Chapter 1: Sequences and Series
Completion requirements
3. 1.3 Geometric Sequences
Objectives:
- Identify assumptions made when identifying a geometric sequence or series.
- Provide and justify an example of a geometric sequence.
- Derive a rule for determining the general term of a geometric sequence.
- Determine the first term, the common ratio, the number of terms, or the value of a specific term in a problem involving a geometric sequence.
In a Geometric Sequence, the ratio of consecutive terms is a constant.
Examples:
- 3, 6, 12, 24, 48
- 200, 100, 50, 25, ...
- 4, -8, 16, -32, 64, ...
and the general term is given by tn = t1rn - 1.
For the Examples above, the general terms are:
- tn = 32n - 1
- tn = 200()n - 1
- tn = 4(-2)n - 1