UNIT II. LESSON 3.

SEQUENCE & SERIES – GEOMETRIC

GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE OR PROGRESSION

- A sequence where each term is formed by multiplying the previous term by a
constant r, called the common ratio.
Common ratio – derived by dividing a term by the previous term.
EXAMPLE:
Determine if the sequences are geometric or not.
a. 3, 9, 27, 81, … (Geometric, r = 3)
b. 162, 108, 54, 0, … (Arithmetic, d = -54)
c. -7, 49, -343, 3401, … (Not Geometric)
The nth term of a geometric sequence is derived through the formula
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1 , 𝑟 ≠ 0
Where an = nth term; a1 = 1st term; r = common ratio; n = number of terms.
EXAMPLES:
1. Find the first 5 terms of the geometric progression whose first term is 4 and
whose common ratio is 5.

Solution: By successive multiplication of the first term by the common ratio r, we

get: 4, 20, 100, 500, 2500.

2. Determine the 10th term of the geometric sequence 6, 12, 24, …

Solution: Dividing the first term by the second term, we find out that r = 2.
𝑎10 = (6)(2)10−1
𝑎10 = (6)(2)9
𝑎10 = (6)(512)
𝑎10 = 3072

3. The value of an oil painting has doubled during each of the past 6 years. If it was
valued at ₱4,000 during the first year, what was its value during the 6 th year?

Solution: a1 = 4,000 r=2 n=6

𝑎6 = (4,000)(2)6−1
𝑎6 = (4,000)(2)5
𝑎6 = (4,000)(32)
𝑎6 = 128,000
UNIT II. LESSON 3. SEQUENCE & SERIES – GEOMETRIC

GEOMETRIC SERIES
Sum of Finite or Partial Sum
𝑎1 (𝑟 𝑛 − 1)
𝑆𝑛 = , 𝑟≠1
𝑟−1

Sum of Infinite geometric sequence

𝑎1
𝑆𝑛 =
1−𝑟
EXAMPLES:
1. Find the sum of the first 5 terms of a geometric sequence whose first term is 4
and the common ratio is 2.

Solution: a1 = 4 n=5 r=2

4(25 − 1)
𝑆5 =
2−1
4(32 − 1)
𝑆5 =
2−1
4(31)
𝑆5 =
1
𝑆5 = 124
2. Juan plans to save every month starting with 6 pesos in January. He decides to
double the amount every succeeding month. How much will be his savings by the
end of December?

Solution: S12 = ? a1 = 6 n = 12 r=2

12
6(2 − 1)
𝑆12 =
2−1
𝑆12 = 6(4095)
𝑆12 = 24,570
3. Find the sum of 8, 1, 1/8, …

Solution: r = 1/8
8
𝑆𝑛 =
1
1−8

8
𝑆𝑛 =
7
8
8
𝑆𝑛 = 8 •
7
64
𝑆𝑛 =
7

4. A ball is dropped from a height of 3 m. It bounces back to a height 2/3 of the

distance from which it fell. Find the total distance traveled by the ball before it
comes to rest.
Solution:
UNIT II. LESSON 3. SEQUENCE & SERIES – GEOMETRIC

The ball travels 3 m downward when it was dropped. It bounces up to a height of

2
3 (3) = 2𝑚 after it touches the ground. It then travels down 2 m and touches the ground
2 4
for the second time. It bounces up to a height of 2 (3) = 3 𝑚 and travels down with the
same distance, and so forth until it comes to a rest.

3m
2m 2m
4/3 m 4/3 m

To find the distance traveled by the ball, you need to find the distance traveled
downward and the distance traveled upward.
Distance traveled down by the ball forms an infinite geometric sequence.
3, 2, 4/3, … with a1 = 3 and r = 2/3
3 3
𝑆𝑛 = = = 9𝑚
2 1
1−3 3
Distance traveled up is 2, 4/3, 8/9, … with a1 = 2 and r = 2/3
2 2
𝑆𝑛 = = = 6𝑚
2 1
1−3 3
The total distance traveled by the ball before it comes to rest is the sum of the distances
traveled downward and upward.
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 9𝑚 + 6𝑚 = 15 𝑚
Thus, the distance traveled by the ball is 15 meters.
5. Represent the repeating decimal 0.545454… as a fraction.
Solution: Recall that a repeating decimal is a rational number and can be
expressed as a ratio of two integers. It can be expressed as an infinite geometric
series since 0.545454… is the sum of
0. ̅54
̅̅̅ = 0.54 + 0.0054 + 0.000054 + ⋯
with common ratio = 0.01 or 1/100
0.54 0.54 54 6
𝑆𝑛 = = = =
1 − 0.01 0.99 99 11

6. Prove that the decimal 0.3333… is the same as 1/3.

Solution: It can be written as
0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + 0.0003 + ⋯
3 3 3 3
+ + + +⋯
10 100 1000 10000
r = 1/10
UNIT II. LESSON 3. SEQUENCE & SERIES – GEOMETRIC

3
0.3 10 3 1
𝑆𝑛 = = = =
1 9
1 − 10 10 9 3

Therefore, 0.33333… equals 1/3.

7. Find the rational representation of the repeating decimal 3.373737…

Solution: Can be written as:
3 + 0.37 + 0.0037 + 0.000037 + ⋯
37 37 37
3+ + + +⋯
100 10,000 1000000
The terms after the first term 3 form a geometric sequence where r = 1/100
0.37 0.37 37
𝑆𝑛 = = =
1 0.99 99
1 − 100

37 334
3+ =
99 99

GEOMETRIC MEAN
- numbers between geometric extremes
Main task: To find the common ratio.
EXAMPLES:
1. Insert two geometric means between 10 and 270.

Solution: n = 4 a1 = 10 a4 = 270
𝑎4 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
270 = 10𝑟 3
𝑟 3 = 27
3
𝑟 = √27
𝑟=3
Thus, multiply the first term by r = 3, we get 10, 30, 90, 270.

2. Insert 5 geometric means between 3 and 192.

Solution: n = 7 a1 = 3 a7 = 192
𝑎7 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
192 = 3𝑟 6
𝑟 6 = 64
6
𝑟 = √64
𝑟=2
Geometric means: 6, 12, 24, 48, 96