Geometric Sequences

A geometric sequence is a sequence of the form Ar, Ar 2, Ar3, Ar4, Ar5, …, where A is a term and r is the
common ratio (yung number na minumultiply sa bawat term para makuha yung kasunod).

Example:
3, 6, 12, 24, …  3 x2 x2 x2 x2 …
0.01, 0.03, 0.09, 0.27, …  0.01 x3 x3 x3 x3 …

Sa example na 3, 6, 12, 24, …, yung 3 ang first term and the common ratio is 2.
Sa example na 0.01, 0.03, 0.09, 0.27, …, yung 0.01 ang first term and the common ratio is 3.

Additional Examples:
256, 128, 64, 32, …  256 x½ x½ x½ x½ …
162, 54, 18, 6, …  162 x 1/3 x 1/3 x 1/3 x 1/3 …

Gn = G1 rn -1
Where Gn = nth term, G1 = 1st term, and r = common ratio

Ex.: Find the 10th term: 3, 6, 12, 24

Soln: G1 = 3, r = 2, n = 10

G10 = G1 r10-1
G10 = 3 x 2(10-1)
G10 = 3 x 29
G10 = 1536

Ex.: Find the 7th term: 2, 6, 18, 54, …

Soln: G1 = 2, r = 3, n = 7

G7 = G1 r7-1
G7 = 2 x 3(7-1)
G7 = 2 x 36
G7 = 1458
Sum of Terms for a FINITE Geometric Sequence
n n
G1(1−r ) a(r −1)
G1 + G2 + G3 + G4 + … + Gn = or
1−r r−1
Note: In other textbooks or handouts, they use A instead of G1. We will use G1 to differentiate this from
our terms in the arithmetic sequences and series.

Ex.: Find the sum of the first 10 terms of 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + …

Soln: G1 = 1, r = 2, n = 10
G1(1−r n ) 1(1−210 ) 1(1−1024) −1023
Sum = = = = =1023
1−r 1−2 −1 −1

Ex.: Find the sum of the first 6 terms of 1458 + 486 + 162 + 54 + …
Soln: G1 = 1458, r = 1/3, n = 6

Sum =
G1(1−r )
n
=
1 458(1− ()
1 6
3
)
=
1 458(1−
1
729
)
=
1458 ( 728
729 )
1 456
=¿ 2
=2184
1−r 1 2 2 3
1−
3 3 3

Sum of Terms for an INFINITE Geometric Sequence

G
G1 + G2 + G3 + G4 + … = 1
1−r
Ex.: Find the sum of 1536 + 768 + 384 + 192 + …
Soln: G1 = 1536, r = ½
G 1 1536 1536
= = =3072
Sum = 1−r 1 1
1−
2 2

Ex.: Find the sum of 1458 + 486 + 162 + 54 + …

Soln: G1 = 1458, r = 1/3
G 1 1458 1458
= =
Sum = 1−r 1 2 = 2187
1−
3 3