Geometric Series

Objective: 1.Evaluate the Geometric Series

2. Solve for the number of terms in a finite Geometric series

Identifying Geometric Sequences

In order for a sequence to be called
geometric, it must have a common

ratio, r, between consecutive terms.

Rule for a Geometric Sequence

The nth term of a geometric

sequence with the first term a1 and a

common ratio r is given by:

an a1r

n 1

The Sum of a Finite Geometric Series

The sum of the first n terms of a geometric series is:

1 r S n a1 1 r

Extra Example #5
Consider the geometric series 4 + 2 + 1 + + Find the sum of the first 10 terms.

1 (1 2) S10 4 1 (1 2)

10

0.999 S10 4 0.5

S10 7.992

Extra Example #5 Continued

Consider the geometric series 4 + 2 + 1 + + Find n such that Sn = 31/4
31 1 rn 4 4 1 r

F I 1 n 0 . 5 GH JK e j 32 F 1 0.5 I log 0.03125 log c0.5n h 31 16G 0.5 0.5 J H 0.5 K log 0.03125
31 1 0.5n 4 4 1 0.5
n

F GH

I JK

31 1 0.5n 32

5 n

31 32 1 0.5n

log 0.5