Is the sequence 16, 8, 4, 2 arithmetic, geometric, both, or neither?
To determine whether the sequence 16, 8, 4, 2 is arithmetic, geometric, both, or neither, we can analyze the differences between consecutive terms.
First, let's calculate the differences between consecutive terms:
8 - 16 = -8
4 - 8 = -4
2 - 4 = -2
Since each difference is the same (-8, -4, -2), this sequence is arithmetic. In an arithmetic sequence, each term is obtained by adding or subtracting a constant value to the previous term.
Thus, the sequence 16, 8, 4, 2 is arithmetic.