Education
Arithmetic Sequence Calculator
Last updated: May 31, 2026
Written by Blake Boege
An arithmetic sequence calculator is an educational utility that computes individual terms and cumulative sums of arithmetic progressions. It applies the formulas a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d and S_n = (n/2)(2a_1 + (n-1)d) to solve for any unknown parameter, generating a progression table of the first ten terms with step-by-step arithmetic explanations.
Find any specific term (a_n) or the cumulative sum (S_n) of an arithmetic sequence. Features detailed formula substitution steps and an interactive term sequence progression table.
Quick Answer
Calculate the nth term or sum of an arithmetic sequence. Enter the first term, common difference, and term number to see step-by-step math.
Calculation Target
e.g. 1
e.g. 2
Must be a positive integer. · e.g. 10
Nth Term (a_10)
19
a₁ = 1 · d = 2
An arithmetic sequence changes by a constant difference (d) at each step.
Step-by-Step Formula Substitution
First 10 Terms of the Sequence
| Term (i) | Value (a_i) | Cumulative Sum (S_i) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | 7 | 16 |
| 5 | 9 | 25 |
| 6 | 11 | 36 |
| 7 | 13 | 49 |
| 8 | 15 | 64 |
| 9 | 17 | 81 |
| 10 | 19 | 100 |
Examples
Find the 10th term for first term 1, common difference 2
a_10 = 1 + (10 - 1) × 2 = 19
Find the sum of the first 100 integers (a_1 = 1, d = 1)
S_100 = (100 / 2) × (1 + 100) = 5,050
Arithmetic sequence with negative difference (a_1 = 10, d = -3, n = 5)
a_5 = 10 + (5 - 1) × (-3) = -2 · Sum = 20
How it works
Arithmetic sequences change by adding or subtracting a constant difference:
Formula for the nth Term (a_n)
an = a1 + (n − 1)d
Formula for the Sum of the First n Terms (S_n)
Sn = (n / 2) · (a1 + an)
Sequences vs. Series: What is the Difference?
A sequence is a ordered list of numbers following a specific mathematical pattern. For instance, the sequence of odd numbers is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.... A series, on the other hand, is the summation of the terms of a sequence. The series corresponding to the odd numbers sequence would be 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9.... This calculator helps you solve for both the individual term points of a sequence and the overall compiled series sum.
Related mathematical calculators
Explore related summation and sequence calculators:
Related Calculators
More tools from Education
Frequently asked questions
An arithmetic sequence is a list of numbers in which each term after the first is obtained by adding a constant value, called the common difference (d), to the preceding term. For example, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9... is an arithmetic sequence with a common difference of 2.
The common difference is the constant value added to each term in an arithmetic sequence to get the next term. It can be found by subtracting any term from the term that immediately follows it (e.g., d = a_n - a_(n-1)). The common difference can be positive, negative, or zero.
The nth term of an arithmetic sequence is calculated using the formula: a_n = a₁ + (n - 1)d, where a₁ is the first term, d is the common difference, and n is the position of the term in the sequence.
The sum of the first 'n' terms (also called an arithmetic series) can be calculated using the formula: S_n = (n / 2) × (a₁ + a_n), where a₁ is the first term and a_n is the nth term. Alternatively, you can use S_n = (n / 2) × [2a₁ + (n - 1)d].
Related calculators
Education
Time to Decimal Calculator
Convert hours and minutes (HH:MM) to decimal hours and back for timesheets, payroll, or math problems.
Education
Deadline Calculator
Calculate a target deadline date by adding calendar days or business days to a starting date.
Education
Audiobook Calculator
Calculate your actual listening time and time saved when playing back audiobooks or podcasts at faster speeds (1x to 3x).