For this geometric sequence, plotting the number of newly-infected people (Tn ) vs.

the
number of days (n) results in the following graph:
Tn
16

Tn = 2 2n1

14

Day (n)
1
2
3
4
5
6
n

No. of newly-infected people

2
4
8
16
32
64
2 2n1

12
10
8
6
4
2

n
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

In this example we are only dealing with positive integers (n {1; 2; 3; . . .}, Tn {1; 2; 3; . . .}),
therefore the graph is not continuous and we do not join the points with a curve (the
dotted line has been drawn to indicate the shape of an exponential graph).
Geometric mean
The geometric mean between two numbers is the value that forms a geometric sequence together with the two numbers.
For example, the geometric mean between 5 and 20 is the number that has to be
inserted between 5 and 20 to form the geometric sequence: 5; x; 20
20
x
=
5
x
x2 = 20 5

Determine the constant ratio:

x2 = 100
x = 10
Important: remember to include both the positive and negative square root. The
geometric mean generates two possible geometric sequences:
5; 10; 20; . . .
5; 10; 20; . . .
In general, the geometric mean (x) between two numbers a and b forms a geometric
sequence with a and b:
For a geometric sequence: a; x; b
b
x
=
a
x
x2 = ab

x = ab

Determine the constant ratio:

Chapter 1. Sequences and series

17