THE STO.

NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL

San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
A.Y. 2021 – 2022

Name: BASIC MATH 10

Grade and Section: MODULE 2

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Module 2
Geometric Sequence

To define what geometric sequence is, to derive and use the formula to find the terms. geometric means
and sum are the topics covered by this module.

LESSONS AND COVERAGE

Lesson 3: Geometric Sequences

Learning Competencies:
1. illustrates a geometric sequence
2. differentiates a geometric sequence from an arithmetic sequence
3. determines geometric means, nth term of a geometric sequence and sum of the terms of a geometric
sequence.

Geometric Sequence is a sequence in which each term is obtained by multiplying the preceding
term by a constant. This constant is called common ratio.

Example: 3, 12, 48, 192, 768 is a geometric sequence and its common ratio is 4.

How to get the common ratio?

The common ratio (r) can be found by dividing any term other than the first by
the term that immediately precedes it.

𝑎2 ÷ 𝑎1 = 𝑟 𝑎2 ÷ 𝑎1 = 𝑟 𝑎2 ÷ 𝑎1 = 𝑟
12 ÷ 3 = 4 48 ÷ 12 = 4 192 ÷ 48 = 4

SOLVING FOR THE NEXT TERMS IN A GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

Example: Solve for the next three terms of a geometric sequence whose common ratio is
0.25
The first term is 4.
𝑎2 = 𝑎1 ⦁ 0.25 =?
𝑎2 = 4 ⦁ 0.25 = 1

𝑎3 = 𝑎2 ⦁ 0.25 =?
𝑎3 = 1 ⦁ 0.25 = 0.25

𝑎4 = 𝑎3 ⦁ 0.25 =?
𝑎4 = 0.25 ⦁0.25 = 0.0625

The geometric sequence is 4, 1, 0.25, 0.0625

Page 1 of 3
Sir Marlon M. Comia marloncomia029@gmail.com Basic Mathematics 10
 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
A.Y. 2021 – 2022
The nth Term of a Geometric Sequence
The nth term of a Geometric sequence with first term a, and common ratio r is given by the formula

𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝟏 𝒓𝒏−𝟏

Example #1: Find the common ratio and 10th term of the geometric sequence
48. 24. 12. 6....

𝑎2 24 1
Common ratio (r) = = 48 = 2
𝑎1
Since we are finding for the 10th term, 𝑎𝑛 is 𝑎10
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
1
𝑎10 = (48)(2)10−1
1
𝑎10 = (48)(2)9
1
𝑎10 = (48) 512

3
𝑎10 = 32

(See other examples on pages 33-36)

SOLVING FOR THE TERMS USING EQUATION

Example: a = 2(2)n

Let's say you are finding the first term; the value of n will be 1. For second term, n is 2. For third term, n is 3
and so on.

1st term: 𝑎1 = 2(2)1 2nd term:𝑎2 = 2(2)2 3rd term: 𝑎3 = 2(2)3 4th term: 𝑎4 = 2(2)4
a₁ = 2(2) a₂ = 2(4) a3 = 2(8) a4 = 2(16)
a1 = 4 a2 = 8 a3 = 16 a4 = 32

THE GEOMETRIC MEANS

The terms between any two nonconsecutive terms of a geometric sequence are called geometric
means. If there is only one term between two nonconsecutive terms, called a geometric mean of the two
terms.

Example: 2, ___, ___, ___, 162

Using the formula 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1, substitute the given terms to solve for the common
ratio (r).
a₁ = 2 and 𝑎5 = 162
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
162 = 2𝑟 5−1
162 = 2𝑟 4
Divide both sides by 2
162 2
= 𝑟4
2 2
81 = 𝑟 4
𝑟=3

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Sir Marlon M. Comia marloncomia029@gmail.com Basic Mathematics 10
 THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
A.Y. 2021 – 2022
To solve for the three terms to be inserted:
2nd term: Multiply the first term and common ratio
𝑎2 = 𝑎1 𝑟
𝑎2 = 2(3)
𝑎2 = 6

3rd term: Multiply the second term and common ratio

𝑎3 = 𝑎2 𝑟
𝑎2 = 6(3)
𝑎3 = 18

4th term: Multiply the third term and the common ratio
𝑎4 = 𝑎3 𝑟
𝑎4 = 18(3)
𝑎4 = 54

Therefore, the complete geometric sequence is 2, 6, 18, 54, 162 wherein the three
geometric means are 6, 18, and 54.

SUM OF THE FIRST NTH TERM OF A GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

The sum 𝑆𝑛 of the geometric sequence is called geometric series.

Formula for 𝑺𝒏
The sum of the first n terms of a geometric sequence whose first term is 𝑎1 and whose common ratio
is r ≠ 1 is given by the formula
𝑎1 (1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 =
1−𝑟

Example:
1 1
Find the sum of the first 12 terms of the geometric sequence: 1, , , …
2 4
Solution:
Solve for the common ratio:
1 1
𝑟 = ÷1=
2 2

Substitute the given to the formula. Since we are looking for the sum of the first 12
terms, the value of n will be 12.
1
𝑎1 or the first term is 1 and 𝑟 =
2

𝑎1 (1−𝑟 𝑛 )
𝑆𝑛 = 1−𝑟
112
1(1− )
2
𝑆12 = 1
1−2
1
1(1−4096)
𝑆12 = 1
2
4095
1( )
4096
𝑆12 = 1
2
4095
4096
𝑆12 = 1
2
4095
𝑆12 =
2048

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Sir Marlon M. Comia marloncomia029@gmail.com Basic Mathematics 10