SAN MIGUEL ACADEMY

Mayana, Jagna, Bohol

Member: Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines
Bohol Association of Catholic Schools
Quarter 1 MS. TADIOS
Diocese of Tagbilaran

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _______________________________________________________________ Score: _________________ ___
Grade/Section: Grade X- St. Michael the Archangel Date: _______________ ______
Subject: Mathematics X
Activity Type: Illustration/Exercises Control No. : 5.a
Activity Title: GEOMETRIC MEAN AND nth TERM OF GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE
Learning Competency: Determines geometric means and nth term of a geometric sequence
Learning Target/s: 1. Determine the geometric means and the nth term of a geometric sequence.
Reference/s: Intermediate Algebra
Author: Soledad Jose-Dilao

Concept Notes
A. Geometric mean is the term between any two non-consecutive terms in a
The nth term of a geometric geometric sequence. If numbers a1, a2, a3…., an form a geometric
sequence is an = a1 r n-1 sequence, the a2, a3…., an-1 are called geometric mean between a1 and an.
where: a1 = the first term Thus, the formula to be used is an = a1 r n-1.
an = the nth term B. Let m be the geometric mean between two numbers a and b, so that a, m
r = common ratio and b. form a geometric sequence, so that
m b
= or m2 = ab or m = ±√ ab
Example: Find the eighth term of a m
Example 1: Find the geometric mean between 3 and 12.
the geometric sequence 2, 4, 8,… Solution: a = 3; b=12
Solution 1 (find the common ratio): m = ±√ ab
a1 = 2; a2 = 4 m =± √ (3)(12)
r = a2 ÷ a1 m = ±√ 36
r=4÷2 m = ±6
 The geometric mean between 3 and 12 is 6, since 3, 6, 12 forms a
r=2 geometric sequence.
Solution 2: a1 = 2; n=8; r = 2 Example 2: Insert two geometric means between 3 and 192.
an = a1 r n-1 Solution: a1 = 3; n= 4; a4 = 192
 Since r = 4, then the geometric
an = a1 r n-1
a8 = 2(2) 8-1 192 = 3 r 4-1
means are
a8 = 2(2) 7 192 = 3 r 3 a1=3; n=2; r=4 a1=3; n=3; r=4
n-1
a8 = 2(128) 192 3 r
3 an = a1 r an = a1 r n-1
= a2 = 3(4)2-1 a3 = 3(4)3-1
a8 = 256 3 3
64 = r 3 a2 = 3(4)1 a3 = 3(4)2
 Therefore, 256 is the 8th term. √3 64= r 3 a2 = 3(4) a3 = 3(16)
4=r a2 = 12 a3 = 48
Thus, the sequence is 3, 12, 48, and 192.
Exercises
Direction: Show your solution
1. Insert the two geometric means between 12 and 768.