CalcaTools

Arithmetic Sequence Calculator

Find the nth term and sum of an arithmetic sequence from the first term and common difference.

Last updated: July 2026 · Free · No sign-up required

Results

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Quick reference

GivenFormulaExample (a₁=3, d=5, n=10)
nth termaₙ = a₁ + (n−1)da₁₀ = 3 + 9×5 = 48
Sum of n termsSₙ = n(a₁+aₙ)/2S₁₀ = 10(3+48)/2 = 255
Common differenced = a₂ − a₁8 − 3 = 5

functions Shows the working, not just the answer

For students and teachers, the final number is only half the value. Every math tool here exposes the formula it applied, the intermediate steps, and the rounding rule, so you can follow along, check your homework, or use the answer in a proof or report with confidence.

calculate Accurate to the spec

Calculations use 64-bit floating point with sensible rounding for the domain (currency to 2 decimals, percentages to 4 decimals, algebra to 6 significant figures). Where exact rational arithmetic matters — fractions, factorials, simplification — we use a dedicated BigNumber path so 1/3 + 1/6 returns ½, not 0.49999.

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Educators are welcome to link to any math calculator on CalcaTools from a class site, Google Classroom, or worksheet. The pages are mobile-friendly, free, ad-supported (so we can keep them free) and have no sign-up wall — students just click and use them in class or at home.

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Below the calculator we link a small set of plain-English explainer pages — "What is a percentage?", "Why does PEMDAS matter?", and so on. They cover the underlying concept in 4–6 short paragraphs. Read those before the calculator if the topic is new, or after if you want the extra context.

Interpretation guide

Common difference dSequence behaviour
d > 0Increasing (3, 8, 13, …)
d = 0Constant — every term equals a₁
d < 0Decreasing (10, 7, 4, …)

Formula & methodology

Formula: aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d; Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2

  1. Enter the first term a₁, the common difference d, and the term number n.
  2. The nth term comes from aₙ = a₁ + (n−1)d.
  3. The sum of the first n terms uses Gauss's pairing formula Sₙ = n(a₁+aₙ)/2.

Worked example: a₁ = 3, d = 5, n = 10 → a₁₀ = 3 + 9×5 = 48; S₁₀ = 10 × (3 + 48)/2 = 255. Sequence: 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, 43, 48.

Frequently asked questions

What is an arithmetic sequence?
A list of numbers where each term adds the same constant (the common difference d) to the previous one: 3, 8, 13, 18… has d = 5.
What is the nth term formula?
aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d. The 10th term of the sequence starting at 3 with difference 5 is 3 + 9×5 = 48.
How do you find the sum of an arithmetic sequence?
Sₙ = n(a₁ + aₙ)/2 — average the first and last terms and multiply by how many there are. For 3…48 over 10 terms: 10 × 51/2 = 255.
How do I find the common difference?
Subtract any term from the next one: d = a₂ − a₁. If the differences aren't constant, the sequence isn't arithmetic.
Can the common difference be negative or a fraction?
Yes — d = −3 gives a decreasing sequence and d = 0.5 increases by halves. The formulas work unchanged.
How do I find the common difference of a sequence?
Subtract any term from the one after it: for 7, 12, 17, 22 the common difference is 5. Check two or three gaps — if they differ, the sequence isn't arithmetic at all. A constant ratio instead of a constant gap (2, 6, 18, 54) means you're looking at a geometric sequence and need its tools.
How do I find the nth term without listing every term?
aₙ = a₁ + (n − 1)d. The 40th term of 7, 12, 17, … is 7 + 39 × 5 = 202. For the sum of the first n terms, use n × (first + last) ÷ 2 — the first 40 terms here total 40 × (7 + 202) ÷ 2 = 4,180.