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