MATHEMATICS 10 2weeks(8 hours)

TOPIC: GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES, MEANS, AND SERIES

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners are expected to:
 illustrate a geometric sequence
 differentiate a geometric sequence from an arithmetic sequence
 determine geometric means and nth term of a geometric sequence
 find the sum of the terms of a given finite or infinite geometric sequence

ACTIVITY 1
Directions: Do the activity below.
1. Get a rectangular piece of paper.
2. Fold the paper crosswise, forming two equal areas of regions. The crease (folded part of the paper)
serves as the boundary of the regions.
3. Fold the paper crosswise for the second time. There are actually 4 regions formed.
4. Continue folding the paper crosswise for the third time. You will get 8 regions.
ACTIVITY 2: Process Questions
 Do you observe a pattern?______________________________________________________________
 How is the number of folds related to the number of regions?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
 What if the folding will continue until the seventh time, how many regions will there be? Record your
answer on the table below.
Number of folds 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Number of regions of areas 1 2 4 8 ___ ___ ___ ___

GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE
A geometric sequence, also called geometric progression, is a sequence whose terms, except the first
term, are obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a constant number. The constant number in the
sequence is called the common ratio (r). To find the common ration, divide the second term by the first term,
or the third by the second, or the fourth by the third, and so on. The nth term a n of the sequence is
n−1
a n=a1 r

where a 1−the first term

r −common ratio
n−number of terms

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EXAMPLE 1: Find the common ratio and the next three terms of each geometric sequence.
1 1 1 1
a. 6,12,24,48 , … b. ,− , , ,…
2500 500 100 20
Solution: To find the common ration, divide the second term by the first term, or the third by the second, or the
fourth by the third, and so on.
12
a. r = ( second term by the first term )=2
6
or
24
r= ( third term by the second term ) =2
12
Or
48
r= ( fourthterm by the third term ) =2
21

Therefore, the common ratio (r) is 2.

To get the next three terms, multiply the preceding term by the common ration which is 2.
48 ( 2 ) =96
96 ( 2 ) =192
192 ( 2 )=384
Therefore, the next three terms are 96,192 and 384.

b. To find the common ration, divide the second term by the first term, or the third by the second, or the fourth
by the third, and so on.
−1
500
a. r = ( second term by the first term )=−5
1
2500
or
1
100
r= ( third term by the second term )=−5
−1
500
Or
−1
20
r= ( fourth term by the thirdterm )=−5
1
100

Therefore, the common ratio (r) is -5.

To get the next three terms, multiply the preceding term by the common ration which is -.
−1 1
(−5)=
20 4
1 −5
(−5 ) =
4 4
14
 −5 25
(−5)=
4 4
1 5 25
Therefore, the next three terms are ,− ,− .
4 4 4
ACTIVITY 3
Directions: Find the common ratio and the next three terms of each geometric sequence.
1 1
1. 4 , 2 ,1,2 , …

2. 7 ,−21,63 ,−189 , …
3. 100,50,25,12,…
4. -2,2,-2,…
5. 3 √ 3 ,3 , √ 3 , …

EXAMPLE 2
Directions: Write the first 5 terms of a geometric sequence where a 1=8∧r=3.
Solution: Multiply the preceding term by r to get the succeeding term.
a 2=8 ( 3 )=24
a 3=24 ( 3 ) =72
a 4=72 ( 3 )=216
a 5=216 ( 3 )=648
The first 5 terms are 8,24,72,216, and 648.

EXAMPLE 3
32
a) Find the 6th term of the geometric sequence 24,16 , ,…
3
b) Find the 11th term of the geometric sequence -40,20,-10,5,…

Solution
a. The given geometric sequence has a 1=24 and the common ration (r) is determined in the following manner:
16 2
r= (divide the second term by the first term)=
24 3
Consider n=6 (number of terms)
2
Substitute a 1=24 , r= ,∧n=6 ¿ the formula for a n .
3
n−1
a n=a1 r

()
6−1
2
a 6=24
3

a =24 ( )
5
2
6
3

a =24 (
243 )
32
6

15
 256
a 6=
81
256
Hence, the 6th term is
81
.

b. The given geometric sequence has a 1=−40 and the common ration (r) is determined in the following
manner:
20 −1
r= ( divide the second term by the first term )=
−40 2
Consider n=11 (number of terms)
−1
Substitute a 1=−40 , r = ,∧n=11¿ the formulafor an .
2
a n=a1 r n−1

( )
11−1
−1
a 11=−40
2

a =−40 (
2 )
10
−1
11

a =−40 (
1024 )
1
11

−5
a 11=
128
−5
Hence, the 11th term is .
128

ACTIVITY 4
Directions: Solve the following. Write your answer on the space provided.
a) Find the 8th term where a 1=−4∧r =3

2. Find the 10th term where a 1=2∧r =2

1
3. Find the 12th term where a 1= ∧r =2
2
16
4. Find the 5th term where a 1=6∧r=6

5. Find the 9th term where a 1=12∧r =4

EXAMPLE 4: Decide whether each sequence is arithmetic or geometric.

a. 8,10,12,14,16 ,… b. 8,4,2,1,…

Solution
a. Find out if there is a common difference.
d=a2−a1=10−8=2
d=a3−a2=12−10=2
d=a4 −a3 =14−12=2
d=a5−a4 =16−14=2
The common difference is 2. Therefore, the sequence is arithmetic.

Find out if there is a common ratio.

a2 10 5
r= = =
a1 8 4
a3 12 6
r= = =
a2 10 5
There is no common ratio. Therefore, the sequence is not geometric.

b. Find out if there is a common difference.

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 d=a2−a1=4−8=−4
d=a3−a2=2−4=−2

There is no common difference. Therefore, the sequence is not arithmetic.

Find out if there is a common ratio.

a2 4 1
r= = =
a1 8 2
a3 2 1
r= = =
a2 4 2
a4 1
r= =
a3 2

There is a common ratio. Therefore, the sequence is geometric.

ACTIVITY 5
Directions: Decide whether each sequence is arithmetic or geometric. Show your solution on the space
provided.
1. 9,27,81,243,…

1 5 9 13
2. , , , ,…
2 2 2 2

3. 6,24,96,…

4. 2,7,12,17,22,…

18
 15
5. 120,30, ,…
2

GEOMETRIC MEAN
A geometric mean is the term between the extremes of a geometric sequence. In the geometric sequence
a 1 , a2 , a3 , … , an−1 , an , the geometric means are a 2 , a3 , … , an−1

1
EXAMPLE 5: Find the three geometric means between 32 and .
8
Solution
The geometric sequence appears like this:
1
32 ,¿ ,¿ ,¿ ,
8
1
Where a 1=32 ,a 5= ∧n=5
8
To find the common ratio r substitute the values to a n=a1 r n−1
n−1
a n=a1 r
1 5−1
=32(r )
8
1 4
=32 ( r )
8
1
4
8 32(r )
=
32 32
1
=r 4
256

√
4 1 4
256
=√ r

1
=r
4
1
Hence, the common ration is
4
.

1
If r = , get the next three terms by multiplying the preceding term by the common ratio.
4

a 2=32 ( 14 )=8
19
 ()
a 3=8
1
4
=2

a =2 ( )=
1 1
4
4 2
1 1
The geometric means between 32 and are 8,2, and .
8 2
1 1
32 , 8,2, ,
2 8

GEOMETRIC SERIES
is the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence is called geometric series. There are two types of
geometric series: (a) finite geometric series and (b) infinite geometric series.

FINITE GEOMETRIC SERIES

A finite geometric series represents the sum of a finite number of terms in a geometric sequence.
Hence, there are two formulas for the sum of the terms of a finite geometric sequence:
n
a 1(1−r )
 sn= , when r ≠ 1 (when the last term a n is unknown)
1−r
a 1−r an
 sn= , when r≠ 1 (when the last term a nis known)
1−r
When a 1 is the first term, r is the common ratio, and r ≠ 1.

EXAMPLE 6
a. Find the sum of the indicated terms of the geometric sequence when a 1=8 , r=3 ,∧a10=15
256
b. What is the sum of the terms of the geometric sequence 24, 16,…, ?
81
c. Find the sum of the first terms of the geometric sequence 625,250,100,…
Solution:
a 1−r an
a. In the given geometric sequence a 1=8 , r=3 ,∧a10=15 , we can use the general rule sn= when r≠ 1
1−r
(when the last term a nis known) then substitute the following given.
8−(3)(15)
sn=
1−3
8−45
sn=
−2
−37
sn=
−2
or

20
 37
sn=
2

37
Therefore, the sum of the terms of the geometric sequence is .
2

2 256 a −r a
b. In the given geometric sequence a 1=24 , r= 3 ,∧a 10= 81 , we can use the general rule sn= 1 n
when r
1−r
≠ 1 (when the last term a nis known) then substitute the following given.

sn=
24−
2 256
3 81 ( )
2
1−
3
512
24−
243
sn=
1
3
5320
243
sn=
1
3
5320
sn=
81

5320
Therefore, the sum of the terms of the geometric sequence is
81
.

n
2 a 1(1−r )
a
c. In the given geometric sequence 1 =625 , r= ,∧n=8, we can use the general rule sn= , when
5 1−r
r ≠ 1 (when the last term a n is unknown) then substitute the following given.
a 1( 1−r n )
sn=
1−r

[ ( )]
8
2
625 1−
5
sn=
2
1−
5

sn=
625 1−( 256
390625 )
3
5
625 ( 0.99934464 )
sn=
3
5
624.5904
sn=
3
5
21
 Sn=1040.984

Thus, the sum of the terms of the geometric sequence is 1040.984.

ACTIVITY 6
Directions: Solve the following. Write your answer on the space provided. Show your solution.
3
1. What is the sum of the first 8 terms of a geometric sequence whose 1st term is 60 and common ratio is .
4

2. Find the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence whose term are 2,4,8,16,32,64,…a 10.

INFINITE GEOMETRIC SERIES

An infinite geometric series is the indicated sum of an infinite geometric sequence. If the first term is a 1,
and the common ratio is r, then the infinite geometric series S is
S=a1 +a1 r + a1 r 2+ …
The sum S of an infinite geometric sequence is
a1
S=
1−r

Where a 1 is the first term ,∧r isthe common ratio∧|r|< 1

EXAMPLE 7: Find the sum of each infinite series, if it exists. Explain why the sum exists or does not exist.
1 1 4 4
a. 1+ + + … c. 4 + + + …
5 25 3 9
b. 4 +12+36+ … d. 3+6+ 12+ 24+…

Solution
1 1
a. From the given series 1+ + + …, the following information are obtained.
5 25

22
 1
1 a 5 1
a 1=1 a 2= and
5 r= 2= =
a1 1 5

Since |r|< 1 or r is between -1 and 1, the series converges. Therefore, the sum can be determined using the
a1
general rule S=
1−r
a1
S=
1−r
1
S=
1
1−
5
1
S=
4
5
5
S=
4

1 1 5
Therefore, the sum of the given series 1+ + + …, is .
5 25 4
b. From the given series 4 +12+36+ … , the following are obtained.
a2 12
a 1=4 a 2=12 and r= = =3
a1 4
Since |r|≥ 1, the series diverges. Therefore, the sum cannot be determined.

4 4
c. From the given series 4 + + + …, the following information are obtained
3 9
4
4 a2 3 1
a 1=4 a 2= and
3 r= = =
a1 4 3

a1
Since |r|< 1, the series converges. Therefore, the sum can be determined using the general rule S=
1−r
a1
S=
1−r
4
S=
1
1−
3
4
S=
2
3
S=6

4 4
Therefore, the sum of the given series 4 + + + …, is 6 .
3 9

23
d. Form the given series 3+6+ 12+ 24+…, the following are obtained:
a2 6
a 1=3 a 2=6 and r= = =2
a1 3
Since |r|≥ 1, the series diverges. Therefore, the sum cannot be determined.

ACTIVITY 7
Directions: Find the sum of each infinite series, if it exists. Explain why the sum exists or does not exist. Write
your answer on the space provided. Show your solution.
1. 24+ 12+ 6+3+…

1 1
2. 1+ + + …
5 25

3. 7+28+ 112+ …

1 1 3
4. + + +…
6 2 2

24
 1 1
5. 1+ + + …
2 4

ACTIVITY 8
Directions: Solve the following. Write your answer in a 1 whole sheet of paper.
A. Give the next three terms for each geometric sequence,
2
1. , 2,6 , …
3
2
2. ,−2,10 , …
5
1 1
3. 1 , , , …
2 4
4. −1,2 ,−4 , …
5 5
5. 5 , , ,…
2 4
3 3 3
6. , , ,…
10 100 1000
7. 100 , 20 , 4 , …
8. 3 , 6 , 12, …
8 4 2
9. , , ,…
3 3 3
10. 2 √ 2 , 4 , 4 √ 2 , …

B. State what kind of sequence is each. For each geometric sequence, give the common ratio.
1. −8 ,−6 ,−4 ,−2 ,…
2. 0.1 , 0.3 , 0.9 ,2.7 , …
3. 5 , 10 ,15 , 20 , 25 , …
4. 3 x+ y , 3 x− y , 3 x +3 y , …
5. x 2 , x 6 , x 9 , …
C. Find the specified term for each geometric sequence. Show your solution.
1. a 1=−4 , r=3 ; Find a8
2. a 1=6 , r=4 ; Find a6

25
3. a 1=6 , r=−2 ; Find a12
4. a 1=2 ,r =−3 ; Find a18
5. 32 , 8 ,2 , … . Find a 5
D. Find the indicated sum of the geometric sequence. Show your solution.
1. 8+16+ 32+ … , Find S8
2. 3+12+ 48+… , Find s10
3. 4 +2+1+… , Find S10
4. 36+6 +1+ … . , Find S 9
5. a 1=3 , r=3 ; Find S5
E. Compare and contrast the given concepts.
1. Arithmetic sequence and geometric sequence.
2. Arithmetic mean and geometric mean.
3. Arithmetic series and geometric series.
4. Finite geometric sequence and infinite geometric sequence.

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