GEOMETRIC SERIES

GEOMETRIC MEAN
The terms between any two nonconsecutive terms of a
geometric sequence.

Ex. 2, 6, 18, 54, 162

6, 18, 54 are the Geometric Means between 2 and 162

FIND TWO GEOMETRIC MEANS BETWEEN –2 AND 54
Find two geometric means between –2 and 54

-2, ____, ____, 54

a1  First term -2
54 an  a1r n1
an  nth term
n  number of terms 4
r  common ratio r

The two geometric means are 6 and -18, since –2, 6, -18, 54
forms a geometric sequence
Find the missing term or terms in
each geometric sequence.
A. −3, ___, −108, ...
B. −1, ___, −4, ...
C. 3, ___, ___, 648, ..
D. 1, ___, ___, ___, 16,
Find the missing term or terms in
each geometric sequence.
A. −3, 18 , −108, ...
B. −1, 2 , −4, ...
C. 3, 18 , 108 , 648, ..
D. 1, 2 , 4 , 8 , 16,
Geometric Series: An indicated sum of terms in a
geometric sequence.

Example:

Geometric Sequence VS Geometric Series

3, 6, 12, 24, 48 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + 48
 Recall
Vocabulary of Sequences (Universal)
a1  First term
an  nth term
n  number of terms
Sn  sum of n terms
r  common ratio
Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the geometric series 3 - 6 + 12 – 24+ …

3 a1  First term
NA an  nth term
10 n  number of terms
Sn Sn  sum of n terms
-2 r  common ratio
 a1 a1  First term
NA an  nth term
8 n  number of terms
39,360Sn  sum of n terms
3 r  common ratio
15,625 a1  First term
-5 an  nth term
?? n  number of terms
Sn Sn  sum of n terms
r  common ratio
Recall the properties of exponents. When multiplying like bases add exponents
15,625 a1  First term
-5 an  nth term
?? n  number of terms
Sn Sn  sum of n terms
r  common ratio
 DERIVATION OF GEOMETRIC SERIES FORMULA

=2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + 162 + 486

= 2(3) + 2 + 2 + 2+ 2+ 2
2

(1-3)= 2( 1- )
(1-3)= 2( 1- )
=

= =

=2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + 162 + 486
Infinite Series
1, 4, 7, 10, 13, …. Infinite Arithmetic No Sum
n
3, 7, 11, …, 51 Finite Arithmetic Sn  a1  an 
2

1, 2, 4, …, 64 Finite Geometric Sn 
 
a1 r n  1
r 1

1, 2, 4, 8, … Infinite Geometric No Sum

r>1
r < -1

1 1 1 Infinite Geometric a1
3,1, , , ... S
3 9 27 -1< r < 1 1 r
 1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible: 1     ...
2 4 8
1 1
2 4 1
r   -1< r < 1 Yes
1 1 2
2

a1 1
S  2
1 r 1
1
2
Find the sum, if possible: 2 2  8  16 2  ...

8 16 2
r  2 2 -1< r < 1 No
2 2 8

NO SUM
 2 1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible:     ...
3 3 6 12
1 1
3 6 1
r   -1< r < 1 Yes
2 1 2
3 3
2
a1 3 4
S  
1 r 1 3
1
2
 2 4 8
Find the sum, if possible:    ...
7 7 7
4 8
r 7  7 2 -1< r < 1 No
2 4
7 7

NO SUM
 5
Find the sum, if possible: 10  5   ...
2
5
5 2 1
r   -1< r < 1 Yes
10 5 2

a1 10
S   20
1 r 1
1
2