SAT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Nth Term Of An Arithmetic Sequence

What is the tenth number in the sequence:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The purpose of this question is to understand the patterns of sequences.

First, an equation for the  term in the sequence must be determined ().

This is true because 

 will create ,

 will create ,

 will create ,

 will create .

Then, the eqution must be applied to find the specified term. For the tenth term, the expression  must be evaluated, yielding 103.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Nth Term Of An Arithmetic Sequence

You are given a sequence with the same difference between consecutive terms. We know it starts at  and its 3rd term is . Find its 10th term. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

From the given information, we know , which means each consecutive difference is 3.

Example Question #7 : Nth Term Of An Arithmetic Sequence

An arithmetic sequence begins as follows:

Give the sixteenth term of this sequence.

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses give the correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Subtract the first term  from the second term  to get the common difference :

Setting  and 

The th term of an arithmetic sequence  can be found by way of the formula

Setting , and  in the formula:

Example Question #21 : Arithmetic Sequences

An arithmetic sequence begins as follows: 14, 27, 40...

What is the first four-digit integer in the sequence?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Given the first two terms  and , the common difference  is equal to the difference:

Setting :

The th term of an arithmetic sequence  can be found by way of the formula

Since we are looking for the first four-digit whole number - equivalently, the first number greater than or equal to 1,000:

Setting  and  and solving for :

Therefore, the 77th term, or , is the first element in the sequence greater than 1,000. Substituting , and   in the rule and evaluating:

,

the correct choice.

Example Question #33 : Sequences

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Each term in the sequence is one less than twice the previous term.

So,  

Example Question #802 : Arithmetic

What is the next number in the following series: 0, 3, 8, 15, 24 . . . ?

Possible Answers:

40

32

35

41

37

Correct answer:

35

Explanation:

The series is defined by n2 – 1 starting at n = 1. The sixth number in the series then equal to 62 – 1 = 35.

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

A sequence of numbers is as follows:

What is the sum of the first seven numbers in the sequence?

Possible Answers:

490

1529

719

621

248

Correct answer:

621

Explanation:

The pattern of the sequence is (x+1) * 2.

We have the first 5 terms, so we need terms 6 and 7:

(78+1) * 2 = 158

(158+1) * 2 = 318

3 + 8 + 18 +38 + 78 + 158 + 318 = 621

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

Find the next term of the following sequence:

Possible Answers:

More information is needed

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The sequence provided is arithmetic. An arithmetic sequence has a common difference between each consecutive term. In this case, the difference is ; therefore, the next term is .

You can also use a formula to find the next term of an arithmetic sequence:

where  the current term and  the common difference.

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

Solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given.

 

Find the sixth term in the following arithmetic sequence.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First find the common difference of the sequence,

Thus there is a common difference of

 between each term,

so follow that pattern for another  terms, and the result is .

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

Find the missing number in the sequence:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The pattern of this sequence is  where  represents the position of the number in the sequence. 

 for the first number in the sequence. 

 for the second number. 

For the fourth term, . Therefore, 

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