Department of Education

National Capital Region

Schools Division of Parañaque City
Self-Learning Modules
Mathematics 10 Quarter 1 Week 4

GEOMETRIC MEANS AND GEOMETRIC SERIES

Learning Competencies (Essential Competencies)

The learner determines geometric means, nth term of a geometric sequence
and sum of the terms of a given finite or infinite geometric sequence.
(M10AL-le-2)

Objectives
The learner…
a. enumerates the next few terms and the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of a geometric
sequence.
b. inserts means between two given terms of a geometric sequence.
c. finds the sum of the terms of the given finite or infinite geometric
sequence.

Let’s Recall (Review)

Activity 1: Divide and Master

Find the ratio of the second number to the first number.

EXAMPLE: ITS YOUR TURN!

1) 6, 24 answer: 𝑟 = 4 6) 36, 12 𝑟 = ________
𝑎2 24
𝑟=𝑎 = =4
1 6
1 2
2) −12, 36 answer: 𝑟 = −3 7) 3, 3 𝑟 = ________
𝑎2 36
𝑟 = 𝑎 = −12 = −3
1
3 1 8) 𝑑 − 1, 𝑑 𝑟 = ________
3) 1, 6 answer: 𝑟 = 2
3
𝑎 1 9) −81, 9 𝑟 = ________
𝑟 = 𝑎2 = 6
=2
1 1
4) −6, −12 answer: 𝑟 = 2 10) 4r, 4rc 𝑟 = ________
𝑎2 −12
𝑟=𝑎 = =2
1 −6
5) 𝑐 3 , 𝑐 5 answer: 𝑟 = 𝑐 2
𝑎 𝑐5
𝑟 = 𝑎2 = 𝑐 3 = 𝑐 2
1

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Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

Other sequences have a special pattern wherein terms have a common ratio
(𝒓). These sequences are called geometric sequences where 𝒓 must be a non-zero
constant.

EXAMPLES
1) Let 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , … , 𝑎𝑛 be the geometric sequence. Fill in the blanks with the
correct expressions.
𝑎1 = 𝑎1
𝑎2 = 𝑎1 𝑟
𝑎3 = 𝑎2 𝑟 = (𝑎1 𝑟)𝑟 = __________ answer: 𝑎1 𝑟 2
𝑎4 = 𝑎3 𝑟 = (𝑎1 𝑟 2 )𝑟 = __________ answer: 𝑎1 𝑟 3
𝑎5 = 𝑎4 𝑟 = __________ = _________ answer: (𝑎1 𝑟 3 )𝑟 = 𝑎1 𝑟 4
a. Can you identify the pattern? Write down your observations below.
__________________________________________________________
b. If the pattern continues, what expressions will be for the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term of a
geometric sequence?
answer: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 General Formula of a Geometric Sequence
2) Find the fifth term of the geometric sequence 6, 24, 96, ...
Solution: 6, 24, 96, 384, 𝟓𝒕𝒉 term, …
𝑎5 = 𝑎4 𝑟 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 To find the common
𝑎5 = 384 (4) 𝑎5 = 6(4 )5−1
substitute the given ratio, 𝒓, simply DIVIDE
𝑎5 = 1536 𝑎5 = 6(44 ) apply PEMDAS rule any term in the
sequence by the term
𝑎5 = 6(256) simplify
that precedes it.
𝑎5 = 1536
𝒓 = 24 ÷ 6
𝒓=4

Formula for the Sum of the Terms of a Geometric Sequence

The sum of the terms of a finite geometric sequence may be computed by
ADDITION.
In finding the actual sum of a finite geometric sequence,
a. Let 𝑆𝑛 be the sum of the n terms of the finite geometric sequence.
➢ 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎1 𝑟 + 𝑎1 𝑟 2 + ⋯ + 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−2 + 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
b. The formula for the sum of the terms of a finite geometric sequence is
1−𝑟 𝑛
➢ 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 ( 1−𝑟 )

EXAMPLES
1) Find 𝑆7 of the finite geometric sequence 6, 24, 96, 384, …, 𝑎7 .
1−𝑟 𝑛 −16383
Solution: 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 ( 1−𝑟 ) 𝑆7 = 6 ( )
−3
1−47
𝑆7 = 6 ( 1−4 ) 𝑆7 = 6 (5461)
1−16384
𝑆7 = 6 ( ) 𝑆7 = 32 766 answer
1−4

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𝑆𝑛 = 6 + 24 + 96 + 384 + 1536 + 6144 + 24576

𝑆7 = 32 766 answer
2) Find 𝑆5 of the geometric sequence defined by 𝑎𝑛 = −10(2𝑛−1 ).
Solution:
First Term: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑎1 = −10(21−1 ) 𝑎1 = −10(20 )
𝑎1 = −10
Second Term: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑎2 = −10(22−1 ) 𝑎1 = −10(21 )
𝑎2 = −20
Third Term: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑎3 = −10(23−1 ) 𝑎1 = −10(22 )
𝑎3 = −40
Fourth Term: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑎4 = −10(24−1 ) 𝑎1 = −10(23 )
𝑎4 = −80
Fifth Term: 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑎5 = −10(25−1 ) 𝑎1 = −10(24 )
𝑎5 = −160

Geometric Series using the value of Geometric Series using the

each term: formula:
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎1 𝑟 + 𝑎1 𝑟 2 + ⋯ 1 − 𝑟𝑛
𝑆 = 𝑎 ( )
+ 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−2 + 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 𝑛 1
1−𝑟
1−25
𝑆5 = −10 + (−20) + (−40) 𝑆5 = −10 ( 1−2 )
+ (−80) + (−160) 1−32
𝑆5 = −10 ( 1−2 )
𝑆5 = −310
−31
𝑆5 = −10 ( )
−1
𝑆5 = −10 (31)
𝑆5 = −310

Formula for the Sum of the Infinite Geometric Sequence

For an infinite geometric sequence to have sum, the common ratio, 𝒓, must
be between −1 and 1, as 𝒏 increases 𝒂𝒏 gets closer to 0.
If 𝑎1 + 𝑎1 𝑟 + 𝑎1 𝑟 2 + ⋯ is an infinite geometric series, with −1 < 𝑟 < 1, then
𝒂𝟏
the sum of 𝑺 of all terms of this series is given by: 𝑺∞ = 𝟏−𝒓

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Geometric_Segment.svg/1280px-Geometric_Segment.svg.png)
1 1 1
Prove that + + + ⋯ = 1
2 4 8
1 1
Proof: Given 𝑎1 = 2 and common ratio 𝑟 = 2
𝒂𝟏
𝑺∞ = 𝟏−𝒓

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𝟏 𝟏
𝟐 𝟐
Substitute the given to the formula: 𝑺∞ = 𝟏 = 𝟏 =𝟏
𝟏−
𝟐 𝟐

EXAMPLES

1) Find the sum. 2) Evaluate

∞
108 + 36 + 12 + 4 + …
Solution: ∑ 13(0.7)𝑛−1
1 𝑛=1
Let 𝑎1 = 108 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 = 3,
Solution:
𝒂𝟏 7
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑺∞ = , 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒓 < 1. Let 𝑎1 = 13 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 = 10,
𝟏−𝒓
𝒂𝟏 𝒂
𝑺∞ = 𝟏
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑺∞ = 𝟏−𝒓 , 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒓 < 1
𝟏−𝒓
𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓 𝟑 𝒂𝟏
𝑺∞ = 𝟏 = 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓 (𝟐) 𝑺∞ =
𝟏− 𝟏−𝒓
𝟑 𝟑
𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟎
𝑺∞ =
𝟕𝟓
𝒐𝒓 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓 𝑺∞ = 7 = 3 = 𝟏𝟑 ( 𝟑 )
𝟏−
𝟐 10 10
𝟏𝟑𝟎
𝑺∞ = 𝒐𝒓 𝟒𝟑. 𝟑𝟑
𝟑

NOTE

Infinite geometric series may also express in sigma notation, with the
variable going from the lower limit to the positive infinity, or
∞

∑ 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
𝑛=1
where: −1 < 𝑟 < 1
EXAMPLE: Find the value of:
∞
1 𝑛−1
∑8( )
5
𝑛=1
1 𝒂𝟏
Solution: Let 𝑎1 = 8 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 = 5, 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑺∞ = , 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒓 < 1.
𝟏−𝒓
𝟖 𝟖
𝑺∞ = 𝟏 = 𝟒 = 10
𝟏−
𝟓 𝟓

Geometric Means
Geometric means are terms between two given terms of a geometric
sequence.
𝒃
In geometric sequence 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 the geometric mean is 𝑏, whose ratio is 𝒓 = 𝒂 or
𝒄
𝒓 = 𝒃.
𝒃 𝒄
Since 𝒂 = 𝒃 and 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒂𝒄, 𝒃 = √𝒂𝒄.
The positive square root of the product of the given terms is called the mean
proportional.

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EXAMPLE
1) Find the geometric mean between 12 and 36.
Solution: Let 𝑐 be the geometric mean between 12 and 36.
𝒄 = √𝒂𝒃 𝒄 = √𝟒𝟑𝟐
𝒄 = √𝟏𝟐 ∗ 𝟑𝟔 𝒄 = ±𝟏𝟐√𝟑
2) Insert three geometric means between 5 and 3125.
Solution:
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑎1 = 5, 𝑎5 = 3125 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 = 5
Determine the common ratio
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 Therefore, 𝒂𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓, 𝒂𝟑 = 𝟏𝟐𝟓,
𝑎5 = 5(𝑟 5−1 ) 𝒂𝟒 = 𝟔𝟐𝟓 or 𝒂𝟐 = −𝟐𝟓, 𝒂𝟑 = 𝟏𝟐𝟓,
3125 = 5𝑟 4 𝒂𝟒 = −𝟔𝟐𝟓 are the geometric
means between 5 and 3125.
625 = 𝑟 4
𝑟 = ±5

Let’s Apply

Activity 2: Finding Common Ratio

A. Find the common ratio for each geometric sequence.
1 2 4 8 16
1) 5, 15, 45, 135, 405 𝑟 = __________
2) 5, −10, 20, −40, 80 𝑟 = __________
4 4
3) 36, −12, 4, − 3, 9 𝑟 = __________

Activity 3: Finding the nth Term

B. Find the indicated term for each geometric sequence.
1) 8, 64, 512, …; 𝑎8 ________________________
2) 4√3, 8√3, 16√3, … ; 𝑎4 ________________________
3) 81, 105, …; 𝑎3 ________________________

Activity 4: Finding Geometric Mean

C. Find the geometric means between each pair of terms.
1) Insert a geometric mean between 13 and 39 __________________
1 1
2) Insert two geometric means between − 3 and − 24 __________________
3) Insert five geometric means between 3 and 2187 __________________

Activity 5: Sum of Terms in a Geometric

Sequence
D. Find the sum of the indicated number for each given of geometric sequence.
1) 3 terms of 7, 21, 63, … ___________________
2 8 32 128
2) 8 terms of 5 , 5 , , ,… ___________________
5 5

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Evaluate the infinite geometric sequence, if it exists.

3) ___________________

Let’s Analyze

Activity 6: Progress Check

Answer the following.
1) Find the 8th term of the geometric 2) Find the geometric mean between
sequence 100, 20, 4, … 24 and 864.

Answer: ___________ Answer: ___________

3) For an infinite geometric sequence, 𝑎4 = 205. If the first term is 25625,
find the common ratio and the sum of the terms of the sequence.
𝒓= 𝑺∞ =

Answer: ____________ Answer: ____________

Let’s Try (Evaluation)

Read the following questions carefully. Choose the letter that corresponds to the
correct answer.
2 2
1) What is the 8𝑡ℎ term of the geometric sequence 2 , 3 , 9 , . . . ?
2 2 2 2
A. 81 B. 7291 C. 243 D. 2187
2) What is the eighth term of a geometric sequence with −12 as the third term
and 4 as the common ratio?
3
A. −196 608 B. −12288 C. −12 D. − 4
3) Find the sum of the first four terms of the geometric sequence with first term of
3
20 and common ratio of 4.
875 235
A. B. 50 C. −2 D. −
16 16
4) If four geometric means are inserted between 480 and 15, find the third of
these geometric means.
A. 240 B. 120 C. 60 D. 30
th
5) The first term of a geometric sequence −5 while the 10 term is −2560, find
the fifth of these geometric means.
A. −80 B. −160 C. −320 D. −640
6) What is the sum of all the multiples of 3 between 2 and 16?
A. 33 B. 40 C. 45 D. 53
for items 7-10
The third term of a geometric sequence is 72 and the fifth term is 648.
7. Find the common ratio. _____________________________
8-9. Find the first term and the fourth term. _____________________________
10. Find the sum. _____________________________