Geometric Sequences

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to

do the following:

● Describe geometric sequences.

● Distinguish the difference between a geometric
sequence and an arithmetic sequence.
● Derive the formula for finding the nth term of a
geometric sequence.
● Solve word problems involving geometric
sequences.
In this lesson, you will
encounter another type of
sequence called the
geometric sequence.
Unlike in an arithmetic
sequence, the next term in
a geometric sequence is
obtained by multiplying
the current number with a
constant.
Geometric sequences have many
applications in various contexts.
One application is determining the
amount of money in a bank
account that earns with a
compounded interest for a certain
period. The values of the account
on specific intervals form a
geometric sequence.
In this lesson, we will learn more about geometric sequence
and differentiate it from an arithmetic sequence.
 Learn about It!

Geometric Sequence
A geometric sequence is a sequence in which each term is
obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a common
multiplier called the common ratio.
 Learn about It!

Geometric Sequence

Example:
The sequence 2, 10, 50, 250, … is a geometric sequence whose
first term is 2. The 2nd term is found by multiplying the first
term by 5, the 3rd term by multiplying the 2nd term by 5, the
4th term by multiplying the 3rd term by 5, and so on.
 Learn about It!

Common Ratio
A common ratio is a constant term multiplied to every term of
a geometric sequence to get the next term. It is found by
dividing any term (except the first term) by the previous term.
 Learn about It!

Common Ratio
Example:
To find the common ratio in the geometric sequence

2, 6, 18, 54,…,

divide any term (except 2, which is the first term) by the

previous term. The common ratio is equal to . Similarly, , and .
 Learn about It!

Finite Geometric Sequence

A finite geometric sequence is a geometric sequence with
countable number of terms.

Example:
The sequence 3, 12, 48, 192, 768, 3 072 is a finite geometric
sequence since the number of terms is 6. The first term is 3
while the last term is 3 072.
 Learn about It!

Infinite Geometric Sequence

An infinite geometric sequence is a geometric sequence
whose number of terms are not countable. The symbol … is
used to denote that the sequence has more terms.

Example:
The sequence 1, 4, 16, 64,… is an infinite geometric sequence
whose first term is 1 and common ratio is 4.
 Learn about It!

The th term of an Infinite Geometric Sequence

To find the th term of a geometric sequence, use the
formula .
 Try
Let’sit!Practice

Example:
Which of the following sequences are geometric sequences?
A. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
B. 10, 20, 40, 80, …
C. 2, 9, 16, 25, …
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example:
Which of the following sequences are geometric sequences?
A. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
B. 10, 20, 40, 80, …
C. 2, 9, 16, 25, …
Solution:
To identify which are geometric sequences from the choices,
divide each of their terms by the previous term then see if
there is a common ratio.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example:
Which of the following sequences are geometric sequences?
A. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
B. 10, 20, 40, 80, …
C. 2, 9, 16, 25, …
Solution:
The first sequence has no common ratio.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example:
Which of the following sequences are geometric sequences?
A. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
B. 10, 20, 40, 80, …
C. 2, 9, 16, 25, …
Solution:
Similarly, the last sequence has no common ratio.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example:
Which of the following sequences are geometric sequences?
A. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
B. 10, 20, 40, 80, …
C. 2, 9, 16, 25, …
Solution:
However, notice that the second sequence has a common ratio.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example:
Which of the following sequences are geometric sequences?
A. 5, 8, 11, 14, …
B. 10, 20, 40, 80, …
C. 2, 9, 16, 25, …
Solution:
The common ratio of the sequence is . Therefore, it is a
geometric sequence.
 Key Points

● Geometric Sequence
It is a sequence in which each term is obtained by multiplying the preceding term by a
common multiplier called the common ratio.

● Common Ratio
It is a constant term multiplied to every term of a geometric sequence to get the next
term. It is found by dividing any term (except the first term) by the previous term.

● Finite Geometric Sequence

It is a geometric sequence whose number of terms are countable.
 Key Points

● Infinite Geometric Sequence

It is a geometric sequence whose number of terms are not countable. The symbol … is
used to denote that the sequence has more terms.

● The th term of a Geometric Sequence

The formula for the th term of a geometric sequence .
Geometric Mean
Do you save money? Learning
about the geometric mean can
give you an advantage in
planning your savings and
investments.

One essential tool used to

determine investment
profitability is return or growth.
When the return or growth
amount is compounded­ – the
investor must compute the
investment's final value using
the geometric mean.

In this lesson, we will discuss

how to solve for the geometric
mean and how we can apply it in
our everyday lives.
 Learn about It!

Geometric means

Geometric means are terms between any two given terms of

a geometric sequence

Example:
Given the geometric sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, the numbers 4 and 8
are called geometric means between 2 and 16.
 Try
Let’sit!Practice

Example: If we insert three geometric means between 1 and

81, what is the middle mean to be inserted?
 Solution to Let’s Practice

If we insert three geometric means between 1 and 81,

what is the middle mean to be inserted?
1. Identify the order of the last term () after inserting the given
number of geometric means. Since three geometric means
are to be inserted, there are 5 terms. Therefore, .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

If we insert three geometric means between 1 and 81,

what is the middle mean to be inserted?
2. Identify the first term () and the last term (). From the given
problem, and .

3. Solve for the common ratio by substituting , , and to the

formula .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

If we insert three geometric means between 1 and 81,

what is the middle mean to be inserted?
4. Solve the equation.

5−1
81=1𝑟 The common ratio is or .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

If we insert three geometric means between 1 and 81,

what is the middle mean to be inserted?
5. Multiply the common ratio to each term to get the next
terms. The resulting geometric sequences are:

or

Therefore, the middle mean is 9.

 Key Points

● Geometric Means
terms between any two given terms of a geometric sequence.
Geometric Series
 Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is growing
expeditiously worldwide. The most popular cryptocurrency is the
bitcoin.
 According to their current
trend, it increases 6% every
week.
If you are going to invest now,
how much money will you get
after a month? 3 months? 6
months? A year? 2 years? 5
years?
 Learn about It!

Geometric series
It is an expression formed by adding the terms of a geometric
sequence.

Example:
The geometric series of the geometric sequence is .
 Learn about It!

𝒏th partial sum of a geometric series

It is the sum of the first n terms of a geometric series.

The th partial sum of a finite geometric series with is given by

 Learn about It!

𝒏th partial sum of a geometric series

Example:
The 4th partial sum of the geometric series is 85.

If , and , then
 Try
Let’sit!Practice

Example: Find the seventh partial sum of the geometric

series with and .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Find the seventh partial sum of the geometric series with and .

Solution:
Determine the values of three variables: , , and .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Find the seventh partial sum of the geometric series with and .

Solution:
Substitute to the formula.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Find the seventh partial sum of the geometric series with and .

Solution:
Simplify.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Find the seventh partial sum of the geometric series with and .

The 7th partial sum of the geometric series is .

 Key Points

● Geometric series is an expression formed by adding the

terms of a geometric sequence.

● The 𝒏th partial sum of a geometric series is the sum of

the first terms of a geometric series.

General Formula: