864 CHAPTER 12 ■ Sequences and Series

SOLUTION
(a) This is an in nite geometric series with a 5 2 and r 5 15 . Since 0 r 0 5 @ 15 @ , 1,
the series converges. By the formula for the sum of an in nite geometric series
we have
2 5
S5 1
5
125 2
(b) This is an in nite geometric series with a 5 1 and r 5 75 . Since 0 r 0 5 @ 7
5 @ . 1,
the series diverges.
Now Try Exercises 65 and 69 ■

EXAMPLE 7 ■ Writing a Repeated Decimal as a Fraction

Find the fraction that represents the rational number 2.351.
SOLUTION This repeating decimal can be written as a series:
23 51 51 51 51
1 1 1 1 1...
10 1000 100,000 10,000,000 1,000,000,000
After the first term, the terms of this series form an infinite geometric series with
51 1
a5 and r5
1000 100
Thus the sum of this part of the series is
51 51
51 100
S5 1000
1 5 1000
99 5 # 5 51
12 100 100 1000 99 990
23 51 2328 388
So 2.351 5 1 5 5
10 990 990 165
Now Try Exercise 77 ■

12.3 EXERCISES

CONCEPTS SKILLS
1. A geometric sequence is a sequence in which the 5–8 ■ nth Term of a Geometric Sequence The nth term of a
of successive terms is constant. sequence is given. (a) Find the first five terms of the sequence.
(b) What is the common ratio r? (c) Graph the terms you found
2. The sequence given by an 5 ar n21 is a geometric sequence
in (a).
in which a is the rst term and r is the .
5. an 5 71 3 2 n21 6. an 5 61 20.52 n21
So for the geometric sequence an 5 21 52 n21 the rst term is
n21
,and the common ratio is . 7. an 5 52 A 2 12 B 8. an 5 3n21

3. True or False? If we know the rst and second terms of a 9–12 ■ nth Term of a Geometric Sequence Find the nth term of
geometric sequence, then we can nd any other term. the geometric sequence with given first term a and common ratio
4. (a) The nth partial sum of a geometric sequence an 5 ar n21 r. What is the fourth term?

is given by Sn 5 . 9. a 5 7, r54 10. a 5 23, r 5 22

(b) The series a ar k21 5 a 1 ar 1 ar 2 1 ar 3 1 . . .

5
` 11. a 5 2, r5 2 12 12. a 5 !3, r 5 !3
k5 1
13–22 ■ Geometric Sequence? The rst four terms of a
is an in nite series. If 0 r 0 , 1, then this sequence are given. Determine whether these terms can be the
terms of a geometric sequence. If the sequence is geometric, nd
series , and its sum is S 5 .
the common ratio.
If 0 r 0 $ 1, the series .
13. 3, 6, 12, 24, . . . 14. 3, 48, 93, 138, . . .

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 SECTION 12.3 ■ Geometric Sequences 865

15. 3072, 1536, 768, 384, . . . 16. 432, 2144, 48, 216, . . . 49–52 ■ Partial Sums of a Geometric Sequence Find the
3 3 3 partial sum Sn of the geometric sequence that satisfies the given
17. 3, 2 , 4, 8, ... 18. 27, 29, 3, 21, . . .
conditions.
1 1 1 1
19. 2, 3, 4, 5, ... 20. e 2, e 4, e 6, e 8, . . .
49. a 5 5, r 5 2, n 5 6 50. a 5 23 , r 5 13 , n54
21. 1.0, 1.1, 1.21, 1.331, . . . 22. 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 , . . .
51. a 3 5 28, a 6 5 224, n 5 6
23–28 ■ Geometric Sequence? Find the first five terms of the 52. a 2 5 0.12, a 5 5 0.00096, n 5 4
sequence, and determine whether it is geometric. If it is geomet-
ric, find the common ratio, and express the nth term of the 53–58 ■ Partial Sums of a Geometric Sequence Find the sum.
sequence in the standard form an 5 ar n21. 53. 1 1 3 1 9 1 . . . 1 2187
n n
23. an 5 21 32 24. an 5 4 1 3 54. 1 2 12 1 14 2 18 1 . . . 2 512
1

1 55. 215 1 30 2 60 1 . . . 2 960

25. an 5 26. an 5 1 212 n2n
4n
56. 5120 1 2560 1 1280 1 . . . 1 20
27. an 5 ln1 5n21 2 28. an 5 n n
57. 1.25 1 12.5 1 125 1 . . . 1 12,500,000
29–38 ■ Terms of a Geometric Sequence Determine the 58. 10800 1 1080 1 108 1 . . . 1 0.000108
common ratio, the fifth term, and the nth term of the geometric
sequence. 59–64 ■ Partial Sums of a Geometric Sequence Find the sum.

59. a 3A 12 B 60. a 8A 2 32 B
14 28 56
29. 2, 6, 18, 54, . . . 30. 7, 3 , 9 , 27, ... 5
k21
5
k2 1

31. 0.3, 20.09, 0.027, 20.0081, . . . k51 k51

61. a 51 22 2 k21 62. a 101 52 k21

6 6
32. 1, !2, 2, 2 !2, . . .
33. 144, 212, 1, 2 121 , . . . 34. 28, 22, 2 12 , 2 18, . . . k51 k51

63. a 3A 23 B 64. a 64A 32 B

5 6
k21 k21
5/3 7/3 t2 t3 t 4
35. 3, 3 , 3 , 27, . . . 36. t, , , , . . . k51 k51
2 4 8
37. 1, s 2/7, s 4/7, s 6/7, . . . 38. 5, 5c11, 52c11, 53c11, . . . 65–76 ■ In nite Geometric Series Determine whether the in -
nite geometric series is convergent or divergent. If it is conver-
39–46 ■ Finding Terms of a Geometric Sequence Find the gent, nd its sum.
indicated term(s) of the geometric sequence with the given 1 1 1 1 1 1
description. 65. 1 1 1 1 1... 66. 1 2 1 2 1...
3 9 27 2 4 8
39. The rst term is 15 and the second term is 6. Find the fourth
1 1 1 2 4 8
term. 67. 1 2 1 2 1... 68. 1 1 1...
3 9 27 5 25 125
1
40. The rst term is 12 and the second term is 2 12 . Find the sixth
term. 3 3 2 3 3
69. 1 1 1 a b 1 a b 1...
2 2 2
41. The third term is 2 13 and the sixth term is 9. Find the rst
and second terms. 1 1 1 1
70. 6
1 8 1 10 1 12 1 . . .
42. The fourth term is 12 and the seventh term is 32 3 3 3 3
9. Find the rst
and nth terms. 3 3 3
71. 3 2 1 2 1...
43. The third term is 218 and the sixth term is 9216. Find the 2 4 8
rst and nth terms. 72. 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 . . .
729
44. The third term is 254 and the sixth term is 256 . Find the rst 73. 3 2 31 1.12 1 31 1.12 2 2 31 1.12 3 1 . . .
and second terms.
100 10 3
45. The common ratio is 0.75 and the fourth term is 729. Find 74. 2 1 211 2...
9 3 10
the rst three terms.
1 1 1 1
46. The common ratio is 1
6 and the third term is 18. Find the rst 75. 1 1 1 1...
!2 2 2 !2 4
and seventh terms.
76. 1 2 "2 1 2 2 2"2 1 4 2 . . .
47. Which Term? The rst term of a geometric sequence is
1536 and the common ratio is 12 . Which term of the sequence
77–82 ■ Repeated Decimal Express the repeating decimal as a
is 6?
fraction.
48. Which Term? The second and fth terms of a geometric
77. 0.777 . . . 78. 0.253 79. 0.030303 . . .
sequence are 30 and 3750, respectively. Which term of the
sequence is 468,750? 80. 2.1125 81. 0.112 82. 0.123123123 . . .

Copyright 2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.