−16,−22,−28,−34,?
To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:
- Step 1: Confirm the pattern in the sequence by calculating differences between terms.
- Step 2: Calculate the next term in the sequence using the identified pattern.
Let's analyze the sequence −16,−22,−28,−34:
Step 1: Calculate the difference between consecutive terms:
−22−(−16)=−6
−28−(−22)=−6
−34−(−28)=−6
It is clear that the common difference, denoted as d, is −6.
Step 2: Add the common difference to the last term to find the next number:
The last number is −34. Add the common difference d=−6 to find the next term:
−34+(−6)=−40
Therefore, the next number in this sequence is −40.