Contents

1 Introduction
1.1 Elementary Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2 Derivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2
2
3

Geometric Progression
Preyansh Mitharwal
February 1, 2015

Introduction

In mathematics, a geometric progression (GP) is a sequence of numbers

where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by
a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio(r).
For example:
3, 9, 27, 81, ...
is a GP with first term 3 and common ratio(r) 3. [1]
The general form of a geometric sequence is
a, ar, ar2 , ar3 , ar4 , ...
where r 6= 0 is the common ratio and a is first term of the sequence.

1.1

Elementary Properties

The n-th term of a sequence with first term a and common ratio r is given
by:
an = arn1
The common ratio(r) of a geometric sequence can be negative also. this
will result ino a alternating sequence of positive and negative terms.
If common ratio is 1, the progression is a constant sequence.
Geometric series is the sum of the numbers in a geometric progression.
For example:
5 + 10 + 20 + 40
2

1.2

Derivation

Let a be the first term of GP, n be the number of terms, and r be the common
ratio of GP, then sum of the GP is given by:
Sn =

n
X

ark1 =

k=1

a(1 rm )
, r 6= 0
(1 r)

(1)

To derive this formula, first write a general geometric series as:

n
X

ark1 = ar0 + ar1 + ar2 + ... + arn1

k=1

Multiply both sides of the above equation by 1 r, to get

(1 r)

n
X

ark1 = (1 r)(ar0 + ar1 + ar2 + ... + arn1 )

(2)

k=1

= (ar0 + ar1 + ar2 + ... + arn1 ) (ar1 + ar2 + ... + arn1 + arn )
(3)
= a arn

(4)

Thus,
n
X

ark1 =

k=1

a(1 rn )
1r

(5)

References
[1] Higher Algebra. London : Macmillan ; New York : St. Martins Press,
1987.