An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numberseach of which,after the first,is obtained by addingto the preceding number a constant number calledthe common difference.Thus 3,7,11,15,19,…is an arithmeticsequence because each term is obtained by adding 4to the preceding number.In the arithmetic sequence50,45,40,…the common difference is 45-50=40-45=-5.General formulas for arithmetic sequencesinclude:the nth term an=a1+(n-1)d,and the sum of the first n terms