Common terms in two APs

Rarely Tested

Consider the two arithmetic progressions : $$a_1,a_1+d_1,a_1+2d_1,......$$ and $$a_2,a_2+d_2,a_2+2d_2,......$$ where $$a_1$$ and $$d_1$$ are the first term and common difference of first sequence, and $$a_2$$ and $$d_2$$ are the first term and common difference of second sequence.

If we need to find the sequence consisting of the common terms of the two sequences, then we can find the first common term among both. Let it be $$a$$.
The common difference of this sequence will be LCM($$d_1,d_2$$).

So, the sequence having terms as common terms of the two APs will be $$a,a+LCM(d_1,d_2),a+2*LCM(d_1,d_2),......$$.

No related questions available for this formula yet.

Go back to topics

Join CAT 2026 course by 5-Time CAT 100%iler

Crack CAT 2026 & Other Exams with Cracku!