MATHEMATICS

QUARTER 1 – MODULE 3
MELC 6

Geometric
Sequence
PART I.
Introduction

This module was designed to help you determine the nth term of geometric sequence
and to understand the geometric means and series. It is here to guide you using the
discussion that is made with you in mind. Examples are also provided as support to
understand well the geometric sequence.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. find the nth term of a geometric sequence;

2. determine the geometric mean/s of a geometric sequence;
3. find the sum of the terms of a finite geometric sequence; and
4. find the sum of the terms of an infinite geometric sequence.

Pretest:
Read and analyze the following items and determine the letter of the correct answer from the
given choices. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. The first term of a geometric sequence is 5, and the second term is 15, what is the
sixth term?
A. 75 B. 1215 C. 6075 D. 248
2. The common ratio of a geometric sequence is , and the fourth term is . What is the
third term of the sequence?
A. B. C. D.
3. What are the two geometric means between 7 and 56?
A. B. 17, 27 C. 15, 29 D. 12, 17
4. Find the sum of the first six terms of a geometric sequence whose first term is 2 and
a common ratio of 3.
A. 243 B. -243 C. 728 D. -728
5. Find the sum of the terms of the infinite geometric sequence
A. 68 B. 69 C. D.

Presentation/Discussion

MELC 6: Determines geometric means, nth term of a geometric sequence and

sum of the terms of a given finite or infinite geometric sequence

FINDING THE nth TERM OF A GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

Like the arithmetic sequence, each of the terms in a geometric sequence is related to
the preceding term through a definite pattern.

A. C.
B. D.

1
 The above sequences are examples of geometric sequences.
A geometric sequence is a sequence in which each term is obtained by multiplying
the preceding term by a nonzero constant number, called the common ratio, r.
Given the first term and the common ratio of a geometric sequence, the nth term can
be found using the formula .

The nth term of a geometric sequence is 𝑎𝑛 𝑎 𝑟𝑛 ,

where 𝑎 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜

Illustrative Examples:

EXAMPLE 1
Find the 6th term in the geometric sequence 𝟑 𝟏𝟐 𝟒𝟖

Solution:
To solve for the unknown terms,
identify first the given values.

( )
The given values will then be
( ) substituted to the formula in finding the
𝑛𝑡ℎ term of a geometric sequence.
( )

EXAMPLE 2
Find the 7th term of the geometric sequence in which 𝒂𝟐 𝟐𝟒 and 𝒂𝟓 𝟑.

Solution:

In order to use the formula we need the first term ( ).

Substitute 24 for and 3 for in the formula.

(First equation)

(Second equation)

2
 Solve the first equation for 𝑎 :
( ) 𝑎 𝑟

𝑎 (Third equation)
𝑟

Substitute this expression for 𝑎 in the second

equation and solve for 𝑟.

√ √

Substitute 𝑟 in the third equation and

solve for 𝑎 .

( )

 Now use the formula to find .

( )

( )

( )

EXAMPLE 3
Find the 5th term in the geometric sequence 𝟑 𝟑√𝟑 𝟗

Solution:
√ To solve for the unknown terms,
√
identify first the given values.

(√ ) The given values will then be

(√ ) substituted to the formula in finding the
𝑛𝑡ℎ term of a geometric sequence.
(√ )
( )

3
GEOMETRIC MEANS

Let us consider the geometric sequence with a common ratio of .

The geometric means between and are and . We can also say that the
geometric means between and are and . In this case, what do you think are
geometric means?

Based on the examples above, geometric means are terms inserted between two
non – consecutive terms of a geometric sequence. To find the terms to be inserted, we must
first identify the common ratio ( ) using the formula

After getting the value of , multiply it to the first term or the previous terms to get the
succeeding terms.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES:

EXAMPLE 1
𝟏 𝟖
Insert four geometric means between 𝒂𝒏𝒅 .
𝟐 𝟖𝟏

Solution:
_____, _____, _____, _____,

In this example, four terms will be inserted so we need to find first the common ratio using
the formula, .
To solve for the unknown terms,
, ,
identify first the given values.

The given values will then be

substituted to the formula and solve for
the value of 𝑟.
( )

√ √

After getting the common ratio, multiply it by the first term to get the second term.

To get the second term: ( )

To get the third term: ( )
To get the fourth term: ( )
To get the fifth term: ( )

So, the geometric means between and are and .

4
 EXAMPLE 2
Insert three geometric means between √𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟔√𝟐.

Solution:
√ _____, _____, _____, √

√ , √ ,

√ √
√ √
√ √
√ √

√ √

 After getting the common ratio, multiply it by the first term to get the second term.
To get the second term: √ ( ) √
To get the third term: √ ( ) √
To get the fourth term: √ ( ) √

So, the geometric means between √ and √ are √ √ and √ .

EXAMPLE 3
Insert a geometric mean between 4 and 36.

Solution:

4, _____, 36

Since we are only looking for one geometric mean we can use the formula

√
where, GM stands for the geometric mean while and are the two non – consecutive
terms.

√
√ ( )
√

So, the geometric mean between 4 and 36 is .

5
 In the formula 𝐺𝑀 √𝑎𝑏,

𝑎 and 𝑏 are both positive or;

𝑎 and 𝑏 are both negative

SUM OF THE FINITE GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

At this point, you already know some essential ideas about geometric sequences.
Now, you will learn how to find the sum of the first n terms of a finite geometric sequence.

When we get the sum of the known number of terms in a geometric sequence, we
get a finite geometric series.
What is the sum of the first five terms of the geometric sequence ?

Basically, the first thing to do is to find the common ratio of the sequence to generate
the next terms of the sequence. In the given example above, the common ratio ( ) is equal
to . Therefore, the first five terms of the sequence are . Then,
add the terms to find the sum.

The sum of the first five terms obtained is 1555. You were able to find the sum by
generating all the terms and then adding them. But, how about the sum of the first 25 terms?
Are you still going to generate all the terms?

Geometric series refers to the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence.

Here is the formula for finding the sum of the first n terms of a finite geometric series:

( )
,

where: ℎ ℎ

Let us try to use the formula:

Find the sum of the first five terms of the geometric series
Solution:

( )

( )

( )

( )

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ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES:

EXAMPLE 1
Find the sum of the first ten terms in the geometric sequence 𝟑 𝟔 𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝟒

Using the formula, it gives the same answer.

( )

( )

( )

( )

EXAMPLE 2
Given that 𝒓 𝟐, 𝒏 𝟔, and 𝒂𝒏 𝟗𝟔, find 𝒂𝟏 and 𝑺𝒏 .

( )

( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )

SUM OF INFINITE GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

An infinite sequence is a sequence with no definite number of terms and the last
term cannot be determined. In this case, is it possible to get the sum of an infinite sequence?
In an infinite geometric series, it is possible.

If the common ratio ( ) satisfies the inequality , then use the formula
below to get the sum of the infinite geometric sequence.

Study the given examples below.

7
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES:

EXAMPLE 1
𝟏
Find the sum of the geometric sequence 𝟔𝟒 𝟒 𝟏
𝟒

Since we cannot determine the number of terms, this is an example of an infinite

geometric sequence. Get the common ratio by dividing the second term by the first term.

Since the value of is , which is less than 1 and it satisfies the condition ,
then, getting the sum is possible.

( )

So, the sum of the infinite geometric sequence is

EXAMPLE 2
Find the sum of the infinite geometric sequence 2, -8, 32, …

Solution:

To find the sum of the above infinite geometric sequence, first check if the sum exists
by using the value of .

Since the value of is and does NOT satisfy the condition , therefore,
the given series has no sum.

We can find the sum of all finite geometric series, but in the case of an infinite
geometric series when the common ratio is greater than one, the terms in the sequence will
get larger and larger and if you add the larger numbers, you won't get a final answer. The
only possible answer would be infinity. So, we don't deal with the common ratio greater than
one for an infinite geometric series.

8
PART II. ACTIVITIES

Answer each of the following questions completely. Write answers and solutions on a
separate clean sheet of paper.

Activity 1.

Directions: Use the nth term of a geometric sequence to answer the following
questions.
1. Find the seventh term in the geometric sequence
2. Find the sixth term in the geometric sequence √ √ √
3. What are the first term and the common ratio of the geometric sequence if the
second, third and fourth terms are ?
4. What is the sixth term of the geometric sequence for which and ?
5. Find the sixth term of the geometric sequence for which and .

Activity 2.

Directions: Answer the following.

1. Insert two geometric means between and .
2. Insert four geometric means between and .
3. Insert three geometric means .
4. If three geometric means are to be inserted between and , what is the second
geometric mean.
5. The geometric mean between and is . What is the value of

Activity 3.

Directions: Answer the following.

1. Find the sum of the first 8 terms of the geometric sequence if and .
2. Find the sum of the first twelve terms of the sequences
3. Find the sum of the first seven terms of
4. Given that , , and , find and .
5. Find the sum of the first five terms of a geometric sequence where the last term ( )
is 324 and the common ratio is 3.

Activity 4.

Determine if each infinite geometric series has a sum. If the sum exists, find the sum:

1.
2.
3. √ √
4. ( ) ( )
5.

9
PART III. ASSESSMENT
Directions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Write your solutions and answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. What is the 8th term in the geometric sequence ?

A. 135 B. 3, 645 C. 10, 935 D. 32, 805

2. If the first term of a geometric sequence is , the second term is , what is the 10th term?
A. B. C. D.

3. What is the geometric mean between

A. B. C. D.

4. If four geometric means are to be inserted between and , what is the third mean?
A. B. C. D.

5. What is the sum of the first 7 terms of the sequence ?

A. B. C. D.

6. What is the sum of the first 5 terms of the geometric sequence if and ?
A. B. C. D.

7. Find the sum of the infinite geometric sequence

A. B. C. D. has no sum

8. What is the sum of the infinite geometric sequence ?

A. B. C. D. has no sum

9. If the first term is and the fourth term is , what is ?

A. B. C. D.

10. If the geometric mean between and is , what is

A. B. C. D.

10
 11
First Edition 2015
Government of the Philippines, Department of Education, Mathematics 10 Learner’s Module
Reference:
Activity 1. Activity 2.
1. 𝑎 1. 20, 80
2. 𝑎 √ 2. -12, 48, -192, 768
3. 𝑎 𝑟 3.
4. 𝑎 4.
5. 𝑎 5. 𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑚
Activity 3. Activity 4.
1. 𝑆 1.
2. 𝑆 2.
3. 𝑆 3. No sum
4. 𝑎 𝑆 4.
5. 𝑆 5. No sum
Part II. Activities
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. C
Pre-Test:
Answer Key .