See video: 2875 at www.everythingmaths.co.

za
Worked example 12: Sum of a geometric series
QUESTION
Given a geometric series with T
1
= 4 and T
4
= 32. Determine the values of r and n
if S
n
= 84.
SOLUTION
Step 1: Determine the values of a and r
a = T
1
= 4
T
4
= ar
3
= 32
4r
3
= 32
r
3
= 8
r = 2
Therefore the geometric series is 4 +8 16 +32 . . . Notice that the signs of the terms
alternate because r < 0.
We write the general term for this series as T
n
= 4(2)
n1
.
Step 2: Use the general formula for the sum of a geometric series to determine the
value of n
S
n
=
a(1 r
n
)
1 r
84 =
4(1 (2)
n
)
1 (2)
84 =
4(1 (2)
n
)
3

3
4
84 = 1 (2)
n
63 = 1 (2)
n
(2)
n
= 64
(2)
n
= (2)
6
n = 6
Step 3: Write the nal answer
r = 2 and n = 6
33 Chapter 1. Sequences and series