How to Solve Geometric Sequences? (+FREE Worksheet!)
Learn how to solve Geometric Sequence problems using the following step-by-step guide with detailed solutions.
Related Topics
- How to Solve Finite Geometric Series
- How to Solve Infinite Geometric Series
- How to Solve Arithmetic Sequences
Step by step guide to solve Geometric Sequence Problems
- It is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous item by the common ratio, a fixed, non-zero number. For example, the sequence \(2, 4, 8, 16, 32\), … is a geometric sequence with a common ratio of \(2\).
- To find any term in a geometric sequence use this formula: \(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\)
- \(a =\) the first term, \(r =\) the common ratio, \(n =\) number of items
Geometric Sequences – Example 1:
Given the first term and the common ratio of a geometric sequence find the first five terms of the sequence. \(a_1=3,r=-2\)
Solution:
Use geometric sequence formula: \(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\) \(→x_{n}=0.8 .(-5)^{n-1}\)
If \(n=1\) then: \(x_{1}=3 .(-2)^{1-1}=3 (1)=3\), First Five Terms: \(3,-6,12,-24,48\)
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Geometric Sequences – Example 2:
Given two terms in a geometric sequence find the 8th term. \(a_{3}=10\) and \(a_{5}=40\)
Solution:
Use geometric sequence formula: \(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\) \(→a_{3}=ar^{(3 – 1)}=ar^2=10\)
\(x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}→a_5=ar^{(5 – 1)}=ar^4=40\)
Now divide \(a_{5}\) by \(a_{3}\). Then: \(\frac{a_{5}}{a_{3}} =\frac{ar^4}{ar^2 }=\frac{40}{10}\), Now simplify: \(\frac{ar^4}{ar^2 }=\frac{40}{10}→r^2=4→r=2\)
We can find a now: \(ar^2=12→a(2^2 )=10→a=2.5\)
Use the formula to find the 8th term: \(x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}→a_8=(2.5) (2)^8=2.5(256)=640\)
Geometric Sequences – Example 3:
Given the first term and the common ratio of a geometric sequence find the first five terms of the sequence. \(a_{1}=0.8,r=-5\)
Solution:
Use geometric sequence formula: \(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\) \(→x_{n}=0.8 .(-5)^{n-1}\)
If \(n=1\) then: \(x_{1}=0.8 .(-5)^{1-1}=0.8 (1)=0.8\), First Five Terms: \(0.8,-4,20,-100,500\)
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Geometric Sequences – Example 4:
Given two terms in a geometric sequence find the 8th term. \(a_3=12\) and \(a_5=48\)
Solution:
Use geometric sequence formula: \(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\) \(→a_3=ar^{(3 – 1)}=ar^2=12\)
\(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\) \(→a_5=ar^{(5 – 1)}=ar^4=48\)
Now divide \(a_{5}\) by \(a_{3}\). Then: \(\frac{a_{5}}{a_{3} }=\frac{ar^4}{ar^2}=\frac{48}{12}\), Now simplify: \(\frac{ar^4}{ar^2}=\frac{48}{12}→r^2=4→r=2\)
We can find a now: \(ar^2=12→a(2^2 )=12→a=3\)
Use the formula to find the \(8^{th}\) term: \(\color{blue}{x_{n}=ar^{(n – 1)}}\) \(→a_{8}=(3) (2)^8=3(256)=768\)
Exercises for Solving Geometric Sequences
Determine if the sequence is geometric. If it is, find the common ratio.
- \(\color{blue}{1, – 5, 25, – 125, …}\)
- \(\color{blue}{– 2, – 4, – 8, – 16, …}\)
- \(\color{blue}{4, 16, 36, 64, …}\)
- \(\color{blue}{– 3, – 15, – 75, – 375, …}\)
Download Geometric Sequences Worksheet
- \(\color{blue}{r=-5}\)
- \(\color{blue}{r=2}\)
- \(\color{blue}{not \ geometric}\)
- \(\color{blue}{r=5}\)
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