GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

- a sequence in which each successive term is found by

multiplying the previous term by a fixed number called common ratio.

- a sequence with a common ratio.

Examples:
- 2, 4, 8, 16, …. Multiplied by 2

- 100, 50, 25, 12.5, ….Multiplied by 1/2

- 3, 12, 48, 192, …. Multiplied by 4

How to get the common ratio?
- Divide the 2nd term by 1st term or

- Divide the 3rd term by 2nd term and so on….

2, 4, 8, 16,….
100, 50, 25, 12.5, ….
3, 12, 48, 192, ….
Are the following numbers geometric sequence?
a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6
1. 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729 (Yes, bec. They have common ratio.)
9/3 = 27/9 = 81/27 = 243/81 =729/243 = 3

2. 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1 (Yes bec. They have common ratio.)

16/32 = 8/16 = 4/8 = 2/4 = 1/2 = ½

3. 10/3, 10/6, 10/9, 10/15 (No, bec. They have diff. ratio.)
(10/6)/(10/3) = ½
(10/9)/(10/6) = 2/3
(10/15)/(10/9) = 3/5

4. 5x2 , 5x4  , 5x6 , 5x8 , ... (Yes)

Formula for nth term:
an = a1 (r)n-1
A1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6

3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729

a1 = first term
r = common ratio
n = number of terms
 r 2

1/512 = r9
=r
1/2
  
Example 4:   Find the 8th  and the 11th term of the
geometric sequence 7, 21, 63, 189, ....
Solution :  a8= 7(3)(8-1) 
= 7(3)(7)   
=  15, 309
 

 a11= 7(3)(11-1)   = 7(3)(10)   =  413,343

GEOMETRIC MEAN
The terms between any two given terms in a geometric
sequence are called geometric means.

1. Insert a number between 7 and 175.

7, __35___, 175
a1 , a2 , a3

Solution: a1 =7 a3=175 r= ? N= 3
175= 7(r) 2
7 7
25= r2
5=r
a2 = (7 x 5) = 35
2. Insert 4 terms between 2 and 64 of a geometric sequence.
2, ___, ____, ____, _____, 64
a1 = 2, a6 = 64,

therefore, the geometric means are a2 , a3 , a4., and a5

Solution: an = a1 rn-1 

a6 = a1 r 6 -1

64 = 2 r 6 -1  
64 = 2 r5  
2 2
32 = r5 (get the fifth root of 32)

2 =r