In mathematics, an arithmetic progression (AP) or arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the difference between the consecutive terms is constant. For instance, the sequence 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, … is an arithmetic progression with common difference of 2.
If the initial term of an arithmetic progression is and the common difference of successive members is d, then the nth term of the sequence is given by:
and in general
A finite portion of an arithmetic progression is called a finite arithmetic progression and sometimes just called an arithmetic progression. The sum of a finite arithmetic progression is called an arithmetic series.
The behavior of the arithmetic progression depends on the common difference d. If the common difference is:
- Positive, the members (terms) will grow towards positive infinity.
- Negative, the members (terms) will grow towards negative infinity.
Famous quotes containing the words arithmetic and/or progression:
“I hope I may claim in the present work to have made it probable that the laws of arithmetic are analytic judgments and consequently a priori. Arithmetic thus becomes simply a development of logic, and every proposition of arithmetic a law of logic, albeit a derivative one. To apply arithmetic in the physical sciences is to bring logic to bear on observed facts; calculation becomes deduction.”
—Gottlob Frege (1848–1925)
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—Henry Brooks Adams (1838–1918)