GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES

A sequence in which each term is obtained by

multiplying the preceding term by a fixed number is called a
geometric sequence or a geometric progression.

Formula for the nth Term of a Geometric Sequence

The nth term, 𝑎𝑛 , of a geometric sequence with first
term 𝑎1 and common ratio r is given by the formula:
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛−1 . 𝑟 or 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 . 𝑟 𝑛−1

Example 1
Write a formula for the nth term of the given geometric
sequence.
1 1 1
8, 2, , , , …
2 8 32
SOLUTION:
1
Find the common ratio: 𝑟 = 2 ÷ 8 =
4
1
Since each term is of the term preceding it, the nth term is
4
1 𝑛−1
given by: 𝑎𝑛 = 8 ( )
4

1 1−1 1 2−1 1 3−1 1

Check: 𝑎1 = 8 ( ) =8 𝑎2 = 8 ( ) =2 𝑎3 = 8 ( ) =
4 4 4 2

Example 2
Write the first four terms of the geometric sequence whose
nth term s given by 𝑎𝑛 = 3(−5)𝑛−1 .
SOLUTION:
𝑎1 = 3(−5)1−1 𝑎2 = 3(−5)2−1 𝑎3 = 3(−5)3−1 𝑎4 = 3(−5)4−1
= 3(−5)0 = 3(−5)1 = 3(−5)2 = 3(−5)3
= 3(1) = 3(−5) = 3(25) = 3(−125)
=3 = −15 = 75 = −375
PRACTICE AND APPLICATION

I. State whether the given sequence is arithmetic,

geometric, or neither. If it is arithmetic, give the common
difference. If it is geometric, give the common ratio.
1. 11,14,17, 20,... 6.7, 10, 15, 22, 31,...
2. 4, 8, 16, 32,... 7. 1, -3, 5, -7,...
3. 5, 8, 12, 17, 26,... 8. 80, 40, 20, 10,...
4. 32, 28, 24, 20,... 9. 20, 30, 36, 42,...
5. 1, 8, 27, 64,... 10. 100, -50, 25, -12.5,...

II. Find the first five terms of each sequence and state
whether the given sequence is arithmetic, geometric, or
neither.
𝑛2 +2
11. 𝑎𝑛 = 3𝑛 + 8 13. 𝑎𝑛 = 5 . 2𝑛 15. 𝑎𝑛 =
𝑛

12. 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛2 + 2 14. 𝑎𝑛 = 4 − 7𝑛

III. Find the eighth and eleventh terms of each geometric

sequence.
1 1
16. 6, 18, 54, 162,... 18. 4, -8, 16, -32,... 20. , , 1, 2,...
4 2
1 1
17. 5, 30, 180, 1080,... 19. 2, 1, , ,...
2 4