What is the common difference in the sequence 3, 7, 11, 15, …?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: 4
The governing concept is that an arithmetic progression has a constant difference between every pair of consecutive terms. Subtract successive terms to test the sequence: 7 - 3 = 4, 11 - 7 = 4, and 15 - 11 = 4. Since the same value is obtained each time, the sequence is an arithmetic progression and its common difference is d = 4. Therefore option C is correct. Option A and option B do not equal the change from one term to the next. Option D, although it appears as a term in another context, is itself the second term here and is not the fixed increment. Checking more than one pair is useful because a single subtraction alone would not establish that the difference remains constant throughout the sequence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
4
Why is this the correct answer?
The governing concept is that an arithmetic progression has a constant difference between every pair of consecutive terms. Subtract successive terms to test the sequence: 7 - 3 = 4, 11 - 7 = 4, and 15 - 11 = 4. Since the same value is obtained each time, the sequence is an arithmetic progression and its common difference is d = 4. Therefore option C is correct. Option A and option B do not equal the change from one term to the next. Option D, although it appears as a term in another context, is itself the second term here and is not the fixed increment. Checking more than one pair is useful because a single subtraction alone would not establish that the difference remains constant throughout the sequence.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 10 Mathematics question. Chapter: Arithmetic Progressions (AP). Topic: Introduction to APs and common difference..
Student feedback
Was this question useful?
👍 0 Helpful 👎 0 Not helpful
Yes 0% No 0%
0 responsesStudent Reviews
No published reviews yet.
