10th Grade

Geometric
Sequence -
Mathematics-

Presented To: Sir Erick Fuentabella

Today’s objective:
Illustrate a Geometric Sequence

• Definition of a geometric sequence

• Identifying the common ratio and some terms of the
sequence
• The sum of Geometric Sequence
In your previous lessons, you have learned
about the basic concepts of arithmetic
sequences which are relevant to a better
understanding of geometric sequence. Let’s
see what you have learned so far.
 What is Sequence?
A Sequence is a set of things (usually numbers) that are in order.

Example 1: a) 3, 6, 9, 12, …

This is a sequence where the first term is 3 and the fourth term is 12.
It is also an infinite sequence because of the three dots (ellipse) after
the fourth term. The ellipse symbolizes infinity which means the
sequence has no end.
 What is Geometric Sequence?

A geometric sequence is a sequence where each term is found by

multiplying or dividing the same value from one term to the next.
We call this value "common ratio".
 Example : 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729, …

This geometric sequence has a factor of three between each number. Each
term (except the first term) is found by multiplying the previous term by 3.

The common ratio,r, can be determined by dividing any term in the sequence by
the term that precedes it. Thus, in the geometric sequence 1, 3, 9, 27, 81,243,
729, ...,
the common ratio is 3 since 3/1 =3.
 Geometric Sequence
Formula We get the geometric sequence formula
by looking at the following example,
the Geometric Sequence Formula is :

𝒂𝒏 =𝒂 𝟏 ( 𝒓 ) 𝒏 − 𝟏

Where,
We can see the common ratio (r) is 2, so r=2.
​is the nth term (general term),
is the first term, is the first term which is 5,
is the term position, is the second term which is 10,
and is the common ratio.
is the third term which is 20 etc.
 .
Example 1: Continuing a geometric sequence
Calculate the next three terms for the geometric
progression 1,2,4,8,16…….

1st step: Take two consecutive terms Here we will take the numbers 4 and 8.
from the sequence

2nd step: Divide the second term by r=8

the first term to find the value of the
common ratio, r r= 2
 Calculate the next three terms for the geometric
progression 1,2,4,8,16…….

3rd step: Multiply the last term in the

sequence by the common ratio to find
the next term. Repeat for each new
term.
16

Therefore, The next three terms in the 32

sequence are 32,64 and 128.
64x 2 = 128
 Example 2: find the missing numbers in the geometric
sequence

Fill in the missing terms in the sequence 7,14,…,…,112.

1st step: Calculate the common ratio

r = 14 r= 2
between two consecutive terms.

14 x 2 = 28
2nd step: Multiply the term before
any missing value by the common
ratio.
 Example 2: find the missing numbers in the geometric
sequence

Fill in the missing terms in the sequence 7,14,…,…,112.

3rd step: Divide the term after any

11
missing value by the common ratio.

The missing terms are 28 and 56.

Note: Here, you could repeat Step 2 by

using 28×2=56.
 Example 3: Determine whether the sequence is geometric. If
it is geometric, find the common ratio.

(a) 2, 8, 32,128, ...

Solution (a): In order for a sequence to be geometric, the ratio of any term to the
one that precedes it should be the same for all terms. If they are all the same, then r,
the common difference, is that value.

Step 1: First, calculate Step 2: Now, compare the ratios.

the ratios between each Since the ratio between each
term and the one that term and the one that precedes it
precedes it. is 4 for all the terms, the
sequence is geometric, and the
common ratio r = 4 .
 Finding the Terms of a Geometric Sequence:

Example 2: Find the nth term, the fifth term, and the
100th term, of the geometric sequence determined by
a= 6, r= ⅓ .

Solution: To find a specific term of a geometric sequence, we use the formula

for finding the nth term
So, to find the nth term, substitute the
Step 1: The nth term given values a=6, r= ⅓
of a geometric sequence into the formula.

( )
𝒏− 𝟏
is given by 𝟏
𝒂𝒏 =𝒂 𝒓
𝒏 −𝟏 𝒂𝒏 =𝟔
𝟑
 Finding the Terms of a Geometric Sequence:

Step 2:
( )
5 −1
1 Step 3: Finally, find the
Now, to find 𝑎 5=6 100th term in the same way
the fifth term 3
( )
as the fifth term. 1
100− 1
substitute n = 5 𝑎 5=6
into the equation
for the nth term. ( )
1
𝑎 5= 6 4
3
3

𝑎 5=
6
𝑎 5= 6
( )3
1
99

81

𝑎 5=
2
27
𝑎 =
5
(3 )
2𝑥 3
99

2
𝑎 5= 8

39
Let’s Have An Activity!
Exercise 1. State whether each of the following sequences is
geometric or not.

1. 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8,.. Geometric

2. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16,… Not Geometric

3. ½, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, … Not Geometric

4. 243, 81, 27, 9,… Geometric

5. 5, -10, 20, -40, 80 Geometric

Exercise 2. Identify the common ratio.

1. 5, 10/3, 20/9, 40/27, 80,81 ⅔

2. 10, 20√3 , 120, 2√3

3. 17, -51, 153, -459, … -3

4. -4, 24,-144, 864,… -6

5. 2/3, 2, 6, 18,… 3
Thank you for Watching!