MIRACLE LIGHT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Casilagan, City of Ilagan, Isabela

Mathematics 10
Name:___________________________________________________ Date Received:______(Valid for 1
week)
KOKOLEKTAHIN ANG MODULE NA ITO SA SEPT. 21

Lesson: Geometric Sequence

Paalala:
 Isulat ang iyong sagot (pati ang mga tanong at direction) sa mga activity sa iyong PAPEL at huwag
kalimutang ilagay ang activity number. (e. g. Activity 1).
 Panatilihing malinis ang PAPEL. Erasure means wrong!
 Sa mga activities na nangangailangan ng solution, huwag kalimutang bilugan ang iyong final answer.

Topic 1: nth Term of a Geometric Sequence

In geometric sequence, you are expected to find the nth term of the sequence. Let’s say for example, you
are asked to find the 28th term of the sequence 2, 4, 8, …. To solve this, you may think of listing every terms
from 4th term up to 28th term to get the answer.
However, it may take a long time especially
when you have no calculator. There is a
better way to solve it!

The table above shows you an idea on how to get the nth term of a sequence. Notice that the 5 th term is
equal to 2 x 34. 2 is the 1st term and the exponent is 4(or 5-1). This pattern can be seen throughout the sequence.
The 4th term is equal to 2 x 33. Again, 2 is the 1st term and the exponent 3 is from 4-1.

Given the first term a1 and the common ratio r of a geometric sequence, the nth term of a geometric
sequence is

an = a1 x rn-1
where
a1 = 1st term
r = Common Ratio
Examples:
1. What is the 28th term of 2, 4, 8, …?

Solution:
Given: a1 = 2
n = 28
r = 4 ÷ 2 or 8 ÷ 4 = 2

 an = a1 x rn-1
1
 a28 = 2 x 227
a28 = 268435456

2. What is the 12th term of 20, 10, 5,…?

Solution:
Given: a1 = 20
n = 12
r = 20÷ 10 or 10 ÷ 5 = ½

 an = a1 x rn-1
a12 = 20 x (1/2)11
a28 = 5/512

Activity 1: Find the nth term of the following geometric sequence. Show your solution.
1. 26th term of 3, 9, 27,…
2. 34th term of 27, 9, 3,…
3. 27th term of 1/3, 2/3,4/3,…
4. 30th term of 4/3, 2/3, 1/3,…
5. 15th term of 1.7, 5.1, 15.3,…

Topic 2: Geometric Means

Inserting a certain number of terms between two given terms of a geometric sequence is an interesting
activity in studying geometric sequences. We call the terms between any two given terms of a geometric
sequence the geometric means.

Examples:
1. Insert 3 geometric means between 5 and 3125.

Solution:
5, _____, _______, _______. 3125
We will find the values of a2, a3, and a4 since we are asked to insert 3 terms.

Given:
a1 = 5
a5= 3125

We need value of common ratio r, let us use the 5th term to solve it. Following the formula for nth term of a
geometric sequence, we have

 3125= 5 x r5-1
3125= 5 x r4

Let us divide both sides by 5 to eliminate the 5 on the side of r4.

3125/5 = 5r4 / 5
625 = r4
To get the value of r, let us eliminate its exponent by getting the 4th root of both sides.
4
√4 625= √r 4
±5=r
5 can be positive or negative. Let us use the positive.

r=5
we have the values we need to find the values of 2 nd to 4th terms. let us use the formula in finding the nth term
once again.
2
 an = a1 x rn-1

 a2 = 5 x 51
a2 = 25
 a3 = 5 x 52
a3 = 125
 a4 = 5 x 53
a4 = 625

2. Insert 2 geometric means between 90 and 10/3.

Solution:
90, _____, _______, 10/3

We will find the values of a2 and a4 since we are asked to insert 2 terms.

Given:
a1 = 90
a4 = 10/3

We need value of common ratio r, let us use the 4th term to solve it. Following the formula for nth term of a
geometric sequence, we have

 10/3= 90 x r4-1
10/3= 90 x r3

Let us divide both sides by 90 to eliminate the 90 on the side of r4.

10/ 3 ÷ 90 = 90r3 / 90
1/27 = r3
To get the value of r, let us eliminate its exponent by getting the cube root of both sides.
3
√3 1/27= √r 3
1/3 = r

r = 1/3
We have the values we need to find the values of 2 nd to 3rd terms. Let us use the formula in finding the nth term
once again.
an = a1 x rn-1

 a2 = 90 x (1/3)1
a2 = 30
 a3 = 90 x (1/3)2
a3 = 10

Activity 2: Find the geometric means of the following. Show your solution.

1. 3, ____,____, ____, 768

2. 10, ____,____,5/4
3. 120, ____,____,40/9
4. -3____,____, 81
5. 1/2 , ____, ____,32

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Topic 3: Sum of Terms in Geometric Sequence.

Part 1: Finite (can be counted) number of terms

Let’s say you are ask to find the first 5 terms of the geometric sequence 2,4,8,16, 32, 64,…. You may
think that this is very easy because it is just equal to 2+4+8+16+32 or 62. However, what if you are asked to
find the first 30 terms of the geometric sequence? It will take you more time, won’t it? Do you think a formula
can be a great help for solving this kind of problem.
To get the sum of a certain range of terms in a geometric sequence, we use the formula

a1 (1−r n)
Sn = ,r ≠ 1
1−r

where
 Sn means sum of n terms
 a 1 = first term
 r =common ratio
 n=number of terms

Take note that in this formula, r cannot be equal to 0 because you cannot divide a number by 0. ( r = 0
will be discussed later)

Example:
1. Find the first 30 terms of 2, 4, 8,16, 32, 64,….

Solution:
Given:
a1 = 2
n = 30
r= 4 ÷ 2 or 8 ÷ 4=2

a1 (1−r n)
 Sn =
1−r
2(1−230 )
Sn =
1−2
Sn = 2147483646

What if r = 0? On that case, you don’t need to use the formula. Just add the 1st term to itself n-1 times!

Example:

1. Find the sum of the first 20 terms of 2, 2, 2, 2, 2,..

This is a geometric sequence with common ration r equal to 1. Notice that the first and other
terms are just the same .To get the sum of the first 20 terms just add to itself 19 times. We have

Sn = 2+ 2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+ 2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2 or 2 x 20 = 40

We can say then that when r = 1,

S n = a1 x n

Take note that when the given sequence is 2, -2, 2, -2…, the common ratio r is not equal to 1. The value of r in
this case is -1 because 1 ÷ -1 = -1. To solve this, apply the first formula.
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 Activity 3: Find the sum of the following. Show your solution.

1. What is the sum of the first 10 terms in 3, 9, 27…

2. What is the sum of the first 11 terms in 80, 40, 20…
3. What is the sum of the first 10 terms in 1/3, 5/3, 25/3…

Notice the answers of no. 5 and no. 6. What did you notice?

Part 2: Sum of Infinite Geometric Sequence?

Infinite sequence has no ending. You have can have no idea of its number of terms. For example
1/2, 1/4, 1/8, … is an infinite set(notice the symbol … at the end of the sequence, it means to the infinity)

What if you are asked to add all the terms of the given geometric sequence . What shall you do?
To get the sum of an infinite geometric sequence, use the formula.

a1
S= , -1< r > 1
1−r
where
a 1=1 st term
r = common ratio

Remember: The formula is only applicable when common ratio r is less than 1 and greater than -1. Ex: r = ½
or -¼

Example: Find the sum of terms in 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, …

Solution:

Given: a1 = ½
r=¼÷½=½

a1
 S=
1−r
1/2
S=
1−1/2
1/2
S=
1/2
1/2
S= =1
1−1/2

Activity 4: Find the sum of the following infinite geometric sequence. Show your solution.

1. 3, 1, 1/3, …
2. 1, 2/5, 2/25, …

Prepared by:
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DENNIS P. PACURSA
Math 10 Teacher