LESSON 4

FINDING PATTERNS ON EXPONENTIAL

(GEOMETRIC) SEQUENCE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. formulate an exponential mathematical model (geometric sequence) given the pattern in numbers;
2. apply the functions and sequences in the real-life examples;

In an exponential function, the ratio between each pair of

consecutive terms is the same. This ratio is called the common ratio.
Each term is found by multiplying the previous term by the common
ratio. Exponential sequence is commonly known as Geometric
Sequences or Geometric Progressions

In an exponential sequence or geometric Sequence each term is

found by multiplying the previous term by a constant.

We can write it as a rule:

𝒓𝒙
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂 [ ] 𝒐𝒓 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂[𝒓𝒙−𝟏 ]
𝒓

a = the first term

r = the common ratio
f(x) = nth term
x = number of terms involved

𝑓(𝑥2 ) 𝑓(𝑥3 ) 𝑓(𝑥4 ) 𝑓(𝑥𝑗 )

𝑎= = = =⋯=
𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓(𝑥2 ) 𝑓(𝑥3 ) 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )

f(x) 1 2 4 8 16

f(x1) f(x2) f(x3) f(x4)

2÷1 = 2 4÷2 = 2 8÷4 = 2 16÷8 = 2

Common ratio r = 2

f(x) 24 12 6 3 1.5 0.75

12÷24= 0.5 6÷12= 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Common ratio r = 0.5

A Self-regulated Learning Module 1

Summing a Geometric Sequence

To find the sum of n terms:

𝑎(1 − r n ) a − rx𝑛
Sn = if r ≠ 1 𝑜𝑟 Sn = if r ≠ 1
1−r 1−r

where 𝑥𝑛 = nth term value r = common ratio

a = 1st term Sn = sum of n terms
n = number of terms involved

Example 1: Find the 10th term of the exponential sequence (geometric sequence): 10, 30, 90, 270, 810, 2430, ...
What is the total of the first 8 terms?

The values of a and r are:

• a = 10 (the first term)

• r = 3 (the “common ratio”)

The Rule for any term is:

𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂𝒓𝒙−𝟏 ⟹ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟏𝟎(𝟑𝒙−𝟏 )
To find the 10th term with x = 10:
𝑓(𝑥) = 10(3𝑛−1 )
𝑓(10) = 10(310−1 )
(𝑓(10) = 10(39 ) = 196,830

a = 10
r=3
n = 8 (first 8 terms)
𝑎(1 − r n ) 10(1 − 38 ) 10(1 − 6561) 10(−6560)
Sn = S10 = = = = 32800
1−r 1−3 −2 −2

To use the formula

a − rx𝑛
Sn =
1−r
We need to find the 8th term value xn

𝑓(8) = 10(3𝑥−1 ) = 10(38−1 ) = 10(37 ) = 21870

a − rx𝑛 10 − (3)(21870) −65600

Sn = = = = 32800
1−r 1−3 −2

A Self-regulated Learning Module 2

Example 2: Sum the first 12 terms of 10, 30, 90, 270, 810, 2430, ...

The values of a, r and n are:

• a = 10 (the first term)

• r = 3 (the “common ratio”)
• n = 12 (we want to sum the first 12 terms)

a(1 − r n )
Sn =
1−r

10(1 − 312 ) 10(−531440)

S12 = = = 2,657,200
1−3 −2

To use the formula

a − rxn
Sn =
1−r
We first find the 12th term:
𝑓(𝑥) = ar x−1
𝑓(12) = (10)(312−1 ) = 10(311 ) = 1,771,470

Using the formula:

a − rxn 10 − (3)(1771470) 10 − 5,314,410 −5314400

Sn = = = = = 2,657,200
1−r 1−3 −2 −2

Example 3: Each day you counted the number of fruit-flies in your home and there were 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160,
and 320 respectively. How many fruit-flies would you expect to count after two weeks? Dead or alive, how many
fruit-flies were there in the first 2 weeks?

No. of days (x) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

No. of fruit-flies f(x) 5 10 20 40 80 160 320

10 ÷ 5 = 2 20 ÷ 10 = 2 2 2 2 2
First term a=5
Common ratio r=2
f(x) = a(rx – 1)
f(x) = 5(2x – 1)  working equation

How many fruit-flies would you expect to count after two weeks? (n = 14 days)

𝑓(𝑛) = 5(2𝑛−1 ) = 5(214−1 ) = (5)(213 ) = 40,960 𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠!

A Self-regulated Learning Module 3

Total number of fruit-flies in the first 2 weeks (first 14 days)

a=5 r=2 n = 14

a(1 − r n ) 5(1 − 214 ) 5(1 − 16384) 5(−16383)

Sn = S14 = = = = 81,915
1−r 1−2 −1 −1

Using the formula

x(14) = 40960
a − rxn 5 − (2)(40960) 5 − 81920 −81915
Sn = S14 = = = = 81915
1−r 1−2 −1 −1

Example 4: A virus population doubles every 30 minutes. It begins with a population of 30. How many viral
cells will be present after 5 hours? Find the sum for the viral cell counts until the 7th hour.

Time (every 30 minutes) (30 minutes) (60 minutes) (90 minutes) … (300 minutes)
1 2 3 10
No. of viral cells f(n) 60 120 240 … ?

SOLUTION

Because the pattern on time data is not incremental by 1, we can find a linear mathematical model for this:

Time (every 30 minutes) (30 minutes) (60 minutes) (90 minutes) … (300 minutes)
1 2 3 10

30 30
First term: a = 1 Common difference d = 30
f(x) = a + d(x – 1)
f(x) = 30 + 30(x – 1)
f(x) = 30 + 30x – 30
f(x) = 30x

How many viral cells will be present after 5 hours?

f(x) = 5 hours = 5(60 minutes) = 300 minutes

300 = 30x
x = 10 (5 hours is the 10th term in time data sequence)

A virus population doubles every 30 minutes suggests that the common ratio r = 2

f(x) = a(rx – 1)  f(x) = 60(2x – 1) working equation

f(10) = 60(210 – 1 )
f(10) = 60(29)
f(10) = 60(512)
f(10) = 30,720 viral cells

A Self-regulated Learning Module 4

Find the sum for the viral cell counts until the 7th hour.

7 hours = 420 minutes

Time sequence formula: f(x) = 30x

420 = 30x
x = 14 (7 hours is the 14th term)

a = 60 r=2 n = 14 (there will be 14 terms to be added)

a(1 − r n ) 60(1 − 214 ) 60(1 − 16384) 60(−16383)

Sn = S7 = = = = 982,980
1−r 1−2 −1 −1

There will be a total of 982980 viral cell for the first 14 terms

Example 5: There are 4 bacteria present in a colony. If it triples every minute, how many bacteria will there be
after 8 and 10 minutes?

It starts with 4 bacteria, then after 1 minute the number of bacteria becomes 4  3 = 12. So out first term is 12 not
4
x 1 2 3 … 8 … 10
(after 1 minute)
f(x) 12 36 108 … ? … ?
(number of bacteria)

Common ratio r=? a=?

r=3 a = 12
f(x) = arx – 1
f(x) = 4(3x – 1)
x=8 x = 10
f(x) = 12(38 – 1) = 12(37) = 26,244 f(x) = 12(310 – 1) = 12(39) = 236,196

Example 6: The annual income of Berta in 2017 is ₱650,000. From 2017 to 2020, the income of Berta increased
by 20% per year. If this continues, what will be her annual income by 2030? Round your answer to the nearest
whole number.

Let x = 1 (2017) f(1) = 650000

x = 2 (2018) f(2) = (1.2)  650000 = 780,000
x = 3 (2019) f(3) = (1.2)  780,000 = 936,000
x = 4 (2020) f(4) = (1.2)  936,000 = 1,123,200
x = 14 (2030) f(14) = ?

Make a table of values

Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2030
x 1 2 3 4 14
f(x) 650,000 780,000 936,000 1,123,200 ?

A Self-regulated Learning Module 5

 Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2030

1 1 1

a = 2017 d=1
f(x) = a + d(x – 1)
f(x) = 2017 + 1(x – 1)
f(x) = 2017 + x – 1 = 2016 + x
f(x) = x + 2016

2030 = x + 2016
2030 – 2016 = x
x = 14 (year 2030 is the 14th year term)

Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2030

x 1 2 3 4
f(x) 650,000 780,000 936,000 1,123,200 ?

The statement “increase by 20%” means 1 + 20% = 1 + 0.20 = 1.20 thus the common ratio is r = 1.20
Common ratio r = 1.20
a = 650,000
f(x) = arx – 1
f(x) = 650000(1.214 – 1) = 650000(1.213 ) = 6,954,558

Thus, the annual salary of Berta by 2030 is approximately ₱6,954,558

Example 7: In a certain town, a viral disease caused severe health hazards upon its people disturbing their normal
life. It was found that on each day, the virus which caused the disease spread exponentially. The amount of
infectious virus particle gets doubled each day, being 5 particles on the first day. Find the number of infectious
virus particles after 15 days. From day 1 to day 15, how many virus particles were there all in all?

Common ratio r = doubled each day = 2

Day 1 5 virus particles
Day 2 10 virus particles
Day 3 20 virus particles
Day 4 40 virus particles
Day 15 f(x) virus particles

Make a table of values

x Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 … Day 15
f(x) 5 10 20 40 … f(x) = ?

Common ratio r = 2
First Term: a = 5
f(x) = arx – 1
f(x) = (5)(2x – 1)

A Self-regulated Learning Module 6

Find the number of infectious virus particles after 15 days (x = 15).

f(x) = (5)(215 – 1) = (5)(214) = 81,920 virus particles

To find the total number of virus particles from day 1 to day 15 we can use the formula

a − rx𝑛 5 − 2(81920) 5 − 163840 5 − 163840

Sn = Sn = = = = 163835
1−r 1−2 −1 −1

Alternately, we can also use the formula

a(1 − r n ) 5(1 − 215 ) 5(1 − 32768) 5(−32767)

Sn = Sn = = = = 163835
1−r 1−2 −1 −1

TRY THESE

1. What is the eleventh term of the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, 24, ... ?
2. What is the ninth term of the geometric sequence 81, 27, 9, 3, ... ?
3. What is the sum of the first eight terms of the geometric sequence 5, 15, 45, ... ?
4. What is the sum of the first nine terms of the geometric sequence 20, 10, 5, ... ? Give your answer as a decimal
correct to 1 decimal place.
5. The first term of a geometric sequence is 5 and the sixth term is 160. What is the common ratio?
6. The fourth term of a geometric sequence is 27 and the seventh term is 1. What is the first term?
7. The first term of a geometric sequence is 192 and the fifth term is 0.75. What is the common ratio?
8. How many terms of the geometric sequence 2, 8, 32, 128,... are required to give a sum of 174,762 ?
9. The sum of the first two terms of a Geometric Progression is 36 and the product of the first and third terms is
9 times the second term. Find the sum of the first 8 terms.
10. Find a mathematical model (formula) for the following exponential sequence: 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32…
What is the 20th term of the sequence?
11. The number of bacteria in a certain culture triples every hour. If there were 30 bacteria present in the culture
originally, how many bacteria will be present at the end of 2 hours and 4 hours?
12. In 2013, the number of students in a small school is 284. It is estimated that the student population will increase
by 4% each year. Write a mathematical model (formula) for the student population. Estimate the student
population in 2020
13. A business starts a new website. Initially the number of hits is 293 due to the curiosity factor. The business
estimates the number of hits will increase by 2.6% per week. Write a mathematical model (formula) for the
number of hits. Estimate the number of hits in 5 weeks.

A Self-regulated Learning Module 7