Geometric Sequences and Series

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Geometric Sequences

Plus a review of arithmetic sequences


Definitions
• Definitions:  (yes, that's right, this is important,
know these!)
• A sequence is a set of numbers, called terms,
arranged in some particular order.
• An arithmetic sequence is a sequence with the
difference between two consecutive terms
constant.  The difference is called the common
difference.
• A geometric sequence is a sequence with a
common ratio, r.
– i.e. The ratio of successive terms in a geometric sequence is a constant
called the common ratio, denoted r.
Examples: Find the common ratio of the
following:
1) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ...
r=2
2) 27, 9, 3, 1, 1/3, ...
r = 1/3
3) 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ...
r=2
4) 1/2, -1, 2, -4, 8, ...
r = -2
Examples: Find the next term in
each of the previous sequences.
1) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, ...
32
2) 27, 9, 3, 1, 1/3, ...
1/9
3) 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, ...
96
4) 1/2, -1, 2, -4, 8, ...
-16
Let's play guess the
sequence!: I give you a
sequence and you guess the
type.  1.Arithmetic, the common
difference d = 5
2) Geometric, the common
1. 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, . . .   ratio r = 2
3) Geometric, r = 1/2
2. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . 4) Arithmetic, d = -4
3. 24, 12, 6, 3, 3/2, 3/4, . . .  5) Neither, why? (How
about no common difference
4. 55, 51, 47, 43, 39, 35, . . . or ratio!)
6) Neither again! (This looks
5. 2, 5, 10, 17, . . .   familiar, could it be from
6. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, . . . geometry?)
This is important!
Arithmetic formula:      
an  =  a1  +  (n - 1)d
an  is the nth term, a1 is the first term, and d
is the common difference.
Geometric formula:          
an = a1 . r (n - 1)
an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, and r
is the common ratio.
Sample problems:
Find the first four terms and state whether the sequence is
arithmetic, geometric, or neither.

1)  an = 3n + 2   
2) an = n2 + 1  
3)  an = 3*2n                              
Answers:
1)  an = 3n + 2  
To find the first four terms, in a row,
replace n with 1, then 2, then 3 and 4

Answer: 5, 8, 11, 14         

The sequence is arithmetic!  d = 3


2) an = n2 + 1

To find the first four terms, do the same


as above!

Answer:  2, 5, 10, 17         

The sequence is neither.  Why?


3)  an = 3*2n 

Answer:  6, 12, 24, 48        

The sequence is geometric with r = 2


Real – World Connection
Suppose you want a reduced copy of a
photograph. The actual length of the photo is
10in. The smallest size the copier can make is
64% of the original. Find the length of the
photograph after five reductions at 64%.
Quick Check
• Find the 19th term in the sequence:

1.11,33,99,297…
    How to find the sum of a finite
Geometric Series 
Example problem:

10th term
Example:

Find the sum of the


first 10 terms of
the
geometric series  9
+ 36 + 144 + 576
+ ...
Example:

Find the sum of the


first 10 terms of the
geometric series  
-6 + -30 + -150 +
-750 + ...
Quiz.
1. Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the
geometric series   8 + 56 + 392 + 2744 + ...
2. Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the
geometric series   4 + 12 + 36 + 108 + ...

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