Geometric Sequences Return to Table of Contents Arithmetic Sequence there is a common "difference" between each term = adding the same value between successive terms *common difference is denoted by d Geometric Sequence there is a common "ratio" between each term = multiplying the same value between successive terms *common ratio is denoted by r A Geometric Sequence is a sequence in which the same number is multiplied to get from one term to the next. This common ratio is called r. Find the next 3 terms in the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, . . . 5, 15, 45, 135, . . . 32, 16, 8, 4, . . . 16, 24, 36, 54, . . . 30 Find the next term in geometric sequence: 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, . . . 31 Find the next term in geometric sequence: 64, 16, 4, 1, . . . 32 Find the next term in geometric sequence: 6, 15, 37.5, 93.75, . . . 33 Is the following sequence geometric? 48, 24, 12, 8, 4, 2, 1 Geometric Sequences Geometric Sequences can be described by giving the first term, a , and the common ratio, r. 1 Examples: Find the first five terms of the geometric sequence described. 1) a = 6 and r = 3 1 2) a = 8 and r = .5 1 3) a = 24 and r = 1.5 1 4) a = 12 and r = / 1 2 3 34 Find the first four terms of the geometric sequence described: a = 6 and r = 4. 1 A 6, 24, 96, 384 B 4, 24, 144, 864 C 6, 10, 14, 18 D 4, 10, 16, 22 35 Find the first four terms of the geometric sequence described: a = 12 and r = / . 1 A 12, 6, 3, .75 B 12, 6, 3, 1.5 C 6, 3, 1.5, .75 D 6, 3, 1.5, .75 1 2 36 Find the first four terms of the geometric sequence described: a = 7 and r = 2. 1 A 14, 28, 56, 112 B 14, 28, 56, 112 C 7, 14, 28, 56 D 7, 14, 28, 56 Geometric Sequences Consider the sequence: 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, . . . To find the seventh term, just multiply the sixth term by 2. But what if I want to find the 20 th term? Look for a pattern: a1 3 a2 6 = 3(2) a3 12 = 3(4) = 3(2)2 a4 24 = 3(8) = 3(2)3 a5 48 = 3(16) = 3(2)4 a6 96 = 3(32) = 3(2)5 a7 192 = 3(64) = 3(2)6 Do you see a pattern? Geometric Sequences Geometric Sequences Find the indicated term. Example: a20 given a1 =3 and r = 2. Example: a10 for 2187, 729, 243, 81 Geometric Sequences Example: Find r if a = .2 and a = 625 6 1 Example: Find n if a1 = 6, an = 98,304 and r = 4. 37 Find a in a geometric sequence where a = 5 and r = 3. 12 1 38 Find a in a geometric sequence where a = 7 and r = 2. 10 1 39 Find a in a geometric sequence where a = 10 and r = / . 7 1 1 2 40 Find r of a geometric sequence where a = 3 and a =59049. 1 10 41 Find n of a geometric sequence where a = 72, r = .5, and a = 2.25 1 n Geometric Sequences Find the missing term in the geometric sequence 3, 9, 27,___ 5, 1, 1/5 , ____ ___, 10, 50, 250 2, ___, 32 Notice for the last example, r was multiplied to 2 to get to ___, and r was again multiplied to the ____ to get to 32. OR So the blank can be either 8 or 8. Geometric Sequences Find the missing terms in the geometric sequence. 5, ___, ___, 40 54, ___, ___, 16 4, ___, ___, ___, 364 144, ___, ___, ___, ___, 4.5 42 What number(s) fill in the blanks of the geometric sequence? ___, 14, 98, 686 43 What number(s) fill in the blanks of the geometric sequence? 5, ___, 80 44What number(s) fill in the blanks of the geometric sequence: 4, ___, ___, 500
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