What is the common difference in the arithmetic sequence: 5, 10, 15, 20?

In an arithmetic sequence, the common difference is determined by subtracting any term from the subsequent term. In this case, you can take the first term (5) and subtract it from the second term (10), which gives you:

10 - 5 = 5.

You can further confirm this common difference by checking the next pair of terms. From the second term (10) to the third term (15):

15 - 10 = 5.

Repeating this process from the third term (15) to the fourth term (20):

20 - 15 = 5.

Since the difference between each consecutive term remains consistent at 5, this confirms that 5 is indeed the common difference in the sequence. Recognizing the common difference is crucial for understanding the structure of arithmetic sequences and for solving related problems in algebra.