GEOMETRIC

SERIES
(SUM OF THE TERMS OF A
GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE)
GEOMETRIC SERIES
- the sum of the terms of a
geometric sequence
- can be found in much the same
way as the arithmetic series
Types of Geometric series:

1. Finite Geometric Series

2. Infinite Geometric Series

FINITE GEOMETRIC
SERIES
FINITE GEOMETRIC SERIES
- the indicated sum of a
geometric sequence wherein the
number of terms is specified.
Example:
• Find the sum of the first 5 terms of
the geometric sequence 2, 8, 32,
128…..
Given: n = 5 (2, 8, 32, 128, 512)
S = 2+8+32+128+512
= 682
• Find the sum of the first 5 terms of
the following geometric sequences:
1. 7, 14, 28, ……
2. 3, 12, 48, ……
3. 100, 50, 25, ….
4. 1, 6, 36, …..
5. 54, 18, 6, ….
How about the sum of the first 20
terms? Are you still going to generate all
the terms?

 There is a formula in finding the sum

of the first n terms of a finite
geometric sequence:
 The formula for the finite geometric series is:
or
Where:
S = the sum of the first n terms
= the first term
n = number of terms
r = common ratio
Example:
• Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the
geometric sequence 2, 8, 32, 128…..
Given: n = 5
=2
r = 4 (8/2)
By using the given formula we have:

=
=
=
682
Try these:
1. Find the sum of the first 10 terms in the
geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, .....
2. Find the first term of a geometric sequence
given r = 3 and
3. What is of this sequence 3, 12, 48, ....
 However, the given formula is
not applicable if:
a. r = 1 (the common ratio is 1)
• Example: What is the sum of the first 10
terms of 2, 2, 2, ......
Solution:
2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2 = 10(2) = 20
-3,-3, -3,-3= 4(-3) = -12
 However, the given formula is not
applicable if:
b. r = -1 and n is even ( the answer is =0)
Example: 4, -4, 4, -4, 4, -4, ..... = 0
c. r = -1 and n is odd ( the answer is = )
Example: 8, -8, 8, -8, 8, -8, 8, .... = 8
-3, 3, -3, 3, -3, 3, -3, ... = -3
INFINITE GEOMETRIC
SERIES
INFINITE GEOMETRIC SERIES
- the indicated sum of an infinite
geometric sequence.
- literally, an infinite series is only a
symbolic expression and the sum
cannot be determined.
Example:
 For simplicity, the formula for infinite
geometric series is given as:

where:
= sum to infinity
= first term
r = common ratio
 Using the previous example:

= =

 The three dots or simple called ellipsis

 indicates infinity.
 Find the sum to infinity of each geometric
sequence , if it exists.
1. 64, 16, 4, 1, ...
2. , ...
3. 15, 5, 5/3, ...
 Find the sum of each geometric sequence and
the sum to infinity if it exists....
1. 3, 6, 12, ...
2. -4, 4, -4, 4, ...
3. -7, 7, -7, 7, ...
4. 5, -5, 5, -5, ...
5. ... Sum to infinity...