GEOMETRIC SERIES

Geometric Sequence and Infinite Geometric Series

GEOMETRIC SERIES
Geometric Series

The sum of the terms in a geometric sequence is

called geometric series. An expression of , the
sum of the first n terms of geographic sequence.
 Partial sum first
of term
a Geometric Series
term position
𝑡 1 (1 −𝑟 𝑛
)
nth term
𝑆𝑛 = ❑

1− 𝑟
common ratio

common ratio
n = term position
r= = first term
Example:
1. Find the sum of the first seven terms of the sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64.
𝑡 1 (1 − 𝑟 − 127
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑆)7 = 𝑛
❑

1− 𝑟 − 1 t1=1  
r=2
1 (1 − 2 7
❑ ) 𝑆7 =127 n=7
𝑆7 =
1 −2
(1 − 128 )
𝑆7 =
−1
Example:
2. Find the sum of the first eight terms of the sequence 3, 9, 27, 81, 243…
𝑡 1 (1 − 𝑟 𝑛
) 3 −19683
𝑆𝑛 = ❑
𝑆 8= t1=3  
1− 𝑟 −2
r=3
8
3 (1 − 3 ❑ ) − 19,680 n= 8
𝑆 8= 𝑆 8=
1 −3 −2

3 (1 − 6561 ) 𝑆 8=9840
𝑆 8=
−2
Example:
3. Find the sum of the first ten terms of the sequence 5, 10, 20, 40, 80…
𝑡 1 (1 − 𝑟 5 − 5120
𝑛
)
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑆10 = ❑

t1=5  
1− 𝑟 −1
r= 2
10
5 (1 − 2 ❑ ) − 5115 n= 10
𝑆10 = 𝑆10 =
1− 2 −1

5 (1 − 1024 ) 𝑆10 =5115

𝑆10 =
−1
Example:
4. A truck transports’ 600 kg of vegetables to the market on Monday. From Monday to Sunday , the
amount of vegetables in the truck transport increased by 15% per day. What is the total amount of
vegetables the truck transport in a week? Round your answer to the nearest whole number.
𝑡 1 (1 − 𝑟 𝑆) = − 996 𝑛

𝑆𝑛 = 7
− 0.15
❑

t1=600kg   
1− 𝑟
r=1.15
600(1 − 1.15 ) 𝑆7 =6640 7
❑ t2=690kg
𝑆7 =
1 − 1.15
600(1 − 2.6600)
𝑆7 =
− 0.15
Example:
5. The population of the town was 2400 in 2007. From 2007 to 2010 the population of the town
increased by 5% per year.  What is the total population of the town in 2010? Round your answer to the
nearest whole number.
𝑡 1 (1 − 𝑟 − 517.2
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑆)4 = 𝑛
❑

1− 𝑟 − 0.05 t1=2400   
r=1.05
4
2400 (1− 1.05 )344 ❑ t2=2520
𝑆4=
1− 1.05
2400 (1− 1.2155)
𝑆4=
− 0.05
INFINITE GEOMETRIC SERIES
Infinite Geometric Series
An infinite geometric series is the sum of an
infinite geometric sequence. This series would
have no last term. The general form of the infinite
geometric series is + r+ + +..., where is the first
term and r is the common ratio.
Absolute value of r is less
than 1
 Partial sum of a Geometric Series
first term
𝑡1
𝑆∞=
1 −𝑟
common ratio

common ratio
n = term position
r= = first term
-1<r<1
convergent
Example:
1. Find the sum to infinity of the series 1+1/2+1/4/+1/8+…
𝑡1
𝑆∞= 𝑆❑ =1 (2 )
1 −𝑟
1 𝑆 ∞ =2
𝑆❑ =
1− 1/ 2
1
𝑆❑ =
1/ 2
Example: r= =
2. Find the sum of the infinite geometric series 27+18+12+8+…
𝑡1
𝑆∞= 27(3)
1 −𝑟
27 𝑆 ∞ =81
𝑆❑ =
1− 2/ 3
27
𝑆❑ =
1/ 3
Example:
3. Find the sum of the infinite geometric series 8+12+18+27+…

r= = = No sum