Learning Guide Module

Subject Code Math 3 Mathematics 3

Module Code 12.0 Sequences and Series
Lesson Code 12.3 Geometric Sequences
Time Frame 30 minutes

TARGET Time Allocation: 1 minute

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

By the end of this learning guide, the students will have been able to:

1. define a geometric sequence and related terms such as common ratio, geometric mean; and
2. find the nth term of a geometric sequence

HOOK Time Allocation: 1 minute

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

3, 9, 27, ...

Look at the sequence above. Can you find the pattern in this sequence of numbers?
What do you think is the number that follows 27? Can you compute for the 10th term for this
sequence?
This is an example of a geometric sequence and will be the topic for this lesson guide.

IGNITE Time Allocation: 19 minutes

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

What is a geometric sequence?

A geometric sequence of the form 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … , 𝑎𝑛 , … is an ordered list of numbers in

which each term, after the first, is found by multiplying the previous one by a constant. Such
𝒂
constant is called the common ratio 𝑟, where 𝒓 = 𝒂𝒌+𝟏.
𝒌

The ratio r can be positive, negative, or zero and is computed by dividing any two
successive terms of a geometric sequence. The terms in a geometric sequence with a negative
𝑟 will have their terms oscillate between positive and negative values.

Mathematics 3 | Page 1 of 6
Geometric Sequence and Common Ratio

Example 1: Find the common ratio in the geometric sequence 8,4,2,1, …

Given: {8,4,2,1…}
𝑎
Recall the formula: (𝑟 = 𝑘+1 )
𝑎𝑘
st
Let 𝑎𝑘 be the 1 term
𝑎𝑘+1 be the 2nd term
𝑎𝑘 = 8 Identify any 2 consecutive terms. In this case,
𝑎𝑘+1 = 4 we will take the 1st and 2nd terms.
4 Substitute the values in the given formula.
𝑟=
8
1 Simplify.
𝑟=
2
Check using the formula 𝑎𝑘+1 = 𝑎𝑘 𝑟
4 = 8(½) Since the statement is TRUE, then the
4=4 common ratio 1/2 is correct.
This is an example of a decreasing geometric sequence.

Example 2: Find the common ratio in the geometric sequence 4, −6,9, −13.5, ...
Given: {4, −6,9, −13.5}
𝑎
Recall the formula: (𝑟 = 𝑘+1 )
𝑎𝑘
Let 𝑎𝑘 be the 3rd term
𝑎𝑘+1 be the 4th term
𝑎𝑘 = 9 Identify any 2 consecutive terms. In this case,
𝑎𝑘+1 = −13.5 we will take the 3rd and 4th terms.
−13.5 Substitute the values in the given formula.
𝑟=
9
3 Simplify.
𝑟 = − 𝑜𝑟 − 1.5
2
Check using the formula 𝑎𝑘+1 = 𝑎𝑘 𝑟
−13.5 = 9(−1.5) Since the statement is TRUE, then the
−13.5 = −13.5 common ratio −1.5 correct.
This is an example of an oscillating geometric sequence.

Geometric Mean

If three quantities are in a geometric sequence, the middle value is called the geometric
mean of the other two. To illustrate this idea, let us assume that 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are in a geometric
sequence. The middle number 𝑏 is called the geometric mean of the two numbers 𝑎 and 𝑐. If
𝒃 𝒄
the common ratio is 𝑟, then 𝒓 = 𝒂 = 𝒃 or 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒂𝒄. Taking the square root of both sides in 𝑏2 =
𝑎𝑐, we see that the geometric mean of the numbers 𝑎 and 𝑐 is ±√𝒂𝒄.

Note that when 𝑎 and 𝑐 are two quantities of opposite signs then, the geometric mean
between these quantities does not exist.

Mathematics 3 | Page 2 of 6
Example 3: In the geometric progression or sequence {3, 9, 27}, what is the geometric mean?
Given: {3,9,27}

9 is the geometric mean of 3 and 27. 9 is the ‘middle term’ in the given sequence.

Check using the formula: 𝑏 = √𝑎𝑐

𝑏 = √(3)(27) Substitute the given values in the formula.

𝑏 = √81 Simplify.
𝑏=9
Since the statement is TRUE, then the
9=9
geometric mean 9 is correct.

Example 4: Find the geometric mean of 20 and 45.

Given: 20 and 45
Recall: 𝑏 = √𝑎𝑐
𝑏 = √20(45) Let 𝑎 = 20 and 𝑏 = 45. Substitute the given
𝑏 = ±30 values in the formula.
Simplify.
𝑏 𝑐 Substitute the given values in the formula.
Check using the formula 𝑟 = 𝑎 = 𝑏
30 −30 Simplify.
𝑟 = = 1.5 or 𝑟 = = −1.5
20 20
45 45
𝑟 = 30 = 1.5 or 𝑟 = −30 = −1.5 Since the statement is TRUE, then the
geometric mean ±30 is correct.

Therefore, the geometric mean of two given quantities is any one of the two square roots of their
product.

The nth term of a geometric sequence

To find the nth term of a geometric sequence, the formula 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 𝒓𝒏−𝟏 (for some
books 𝒂𝒌+𝟏 = 𝒂𝒌𝒓) can be used.

Example 5: The third (3rd) term of a geometric sequence is 18 and the sixth (6 th) term is 486.
Find the first (1st) and eighth (8th) terms.
Given:
3rd term: 𝑎3 =18
6th term: 𝑎6 = 486
Required: 1st and 8th terms (𝑎1 and 𝑎8 )
Recall the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
𝑎3 = 𝑎1 𝑟 3−1 Let 𝑛 = 3 in 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
18 = 𝑎1 𝑟 2 Substitute the 3rd term in 𝑎3 .
18 Solve for 𝑎1 and name the equation (1).
𝑎1 = 𝑟 2 (1)

𝑎6 = 𝑎1 𝑟 6−1 Let 𝑛 = 6 in 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1

486 = 𝑎1 𝑟 5 Substitute the 6th term in 𝑎6 .

Mathematics 3 | Page 3 of 6
 18 5 Substitute (1) in 486 = 𝑎1 𝑟 5 .
486 = (𝑟 )
𝑟2
486 = 18𝑟 3 Solve for 𝑟.
486
𝑟3 = = 27 Simplify.
18
𝑟 = √27 = 3
18 18
𝑎1 = 2 = =2 Substitute 𝑟 in (1) and simplify to get 𝑎1 .
3 9

𝑎8 = 2(37 ) Finally, using 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 with 𝑛 = 8

𝑎8 = 4374 and simplify.

Therefore, 𝑎1 = 2 and 𝑎8 = 4374.

Example 6: A geometric sequence has 1 as its first term and a common ratio 𝑟 = −𝑥 2 . Find the
first five terms and the tenth (10th) term.
Given:
1st term: 1
Common ratio: 𝑟 = −𝑥 2
Required: 1st five terms and tenth (10th) term
Recall the formula: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
𝑎2 = 𝑎1 𝑟 2−1 𝑎𝑛=𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
2
𝑎2 = 1(−𝑥 ) Multiply the previous term by
𝑎2 = −𝑥 2 𝑟 = −𝑥 2 successively starting at 𝑎1 = 1,
to find the first five terms of the sequence.
2( 2)
𝑎3 = −𝑥 −𝑥
𝑎3 = 𝑥 4

𝑎4 = 𝑥 4 (−𝑥 2 )
𝑎4 = −𝑥 6

𝑎5 = −𝑥 6 (−𝑥 2 )
𝑎5 = 𝑥 8

𝑎10 = 1(−𝑥 2 )9 To find the tenth term, use 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1

𝑎10 = −𝑥 18 with 𝑛 = 10 and simplify.

Mathematics 3 | Page 4 of 6
 NAVIGATE Time Allocation: 8 minutes
Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

Answer the following items on your own. This will surely make you feel more confident in
solving problems on geometric sequences. The even-numbered items may be graded by your
course facilitator. Odd-numbered items have answers at the end of the lesson. For submission
of answers to even-numbered items and grading scheme, consult your teacher.

1. Find the common ratio in the geometric 4. Find the geometric mean of 102𝑥−1 and
sequence 162, −54,18, −6, … 106𝑥−5 .

2. Find the common ratio in the geometric 5. Find the 7th term if it is known that
𝑥 𝑥2 𝑥3 𝑎1 = 1 and 𝑎2 = −√3.
sequence 1, , ,− ,…
3 9 27

3. Find the geometric mean in the 6. Find the 9th term if it is known that
geometric sequence 25, 125, 625. 𝑎2 = 3 and 𝑎5 = −81.

KNOT Time Allocation: 2 minutes

Actual Time Allocation: _____ minutes

Key Points
✔ A geometric sequence is a sequence in which each term is found
by multiplying the preceding term by the same value (r) often
called the common ratio.
✔ Such a ratio is found by taking any term in the sequence and
dividing it by its preceding term. Its general term is
𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 𝒓(𝒏−𝟏) .

References:
1. Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. Based on Ramos, E.G. and N. Apolinario.
(n.d.) Science LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc
2. Larson, R., Hostetler, R., and Edwards, B. (2005). College Algebra: A graphing
Approach4thEdition. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
3. Swokowski, Earl. Cole, Jeffrey (2010). Algebra and Trigonometry with Analytic
Geometry. Classic 12th Edition. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning
4. PSHS System. (2020). Math 1 Chapter 1 Module Version 2 [PDF]. Philippines: PSHS
System.
5. PSHS CBZRC. (2020). Template-Editable-1 [DOC]. Batangas: PSHS CBZRC.

Mathematics 3 | Page 5 of 6
 Prepared by: Maria Cecilia C. Bastian Reviewed by: Jose Mari E. Ortega
Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) IV Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) IV
Campus: PSHS-CAR Campus: PSHS-SMC

Answer Key:

1. Find the common ratio in the geometric 3. Find the geometric mean in the
sequence 162, −54,18, −6, … geometric sequence 25, 125, 625.
Answer:
Answer: The middle term which is 125 is the
−54 1 geometric mean of the geometric sequence.
𝑟= =−
162 3
18 1
Or 𝑟 = − 54 = − 3
−6 1
Or 𝑟 = = −3
18
5. Find the 7th term if it is known that 𝑎1 = 1 and 𝑎2 = −√3.
𝑎2 √3
𝑟= = − = −√3
𝑎1 1
𝑎7 = 𝑎1 (𝑟 6 )
6
𝑎7 = (1)(−√3)
𝑎7 = 33 = 27

Mathematics 3 | Page 6 of 6
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