Sie sind auf Seite 1von 15

Essential

Question: What is
a sequence and
how do I find its
terms and sums?

How do I find the sum & terms


of geometric sequences and
series?

Geometric Sequence
Geometric Sequence a sequence whose
consecutive terms have a common ratio.
You multiply to get the next term.

Geometric Sequence
A sequence is geometric if the ratios of
consecutive terms are the same.
a2 a3 a4

..... r
a1 a2 a3

The number r is the common ratio.

Formula for a
Geometric Sequence
an = a1r
a1 = 1st
term

a2
r
a1

(n 1)

n = # of
terms in the
sequence
OR the
term youre
solving for

Ex. 1
Rembember :
an = a1 r n 1

Hint: r
= ??

Are these geometric? If so, find the formula. Hint: r = ??

2, 4, 8, 16, , formula?,

an = 2(2)n 1

12, 36, 108, 324, , formula?,


an = 12(3)n 1

1 1
1 1
, , , ,..., formula ?,...
3 9 27 61
a = (-1/3)(-1/3)
n

n1

1, 4, 9, 16, , formula? ,
Not geometric, but
what is the formula?

Ex. 2

1
9
,3,9

Write the first five terms of the


geometric sequence whose firs
term is a1 = 9 and r = (1/3).

Ex. 3

Find the 15th term of the geometric


sequence whose first term is 20 and
whose common ratio is 1.05
an = a1rn 1
a15 = (20)(1.05)15 1
a15 = 39.599

Ex. 4

Find a formula for the nth term.


5, 15, 45,
an = a1rn 1
an = 5(3)n 1

What is the 9th term?


an = 5(3)n 1
a9 = 5(3)8
a9 =
32805

Ex. 5

16245162452
6

1
2
5
r
6
1
2
5
0
4
1
r

The fourth term of a geometric sequence is


125, and the 10th term is 125/64. Find the
14th term. (Assume all terms are positive)

a4 = 125
a10 =

a10 = a4r6

a14 = a10r4

125 1
a14

64 2
a14 =

Start

Recursive Formula for a


Geometric Sequence.
an = (an 1 ) r
is used to find a miscellaneous term
in a sequence. You must have a1 and
r (common ratio).

Sum of a finite geometric


series

a1 (1 r )
sn
1 r
n

Ex. 6Find the value of n for


the geometric series
a1 3 r 6 Sn 167961
3(1 6n)
167961
1 6
839805 3(1 6n )
279935 (1 6n )

279936 6n
279936 6n

Take the log base 6 of both


sides or use the definition
of a log to solve for n

log6 279936 n

7 n

Ex. 7

(S.211
a

r0.3)
n
1
n
1
2
12
12

Find the sum:

n
4
(
0
.
3
)

n1

= 4(0.3)1 + 4(0.3)2 + 4(0.3)3 + + 4(0.3)12

= 1.714

BUTwe can use the button on


our calculator Lets look.

What are
your
questions?
Classwork 1-42 odd
Homework 1-42
even

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen