MATHEMATICS 10

QUARTER 1 - WEEK 4

Learning Competency: The learners determines geometric means, nth term of a geometric sequence and sum
of the terms of a given finite or infinite geometric sequence

GEOMETRIC MEANS
Inserting a certain number of terms between two given terms of a geometric sequence is an interesting
activity in studying geometric sequences.

The terms between two nonconsecutive terms in the geometric sequence are called geometric means. If
the geometric sequence is represented by a1, a2, a3, …, an, the geometric means between a1 and an are a2, a3, and
a4, … a n-1.

If the three terms x, m, y form a geometric sequence, then we know that the ratio are equal.

by substitution
m2 = xy Clear the fractions by cross multiplication

m=
A geometric mean between two numbers is the mean proportional between those
numbers. If x, m, y form a geometric sequence, then
Geometric Mean (GM) is m=
The geometric mean (GM) is the product of the square root of the two terms.

Example 1. Find the positive mean of 9 and 16.

Solution: x=9, y = 16

Formula:

m2 = 9 (16)
m2 = 144
m = ± 12
GM = 12

Example 2. Insert 2 geometric means between 4 and 108.

Solution: a1 = 4, n = 4, a4 = 108

The formula an = a1 r n - 1 is used to find r.

108 = 4 (r4 -1) Substitute the given data t the formula.
3
108 = 4r
by MPE
27 = r3
=
r=3

The geometric sequence is 4, 12, 36, 108. Therefore, 12 and 36 are the geometric means.
Example 3. The 6th and the 10th terms in a geometric sequence are 20 and 320, respectively.
Determine the sequence.
Sources: MATH BUILDERS Second Year
JO - ES Publishing House, Inc., pages 348 - 340
Lydia T. Tizon (Author)
Solution: To find r, assume the 6th term as a1, and the 10th term as a5,
a1 = 20 , a5 = 320 , n=5

Formula: an = a1 r n - 1
320 = 20r4 Substitute the given data

16 = r4 by MPE

or r4 = 16
=
r=2

The geometric sequence is 20, 40, 80, 160, 320, …

6th term 10th term

FINDING THE nTH TERM OF A GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

The constant in a geometric sequence is denoted by r and is called the common ratio. If a1 is the first
term, then the second term is a1r. The third term is a1r2, the fourth term is a1r3, and so on. We can write a
formula for the nth term of a geometric sequence by following this pattern.

Given the first and the common ratio, the formula for the nth term is
an = a1rn-1.

The nth term in the geometric sequence is defined as

an = a1rn-1 , where a1 = the first term,
an = the last term,
n = the number of terms,
r = the common ratio.

Example 1. Find the 9th term in the geometric sequence 3, 6, 12, …

Solution: a1 = 3, n = 9, r = 2.
Formula: an = a1 rn-1
a9 = 3 (29 - 1) Substitute the given date to the formula
a9 = 3 (28) Simplify
a9 = 3 (256)
a9 = 768 the 9th term.
Example 2. In a geometric sequence, the first term is and the 6th term is 16. Find the common ratio.

Solution: a1 = , n = 6, r=?
Formula:
an = a1 rn-1
16 = r 6-1

16 = r5
2 (16) = r5 Cross multiply
32 = r5 Simplify
5
r = 32
=
r= Get the 5th root of 32.
r=2 the common ratio.
Example 3. What term is 1458 in the geometric sequence 2, 6, 8, …?
Solution: a1 = 2, an = 1458, r = 3, n=?

Sources: MATH BUILDERS Second Year

JO - ES Publishing House, Inc., pages 348 - 340
Lydia T. Tizon (Author)
 Formula: an = a1 rn-1
1458 = 2 (3 n -1) Substitute the given data to the formula
= by MPE
729 = 3 n -1
36 = 3 n -1 Express both sides of the equations to the same base
6 =n-1 Equate the exponents.
n = 6 +1
n=7
\ 1458 is the 7th term in the geometric sequence.

SUM OF FINITE GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

The indicated sum of the terms of the geometric sequence is called geometric series. In a geometric
sequence 2, 8, 32, 128, the geometric series is 2 + 8 + 32 + 128.

The formula for the sum of the first n terms of a geometric series is
Sn = or Sn =

where Sn = the sum,

a1 = the first term,
n = the number of terms, and
r = the constant ratio, r ≠ 0.

If instead of n, the last term an is given, we use the formula

an = a1 r n-1, Multiply both sides by r.

r an = a1 r n
Substitute this in Sn = ,

Sn = ,
where a1 = the first term
r = the ratio
an = the last term.

NOTE: This formula is used when the number of terms is NOT GIVEN.

Example 1. What is the sum of the geometric series 6 + 12 + 24 + 48 + … to the 8th term?
Solution: an = 6 , r=2 , n=8 , Sn = ?
Formula: Sn =

Sn = Substitute the given date to the formula

=
Sn = 1 530

Example 2. Find the sum of the 7 terms of the geometric series 3 + 9 + 27 + 81 + …

Solution: a1 = 3 , r=3 , n=7 , Sn = ?

Formula: Sn = or Sn =

Sources: MATH BUILDERS Second Year

JO - ES Publishing House, Inc., pages 348 - 340
Lydia T. Tizon (Author)
 = =

= =

= =

= =
= 3279 = 3279

Example 3. What is the sum of the geometric series 4 + 16 + 64 + … + 1024?

Solution: a1 = 4 , an = 1024 , r=4 , n=?
Formula: Sn =

= Substitute the given to the formula

=
= 1, 364

SUM OF INFINITE GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE

An infinite geometric series is the indicated sum of an infinite geometric sequence. If the first term is
a1, and the common ratio is r, then the infinite geometric series S is

S = a1 + a1 r + a1 r2 + …

The sum S of an infinite geometric sequence is

S=
where, a1 = the first term,
r = the common ratio and, | r | <1.

Example 4. Find the sum of the series 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + …

Solution: In the series, a1 = 16, and r = =

Formula: S=

S= Substitute the given to the formula

S=

S= Reciprocal the denominator

S = 32.

ACTIVITY SHEET - MATHEMATICS 10

QUARTER 1 - WEEK 4
Sources: MATH BUILDERS Second Year
JO - ES Publishing House, Inc., pages 348 - 340
Lydia T. Tizon (Author)
Name: _____________________________________ Grade and Section: __________________

TRY IT OUT
A. Find the missing terms in each geometric sequence.

1. 3, 12, 48, ____, ____ 4. 5, ____, 20, 40, ____, ____

2. ____, ____, 32, 64, 128, … 5. ____, 4, 12, 36, ____, ____
3. 120, 60, 30, ____, ____, ____

B. Solve the following:

1. Insert 2 geometric means between 2 and 54.
2, ____, ____, 54

2. Insert 4 geometric means between -3 and 96.

-3, _____, _____, _____, _____, 96

3. Insert 3 geometric means between 4 and 1024.

4, _____, _____, _____, 1 024

4. The 5th term of the geometric sequence is 48 and the 8 th term is 384. Complete the sequence up to the
10th term.
_____, _____, _____, _____, 48, _____, _____, 384, _____, _____

C. Determine the indicated term in each geometric sequence.

1. -3, 6, -12, 24, - 48, … 20th term ______

2. 2, 8, 32, 128, … 5th term ______
3. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, … 25th term ______

4. 4, 2, 1, ,… 12th term ______

5. 5,15, 45, … 15th term ______

SOMETHING MORE
A. Find the sum of each geometric sequence.
1. + +1+3+9 Sn = ________

2. 50 + 10 + 2 + + Sn = ________

3. 64 + 16 + 4 + 1 + Sn = ________
4. 2 + 20 + 200 + 2000 + 20000 Sn = ________

B. For each given geometric sequence, find the sum of the first:
1. 5 terms of 4, 12, 36, 108, … ________
2. 6 terms of 3, -6, 12, -24, … ________
3. 6 terms of -3, 3, -3, 3, … ________
4. 7 terms of -3, 3, -3, 3, … ________

5. 8 terms of ________

Sources: MATH BUILDERS Second Year

JO - ES Publishing House, Inc., pages 348 - 340
Lydia T. Tizon (Author)
C. Find the sum to infinity of each geometric sequence, if it exists.

1. 64, 16, 4, 1, … ________

2. ________

3. -4, -1, , … ________

4. 24, 4, ________
5. 1, , 2, ,… ________

CHALLENGE
Solve each problem.
______ 1. How many terms must be added in the series 1, 2, 4, 8, . . . , in order get a sum of 255?

______ 2.The last term in the geometric series is 192, where the common ratio is 2 and the number of terms is
7. Find the 1st term and the sum of the geometric series.

______ 3. A car was bought at ₱ 400,000. The value of the car depreciates at the rate of 10% per annum. What
will be the value of the car at the end of the 6th year?

______ 4. The population of a barangay in Basilan at the beginning of 1998 is 7,500. If it increases by 5% every
year, what will be the approximate population at the end of 2007?

Sources: MATH BUILDERS Second Year

JO - ES Publishing House, Inc., pages 348 - 340
Lydia T. Tizon (Author)