Solve 700-Level Algebra Qs In 90 Secs!
Master 700-level Inequalities and Absolute Value Questions

Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease.

E-gmat
FREE GMAT ALGEBRA WEBINAR
Live: 4th June 2023, 7am-9am PST
Presented by e-GMAT

REGISTER

In an arithmetic sequence, each term after the first is the sum of the term before it plus a constant. In the arithmetic

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 2276
Joined: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:10 am
Followed by:3 members

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

In an arithmetic sequence, each term after the first is the sum of the term before it plus a constant. In the arithmetic sequence \(a, b, c, d, e,\) each term after the first is the sum of the preceding term and the constant \(k.\) Which of the following is NOT an arithmetic sequence?

A. \(a, b - 1, c - 2, d - 3, e - 4\)

B. \(a - 1, b - 1, c - 1, d- 1, e - 1\)

C. \(a- 1, b - 2, c - 3, d- 4, e - 5\)

D. \(a, 2b, 3c, 4d, 5e\)

E. \(3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e\)

Answer: D

Source: Princeton Review

Legendary Member
Posts: 2120
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:04 pm
Followed by:6 members
VJesus12 wrote:
Fri Feb 11, 2022 4:44 am
In an arithmetic sequence, each term after the first is the sum of the term before it plus a constant. In the arithmetic sequence \(a, b, c, d, e,\) each term after the first is the sum of the preceding term and the constant \(k.\) Which of the following is NOT an arithmetic sequence?

A. \(a, b - 1, c - 2, d - 3, e - 4\)

B. \(a - 1, b - 1, c - 1, d- 1, e - 1\)

C. \(a- 1, b - 2, c - 3, d- 4, e - 5\)

D. \(a, 2b, 3c, 4d, 5e\)

E. \(3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e\)

Answer: D

Source: Princeton Review
We have arithmetic sequence:
\(a\)
\(b = a+k\)
\(c = a+2k\)
\(d = a+3k\)
\(e = a+4k\)

Checking options.
A.
\(b-1 = a+k-1\)
\(c-2 = a+2k-2\)
\(d-3 = a+3k-3\)
\(e-4 - a+4k-4\)

So the constant here is \(k-1.\) Yes, it is an arithmetic sequence. And so on.

Therefore, D

It will be faster if we just check on numbers. \(a = 1, b = 2, c = 3, d = 4, e = 5.\)