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Geometric Sequences: FEBRUARY 17, 2014

A geometric sequence is a sequence where each term is obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a constant number. The constant multiplier from each term to the next is called the common ratio. To find the common ratio, divide any term by the term preceding it. Geometric sequences can be used to model population growth where the population increases by a certain percentage each period. An example is given of a fruit fly population that grows by 1.5 times each generation.

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Rebecca Myers
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57 views21 pages

Geometric Sequences: FEBRUARY 17, 2014

A geometric sequence is a sequence where each term is obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a constant number. The constant multiplier from each term to the next is called the common ratio. To find the common ratio, divide any term by the term preceding it. Geometric sequences can be used to model population growth where the population increases by a certain percentage each period. An example is given of a fruit fly population that grows by 1.5 times each generation.

Uploaded by

Rebecca Myers
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Geometric

Sequences
FEBRUARY 17, 2014
THINK and TRY
Find the two missing terms in this sequence.
What is a geometric
sequence?
A geometric sequence is a sequence in which each term after the
first is obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a constant
nonzero real number.
x2 x2 x2 x2 x2
Geometric vs. Arithmetic
Sequences
Geometric sequence: A sequence made by multiplying by some value each
time.
Arithmetic sequence: A sequence made by adding some value each time.
Common Ratio
The multiplier from each term to the next is
called the common ratio and is usually denoted
by r.
In a geometric sequence, the common ratio can
be found by dividing any term by the term
preceding it.


Example
The geometric sequence 2, 8, 32, 128, has
common ratio r = 4 since
8 32 128
... 4
2 8 32

Decide if each sequence is a
geometric sequence. If yes,
find the common ratio.
Decide if the sequence is a
geometric sequence. If yes,
find the common ratio.
,...
2401
32
,
343
16
,
49
8
,
7
4
Geometric Sequence
Formula
a
n
= n
th
term of the
sequence
a
1
= first term
n = # of terms
r = common ratio

Write out the first four terms
of the sequence.
Write out the terms for the
sequence.
Find a
n
and a
10
.
Find a
1
and r.
Find a
1

Modeling a Population of
Fruit Flies
Example: A population of fruit flies grows in such a way that each
generation is 1.5 times the previous generation. There were 100
insects in the first generation. How many are in the fourth
generation?
Solution: The populations form a geometric sequence with a
1
= 100
and r = 1.5. Using n=4 in the formula for a
n
gives
or about 338 insects in the fourth generation.
Pictures
What is the common ratio in
this example?
What is the 6
th
term in this
sequence?
EOC Question
EOC Question

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