Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Practice Test

How do you determine the number of terms in a sequence of consecutive integers?

1. Smallest + Largest

2. Largest - Smallest

3. Largest - Smallest + 1

4. Smallest - Largest + 1

The correct answer is: Largest - Smallest + 1

To determine the number of terms in a sequence of consecutive integers, you need to consider both the smallest and largest integers in the sequence. The correct approach is to subtract the smallest integer from the largest integer and then add one. This formula accounts for all integers included in the sequence, ensuring that both endpoints are counted. For example, if the smallest integer in the sequence is 3 and the largest is 8, you would calculate it as follows: - Largest - Smallest gives you 8 - 3 = 5. - Adding 1 to that result gives you 5 + 1 = 6, which represents the integers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Thus, the sequence has six terms. This method reliably works for any sequence of consecutive integers, confirming why the answer accurately reflects the correct approach.