If a1 is the first term and d is the common difference, what is the second term in an arithmetic sequence?

In an arithmetic sequence, each term is generated by adding a constant value, known as the common difference (d), to the previous term. The first term of the sequence is denoted as a1. To find the second term, you simply take the first term and add the common difference to it.

Mathematically, the second term is expressed as:

Second term = First term + Common difference

Second term = a1 + d

This demonstrates that the correct answer is indeed the sum of the first term and the common difference, confirming that choosing the first option is accurate. The principle of how an arithmetic sequence progresses—by consistently adding the same number to each previous term—illustrates why this formulation holds true for determining subsequent terms in the sequence.