:

The common difference is \(\displaystyle 9\). Add this to the last given term to find the next term.

\(\displaystyle 14+9=23\)

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}, 3, \frac{13}{2}, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 11\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{19}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Explanation:

The common difference is \(\displaystyle \frac{7}{2}\). Add this to the last given term to find the next term.

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{2}+\frac{7}{2}=\frac{20}{2}=10\)

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle 5, -2, -9, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -16\)

\(\displaystyle -20\)

\(\displaystyle -15\)

\(\displaystyle -17\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -16\)

Explanation:

The common difference is \(\displaystyle -7\). Add this to the last given term to find the next term.

\(\displaystyle -9+(-7)=-16\)

Example Question #7 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle -14, -8, -2, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Explanation:

The common difference is \(\displaystyle 6\). Add this to the last given term to find the next term.

\(\displaystyle -2+6=4\)

Example Question #8 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle -15, 11, 37, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 62\)

\(\displaystyle 73\)

\(\displaystyle 26\)

\(\displaystyle 63\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 63\)

Explanation:

The common difference is \(\displaystyle 26\). Add this to the last given term to find the next term.

\(\displaystyle 37+26=63\)

Example Question #9 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term of the arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle 10, 130, 250, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 300\)

\(\displaystyle 350\)

\(\displaystyle 370\)

\(\displaystyle 470\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 370\)

Explanation:

The common difference is \(\displaystyle 120\). Add this to the last given term to find the next term.

\(\displaystyle 250+120=370\)

Example Question #10 : How To Find The Next Term In An Arithmetic Sequence

Find the next term in the following arithmetic sequence:

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{2}, 4, \frac{7}{2}, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

Explanation:

The common difference for this arithmetic sequence is \(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}\). To find the next term in the sequence, subtract that value from the last given value.

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{2}-\frac{1}{2}=3\)

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