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GCSE Mathematics · key term
The fixed amount added to one term of an arithmetic sequence to obtain the next; it may be negative.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification A24, A25 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
The fixed amount added to one term of an arithmetic progression to obtain the next; it can be positive, negative or zero.
Revise: Arithmetic and Geometric ProgressionsA common difference may be negative.
A fixed first difference shared by every pair of consecutive terms in a linear sequence.
Specification A24 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
The fixed amount added to each term of an arithmetic progression to obtain the next term.
Specification 6.06a · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)
The constant amount added to move from one term to the next in an arithmetic sequence; it can be negative.
Revise: Generating Sequences and Linear RulesWhen the same number is added each time, the sequence is arithmetic. Its common difference can be positive, zero or negative.
When working backwards, reverse the operation: subtract the common difference or divide by the common ratio.
For a linear sequence, use the signed common difference: a decreasing sequence gives a negative coefficient of .
For an arithmetic progression, include the sign of the common difference: a descending sequence has .
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