Introduction
Arithmetic sequences are a good starting point for understanding other types of sequences. However, I recommend to quickly read the introductory course on the suites and the one on the direction of variation of a sequence if you haven't already ;)
It will be much simpler here, an arithmetic sequence is just a special case that is very easy to identify. Here is its definition:
Un is an arithmetic sequence if there exists a number r such that, for all n∈N: Un+1=Un+r The real number r is called the common difference of the arithmetic sequence.
Ok, but is there a way to make it clearer ?!
With an arithmetic sequence, we always add the same (constant) value between two consecutive terms. It is this recurrence relation that defines all arithmetic progression.
Example
If we consider for example that we receive a constant monthly pay, let's say that we are sponsored by 2 surfboards a month. At each end of the month (n + 1) we will have:
Our accumulated boards + 2 surfboards (pay) Un+1=Un+2
Each month we add the salary to the total so far received. Here the two surfboard, the pay, is the common difference r.
Be careful however, the added value r is constant but can be negative.
Let's start by identifying the case in which we are handling an arithmetic sequence.
Identification
If we have already read the course concerning the direction of variation of a sequence, we may remember that finding the recurrence relation between two terms is equivavlent to calculating the difference between these two terms . In the same way, we will calculate here Un+1−Un to see if this difference is constant (if we always add the same value). In other words:
If Un+1−Un=r where r is a real (therefore a constant), then the sequence is arithmetic with common difference r.
Indeed, written differently, we find back our definition: Un+1=Un+r
Example
Consider the sequence Un defined explicitly by:
Un=−3n+4
Let's calculate the difference:
Un+1−Un=−3(n+1)+4−(−3n+4)
=−3n−3+4+3n−4
=−3
We can therefore conclude that
the sequence Un is arithmetic with common difference r = -3.
Conversely, if Un+1−Un is not equal to a constant, we can conclude that the sequence Un is not arithmetic.
Graphic Representation
Some of you may already have the graphic representation in mind. With an arithmetic sequence we always add the same value, it is exactly like in a staircase; with r, the number of steps you go up or down at each step.
If we calculate the first three terms of our sequence Un=−3n+4:

We go down the stairs three by three (watch your ankle ...).
Let's take this opportunity to draw a parallel with the functions. We replace n with x, and Un with f(x): Un=−3n+4 f(x)=−3x+4
I know this; affine or linear function kinda things?
Exact. An arithmetic sequence is an affine function defined only for particular points.

We can clearly see here the link between an arithmetic sequence and an affine function: f(x)=ax+b Un=an+b We find 'a' as the directing coefficient and 'b' as the initial value (offset). The following property will finish illustrating this link ^^
If a and b are two real numbers and if the sequence Un is defined by: Un=a×n+b then this sequence is an arithmetic sequence with common difference r=a and of first term U0=b.
Proof
Let the sequence Un defined by:
Un=a×n+b
Let's calculate the difference:
Un+1−Un=a(n+1)+b−(an+b)
=an+a+b−an−b
=a
Great, let's check U0=b:
U0=a×0+b=b
Perfect!
Direction of variation
At this stage, this chapter hardly deserves to exist :D
Let us recall this property:
If Un+1−Un=r where r is a real (therefore a constant), then the sequence is arithmetic with common difference r.
The following theorem then becomes obvious (well, you still have to have read the course about the direction of variation of a sequence):
Let Un be an arithmetic sequence with common difference r:
If r > 0 then Un is strictly increasing.
If r < 0 then Un is strictly decreasing.
If r = 0 then Un is constant.
That's all?
Yup!
Cool! We will now end this course with two super important things:
- Guess the relation Un as a function of n.
- Calculate the sum of an arithmetic sequence, as:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... + 100 =? (admit that we all want to know how to answer that in 2 seconds ^^).
Let's go for this.
General term
So, guys, how can we calculate U10 from an arithmetic sequence directly?
Easy man, you told us that we always add the same thing.
So U10 that's what we had at the start + 10 pays:
U10=U0+10r.
You have even already dropped the formula with Un=b+an.
Straightforward ... Let's do the reasoning anyway,
this is the kind of thing that will be regularly asked and
it allows us to find the explicit form of many suites.
We will consider knowing only the recurrence formula: Un+1=Un+r The idea will be to find the explicit form, Un as a function of n.
After you...
It is like in the logic games "find the logical continuation of this series" or
"find the missing number in this sequence". How?
Let's start by calculating the first terms U0,U1,U2,U3:
U0 (initial term)
U1=U0+r (Ok)
U2=U1+r (replace with U1)
=(U0+r)+r
=U0+2r
U3=U2+r (replace with U2)
=(U0+2r)+r
=U0+3r
...
We can clearly see the pattern Un=U0+nr
Yep. Now that we have that, we're gonna get the hang of it and use our mega technique.
Little reminder:
Sometimes the sequences do not start at 0.
We can define a sequence "For all n ≥ 3".
In that case U0, U1 and U2 do not exist;
we calculate the terms starting from U3.
So, what happens to the explicit form if we no longer start from 0?
...
This time we will want to express Un in terms of another term that is not
U0, let's say Up.
You keep telling us that to calculate the difference between two terms is
equivalent to define their relationship. We do this, right?
Bingo.
Un=U0+n×r
Up=U0+p×r
Un−Up=(U0+nr)−(U0+pr)
=U0+n×r−U0−p×r
=(n−p)×r
We have just found the general explicit form of all arithmetic sequences!
We can conclude:
If the sequence Un is arithmetic of with common difference r then
for all natural numbers n and p:
Un=Up+(n−p)×r
Go to last section, we will finally calculate 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + ...
Sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence
Last mad technique of this course. To calculate the sum "S = 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n", we are going to write it once in order and once upside down:
(a)S=0+1+2+⋯+n
(b)S=n+n−1+n−2+⋯+n−n
Now we add (a) + (b):
(a+b)2S=n+n+n+⋯+n
WARNING: If the sum goes from 0 to n, there are n + 1 terms!
For instancec, from 0 to 4, there is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, which is 5 terms.
Therefore:
2S=n∗(n+1)
To conclude:
S=n∗(n+1)2
THEOREM (SUM OF FIRST INTEGERS)
For all natural number n∈N:
0+1+2+⋯+n=n∗(n+1)2
Then, how much is 0+1+2+⋯+100?
S100=100∗1012=101002=5050
Bad Ass Style
You will discover the notation that you will find everywhere in mathematics, the sigma sum: ∑nn=0. It sounds super complicated, but in fact it's nothing but Sn! What is underneath is where we start and above where we finish. We can thus rewrite our theorem:
THEOREM (SUM OF FIRST INTEGERS)
For all natural number n∈N:
n∑n=0n=n∗(n+1)2
General Formula
Are you still going to give us the formula that works
for all arithmetic sequences?
Let Sn be the sum of all the terms of an arithmetic sequence between rank p and rank n (p < n): Sn=(n−p+1)∗Up+Un2
Here is a visual way to remember this formula (the sum is like the area).

For the more motivated, I suggest that you demonstrate it yourself to master this course.
Summary sheet
Un is an arithmetic sequence if there exists a number r such that, for all n∈N: Un+1=Un+r The real number r is called the common difference of the arithmetic sequence.
If Un+1−Un=r where r is a real (therefore a constant), then the sequence is arithmetic with common difference r.
Conversely, if Un+1−Un is not equal to a constant, we can conclude that the sequence Un is not arithmetic.
If a and b are two real numbers and if the sequence Un is defined by: Un=a×n+b then this sequence is an arithmetic sequence with common difference r=a and of first term U0=b.
Let Un be an arithmetic sequence with common difference r:
If r > 0 then Un is strictly increasing.
If r < 0 then Un is strictly decreasing.
If r = 0 then Un is constant.
Sometimes the sequences do not start at 0.
We can define a sequence "For all n ≥ 3".
In that case U0, U1 and U2 do not exist;
we calculate the terms starting from U3.
If the sequence Un is arithmetic of with common difference r then
for all natural numbers n and p:
Un=Up+(n−p)×r
THEOREM (SUM OF FIRST INTEGERS)
For all natural number n∈N:
0+1+2+⋯+n=n∗(n+1)2
n∑n=0n=n∗(n+1)2
WARNING: If the sum goes from 0 to n, there are n + 1 terms!
For instancec, from 0 to 4, there is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, which is 5 terms.
Let Sn be the sum of all the terms of an arithmetic sequence between rank p and rank n (p
Boom! You have seen everything there is to do with arithmetic sequences. We have taken a tour of all its formulas, but above all you don't have to know them by heart since we know how to find them all (it's still easier when you're struggling, nope?). Next step: geometric sequences.
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