Unit

Grade 11 Mathematics 2:
11 March Geometric sequences
In general we define a geometric sequence as follows:
a; ar; ar 2; ar 3; ar 4; ar 5; … ar n − 1

KEY WORDS
• a is the value of the first term T3
T2 ___ Tn
• r is the common ratio between the terms, r = ___
T
= T = ____
T 1 2 n−1
geometric sequence – a
sequence of numbers with
• Tn is the value of the term in position n, so Tn = ar n−1

a common ratio between Consider the geometric sequence 5; 10; 20; 40; 80; …
consecutive terms The terms are doubling, so the next term will be 160.
common ratio – the constant T2 T3 T3
r1 = ___ = ___ = 2, r2 = ___ = ___ = 2, r3 = ___ = ___
10 20 40
T 5 T 10 T 20
= 2, so r1 = r2 = r3 = 2 and so the
amount by which consecutive 1 2 2
terms are multiplied common ratio is 2.
The first term is given by a = 5 and the common ratio is given by r = 2.
In order to determine a formula for the nth term, substitute a = 5 and r = 2 into the
formula Tn = ar n−1
The formula for the nth term in this series is given by Tn = 5 × 2n−1

WORKED EXAMPLE 1

Consider the sequence 96; 48; 24; 12; … .

1 State the values of the next three terms.
2 Determine a formula for the nth term of the sequence.
3 Determine the value of the 10th term.
Which term has a value of ___
3
4 64
?

SOLUTIONS
Each term is half the
6; 3; __
value of the previous 3
1 2
term.
2 The first term is 96, so a = 96.
T2 ___
___ 48 __ T3 24 1
= and ___ = ___ = __, so this is a geometric sequence with r = __
1 1
=
T1 96 2 T2 48 2 2
Substitute a = 96 and r = __
1
2
into Tn = ar n−1 ⇒ Tn = 96 __
1
2 ( )
n−1

3 Substitute n = 10 into the formula Tn = 96 __

1
2 ( ) n−1

⇒ T = 96 __
10
1 10−1
(2)
= 96 __ = ___
1 9 3
(2) 16
4 To determine which term has a value of ___
3
64
, substitute Tn = ___
3
64
into Tn = 96 __
1
2 ( )n−1

∴ ___
3
64
= 96 __
(2)
1 n−1
⇒ _______
3
= __
1 n−1
64 × 96 (2)
_____
1
∴ 2 048 = ( __12 )
n−1
and so __
1
2 ( ) = ( __12 )
11 n−1
| 2 048 = 211
∴ n – 1 = 11 and n = 12

8 Topic 1 Patterns, sequences and series

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 WORKED EXAMPLE 2

x − 6; 2x − 6; 5x + 3 are the first three terms of a geometric sequence.

1 Solve for x, showing all necessary calculations.

2 If x = −6, state the first three terms of the sequence and the nth term in
the form Tn = …
3 If x = 9, state the first three terms and the nth term in the form Tn = …

SOLUTIONS In a geometric sequence,

T2 T3 there is always a common
1 ___ = ___
T1 T2 ratio for which the formula is
Tn
______
2x − 6 ______
5x + 3 r = ____
x−6
= 2x − 6 Tn − 1

( 5x + 3 )( x − 6 ) = ( 2x − 6 )( 2x − 6 )
5x2 − 27x − 18 = 4x2 − 24x + 36
x2 − 3x − 54 = 0
( x − 9 )( x + 6 ) = 0
x = 9 or x = −6
2 T1 = −6 − 6 = −12, T2 = 2(−6) – 6 = − 18 and T3 = 5(−6) + 3 = −27
T2 ____
a = T1 = −12 and r = ___ = −12 = __
−18 3
T 21

Substitute a = −12 and r = __

3
2
into Tn = ar n−1
⇒ T = −12 __
n
3 n−
(2)
1

3 T1 = 9 − 6 = 3, T2 = 2(9) − 6 = 12 and T3 = 5(9) + 3 = 48

T2 ___
a = T1 = 3 and r = ___
T
12
= 3 =4
1
Substitute a = 3 and r = 4 into Tn = ar n − 1
⇒ Tn = 3(4)n –1

EXERCISE 3
Homework
1 Answer the questions below for sequences A, B, C and D.
A 3; 15; 75; 375; … 234 375
B __
1 __
; 1 ; __
1
; 1; … 128
8 4 2
C 2; −6; 18; −54; … 13 122
60; 30; 15; ___;… ____
15 15
D 2 128
1.1 Write down the fifth term in the sequence.
1.2 Determine a formula for the nth term of this sequence.
1.3 Determine the value of the seventh term.
1.4 How many terms are there in the sequence?
2 Answer the questions below for sequences A, B, C and D.
A: 9x + 8; 2x − 6; x − 8 B: 4x − 3; x; 2x − 5
C: 7x + 1; x + 3; x − 5 D: x − 1; 2x − 14; 3x
2.1 Determine the value(s) of x for which these terms form geometric
sequences.
2.2 Determine a formula for the nth term of each sequence.
2.3 Determine the value of the tenth term of the sequence.

Unit 2 Geometric sequences 9

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