For the Arithmetic Progression: 3/2, 1/2, −1/2, −3/2, .... the common difference \(d\) is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → −1
In an arithmetic progression each term is the one before it plus the same fixed number, the common difference. So \(d\) is any term minus the term just before it.
Second term minus first term: \(\displaystyle d=\frac{1}{2}-\frac{3}{2}=-1\)
Third term minus second term gives the same: \(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{2}=-1\)
A negative common difference means the terms get smaller step by step.