Module 8.

Competency 4. Illustrate a geometric sequence

Objectives:

1. Illustrate geometric sequence;

2. Construct a geometric sequence with its common ratio

Summary of Key Ideas

A geometric sequence is a sequence where each term after the first is obtained by multiplying
the preceding term by a nonzero constant called the common ratio (r).

The common ratio, r, can be determined by dividing any term in the sequence by the term that
precedes it. Thus, in the geometric sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ... , the common ratio is 2.

Examples:

1. 3, 9, 27, 81, ... is a geometric sequence beacause it has a common ratio. The common ratio is 3
because (9÷3 = 3), (27÷9 = 3), (81÷27) = 3, ... The next term will be 243 when you multiply the
last term 81, by the common ratio 3.
1
2. 125, 25, 5, 1,... is a geometric sequence because it has a common ratio. The common ratio is
5
1 1
because (5÷125 = ), (5÷25 = ), and so on...
5 5
3. 2, 4, 6, 8,... is NOT a geometric sequence because it has NO common ratio. The ratios are
(4÷2=2), (6÷4 ≠ 2), and (8÷6≠2), ...

Check what you know!

A. Find the missing term in each of geometric sequence.

1. 3,12,48,___,___,…

2. 120, 60, 30, __, __, __

3. 5, __, 20, 40, __,__,…

B. Construct 5 geometric sequence with 5 terms and determine the common ratio.