Geometric Sequence

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

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 32,16,8,4,2,.., the common
ratio is ½ since 16/32 = ½.

Examples:
A. State whether each of the following sequences is geometric or not.
1. 5,20,80,320,…
2. 7 √ 2 ,5 √ 2 ,3 √ 2 , √ 2 , …
3. 5,-10,20,-40,…
4. 1,.6,.36,.216,…
5. 10/3,10/6.10/9,10/15
6. -4,0,0,0,…

Remember:
The nth term of a geometric sequence is a n=a1 r n−1, where

a 1=the first term

a n=the nth term
r = the common ratio

Illustrative Examples:
1. What is the 10th term of the geometric sequence 8,4,2,1,…?
2. Find the 12th term of the geometric sequence 2,4,8,…
3. Find the r in a geometric sequence if the first term is 1/3 and the eighth term is
128/3.
4. What term is 2916 in the geometric sequence 4,12,36,…?