successive — Definition, Formula & Examples
Successive means coming one after another in order, without gaps. For example, 5, 6, 7 are three successive whole numbers.
Elements of an ordered sequence are called successive if each element immediately follows the preceding one according to the ordering rule of the sequence.
Worked Example
Problem: A plant grows 2 cm on each of 4 successive days. What is its total growth?
Identify the successive days: The four successive days are Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4 — each immediately following the previous one.
Calculate total growth: The plant grows 2 cm each day for 4 days.
Answer: The plant grows a total of 8 cm over the 4 successive days.
Why It Matters
Word problems in algebra and statistics often say "successive terms," "successive trials," or "successive years." Recognizing the word tells you the items follow in unbroken order, which matters when you set up equations or look for patterns.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Thinking successive only applies to numbers differing by 1.
Correction: Successive refers to position in any ordered sequence. The terms 2, 4, 6 are successive even multiples of 2, even though they differ by 2.