Sec. 6.

3 – Geometric Sequences

1. Geometric Sequence
Sequence where each successive term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by a common ratio, r.
eg. 3, 6, 12, 24 common ratio: 2

Geometric Sequence Formula

tn = nth term
a, ar, ar2, ar3, ...
a = 1st term
t1, t2, t3, t4, ...
r = common ratio
n = # terms
tn = arn-1

2. Finding Terms
To find the term, substitute a, r, n into the formula
ex. find the indicated term
8, 16, 32, 64, ... t12
t12 = 8(2)12-1
t12 = 16384

3. Finding Number of Terms

ex. find the # of terms in the sequence
8, 16, 32, ... 131072
131072 = 8(2)n-1
16384 = 2n-1
log16384 = (n-1)log2
log16384 = nlog2 – log2
log16384 + log2 = nlog2
n = log16384 + log2log2
n = 15

4. Finding the Sequence

ex. find the geometric sequence with t3 = 45 & t7 = 3645 from t1 to t7
45, __, __, __, 3645
a = 45 r = ? n=5 t5 = 3645
3645 = 45r5-1
81 = r4
r = 3, -3
r = 3: 5, 15, 45, 135, 405, 1215, 3645
r = -3: 5, -15, 45, -135, 405, -1215, 3645

5. Geometric Mean
The terms in the middle or in-between in a geometric sequence
ex. Given the geometric sequence: a, b, c
→ (geometric ratio) ba= cb → b2 = ac
thus, geometric mean b/w a & c is ac, -ac

ex. Between 8 & 128, insert 1 geometric mean

8, x, 128
x8= 128x
x2 = 1024
x = 32, -32
8, 32, 128
8. -32, 128

Sec. 6.4 – Geometric Sequences

ex. $8500 invested at 734% per year compounded monthly for 15 months
A=P1+rnnt
 A=85001+0.077512n1512 x 12
= $9361.73

Applications
Use the formula tn = an-1 to fill in all the given information & find the unknown
ex. If an apt. was purchased last year for $21000 and is now worth $226800. find the value 10
years from the original price. (Assume value continues to depreciate at same rate each year).
210000, 226000, ...
r = 226000210000 = 1.08
t11 = 210000(1.08)11-1 (since n=1 corresponds to original amount at year 0 would make n = 11)

Sec. 6.5 – Geometric Series

Sn= a(1-rn)1-r or Sn= a - rl1-r

l = last term
Sn = sum of 1st n terms
a = first term
r = common ratio
n = # of terms

ex. Find the sum of the first 8 terms of the series 14 – 7 + 3.5 – 1.75 + ...
S8= 14(1-(-12)8n)1-(-12)
= 59564
= 9.27

ex. Find t1 & t3 if t2 = 24 & S3 = 126 for a geometric sequence

t1, t2, t3 → t1, 24, t3 → 24r, 24, 24r
24r + 24 + 24r = 126
24 + 24r + 24r2 = 126
4r2 – 17r + 4 = 0
(r - 4)(4r - 1) = 0
r = 4, 14
6, 24, 96
96, 24, 6

To find the last term of a series given the sum use

Sn-1 +tn = Sn or tn = Sn – Sn-1

ex. If Sn = 2n2 +3n find tn

tn = 2n2 +3n – [2(n-1)2 + 3(n-1)]
= 2n2 +3n – [2(n2 – 2n + 1) + 3n-3]
= 2n2 +3n – [2n2 – 4n + 2 + 3n-3]
= 4n + 1

2. Applications
ex. Suppose you drop a ball from a window 45m above the ground. It bounces to 65% of its
previous height w/ each bounce. Find the total distance that the ball travels up to the 8th bounce.

S8= a(1-rn)1-r=45(1-0.658)1-0.65= 124.47m

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

up & down:
= 2 x 124.47 - 45
= 204.4 m

3. Sigma Notation ∑
A Greek letter used to abbreviate a series/sum
k=ijf(x)
k – index of summation
i – lower limit of summation
j – upper limit of summation
f(x) - function

ex. Find the sum

k=257k-3
k=2: 7(2)-3=11 1) substitute lower limit into expression & solve
k=3: 7(3)-3 =18 2) add 1 to lower limit & repeat step 1
k=4: 7(4)-3=25 3) repeat steps 1 & 2 until k = upper limit
k=5: 7(5)-3=32
4) sum all solutions
k=257k-3 = 11+18+25+32 = 86

# of terms in sequence = upper limit – lower limit + 1

ex. Find the sum

k=182k-1
k=1: 21-1=1
k=2: 22-1=2
k=3: 23-1=4
Sn=a1-rn1-r
S8=1(1-28)1-2= 255

4. Writing Sigma Notation ∑

ex. Given 4+8+16+...+128 write ∑ notation
1. need to know # of terms
tn = 128 a = 4 r = 2
tn = arn-1
128 = 4(2)n-1
32 = 2n-1
n=6
2. find general term
tn = 4(2)n-1 → tn = 22(2)n-1 → tn = 2n+1
k=162k+1

Sec. 6.5 – Geometric Series

 2+8+32+128+... 512+128+32+8+2
S∞ = ᴓ S∞ = 20483

Sum of an infinite series given by

S=a1-r
a = 1st term
r = common ratio
-1< r <1

ex. Find the sum of the series k=3∞(43)1-k

k=3: 916
k=4:2764
a = 34
r = 916
S=9161-34
S = 94

ex. Solve for x k=1∞xk= 25

k=1: x
k=2: x2
25= x1-x
2-2x = 5x
2 = 7x
x = 72

ex. A weather balloon rises 60m the 1st min. & each min. After that it rises 7% less than the

55.8
60

previous height. What is the max. Height reached by the balloon?

S=a1-r
a = 60
r = 0.93
S=601-0.93=857.14