Describing Geometric Sequences

Concept

Geometric Sequence

A sequence where each term is multiplied by the same number, $r,$ to get the next term is a geometric sequence. The number $r$ can be any non-zero real number. In the following example, $r$ is $2,$ making each term twice as large as the previous.

Similar to other sequences, the first term is usually called $a_{1},$ the second $a_{2},$ and so on.

The number

r

is called the common ratio of the sequence.

Find the common ratio

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Exercise

Consider the following geometric sequence. $2, 6, 18, 54, 162, \dots$ Determine the common ratio and find the next three terms.

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Solution

In geometric sequences, the terms increase or decrease by a common ratio. Since we know that this sequence is geometric, it's enough to find the ratio between two consecutive terms. The ratio for the others must then be the same. Let's take the first two: $2 and 6 .$ If we let $r$ be the common ratio we get the equation $2 \cdot r = 6 \Leftrightarrow r = 3 .$ The common ratio, $r,$ is $3 .$ To find the next terms, we multiply by $3,$ three times. $162 \cdot 3 486 \cdot 3 1458 \cdot 3 = 486 = 1458 = 4374$ In summary, the common ratio is $3,$ and the next three terms are $486,$ $1458,$ and $4374 .$

Rule

Explicit Rule of Geometric Sequences

All geometric sequences have a common ratio, $r .$ Using the common ratio, together with the value of the first term of the sequence, $a_{1},$ an explicit rule describing the sequence can be found. By expressing the terms in a geometric sequence using $a_{1}$ and $r,$ a pattern emerges. Note that $r^{0}$ is equal to $1$ , and that $r$ can be written as $r^{1} .$

$n$	$a_{n}$	Using $a_{1}$ and $r$
$1$	$a_{1}$	$a_{1} \cdot r^{0}$
$2$	$a_{2}$	$a_{1} \cdot r^{1}$
$3$	$a_{3}$	$a_{1} \cdot r^{2}$
$4$	$a_{4}$	$a_{1} \cdot r^{3}$

When $n$ increases by $1,$ the exponent on $r$ increases by $1$ as well. Due to this, and that the exponent is $0$ when $n$ is $1,$ the exponent is always $1$ less than $n .$ Expressing this in a general form gives the explicit rule.

$a_{n} = a_{1} \cdot r^{n - 1}$

Thus, knowing

a_{1}

and

r

is enough to write the explicit rule of a geometric sequence. Notice that the common ratio could be a negative number, leading to alternating positive and negative terms in the sequence.

Find and use the explicit rule of the geometric sequence

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Exercise

The first four terms of a geometric sequence are $96, 48, 24, and 12 .$ Find the explicit rule describing the geometric sequence. Then, use the rule to find the eighth term of the sequence.

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Solution

To write the explicit rule for the sequence, we first have to find the common ratio, $r$ . To do so, we can divide any term in the sequence by the term that precedes it. Let's use the second and first term. $r = \frac{4 8}{9 6} = 0.5$ Substituting $r = 0.5$ and $a_{1} = 96$ into the general rule for geometric sequences gives the desired rule. $a_{n} = a_{1} \cdot r^{n - 1} \Rightarrow a_{n} = 96 \cdot 0 . 5^{n - 1}$ Now, we can find the eighth term in the sequence by substituting $n = 8$ into the rule above.

a_{n} = 96 \cdot 0 . 5^{n - 1}

Substitute

n = 8

a_{8} = 96 \cdot 0 . 5^{8 - 1}

SubTermSubtract term

a_{8} = 96 \cdot 0 . 5^{7}

UseCalcUse a calculator

a_{8} = 0.75

The eighth term in the sequence is

0.75 .

Use the terms to find the rule of the geometric sequence

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Exercise

For a geometric sequence, it is known that the common ratio is positive, and that $a_{2} = 4 and a_{4} = 64 .$ Find the explicit rule for the sequence and give its first six terms.

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Solution

The terms we've been given are not consecutive. Therefore, we can't directly find $r .$ However, the terms $a_{2}$ and $a_{4}$ are $2$ positions apart, so the ratio between them must be $r^{2} .$

This gives the equation $\frac{a _{4}}{a _{2}} = r^{2},$ which we can solve for $r .$

\frac{a _{4}}{a _{2}} = r^{2}

SubstituteII

a_{4} = 64

,

a_{2} = 4

\frac{6 4}{4} = r^{2}

CalcQuotCalculate quotient

16 = r^{2}

RearrangeEqnRearrange equation

r^{2} = 16

SqrtEqn

LHS = RHS

r = \pm 16

CalcRootCalculate root

r = \pm 4

r > 0

r = 4

Now that we know the common ratio, we have to find $a_{1}$ as well, to be able to write the explicit rule. Knowing one term, a subsequent one can by found by multiplying by $r .$ Therefore, a previous term is instead found by dividing by $r .$ Using $a_{2}$ and $r$ this way, we can find $a_{1} .$ $a_{1} = \frac{a _{2}}{r} \Rightarrow a_{1} = \frac{4}{4} = 1$ With $a_{1}$ and $r,$ we have enough information to state the explicit rule.

a_{n} = a_{1} \cdot r^{n - 1}

SubstituteII

a_{1} = 1

,

r = 4

a_{n} = 1 \cdot 4^{n - 1}

MultiplyMultiply

a_{n} = 4^{n - 1}

The desired explicit rule is $a_{n} = 4^{n - 1} .$ We already know the terms $a_{1}, a_{2},$ and $a_{4} .$ Let's use the rule to find the remaining three.

a_{n} = 4^{n - 1}

Substitute

n = 3

a_{3} = 4^{3 - 1}

SubTermSubtract term

a_{3} = 4^{2}

CalcPowCalculate power

a_{3} = 16

The terms $a_{5}$ and $a_{6}$ are evaluated similarly.

$n$	$4^{n - 1}$	$a_{n}$
$3$	$4^{3 - 1}$	$16$
$5$	$4^{5 - 1}$	$256$
$6$	$4^{6 - 1}$	$1024$

Thus, the first six terms of the sequence are $1, 4, 16, 64, 256, and 1024 .$

Model the situation using a geometric sequence

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Exercise

Pelle's good friend, Lisa, decides to play a trick on Pelle. While he is away, she rearranges his pellets so that they are grouped in a geometric sequence instead of an arithmetic one. The first group has $2$ pellets, the second has $6,$ the third has $18,$ and so on. Find a rule describing this sequence. After finishing the seventh group, Lisa counted $3273$ remaining pellets. Use the rule to figure out whether there are enough to make an eighth group.

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Solution

To begin, we'll write the explicit rule describing this particular geometric sequence. It is given that $a_{1} = 2 .$ To find the common ratio, $r,$ we can divide the second term by the first. $r = \frac{6}{2} = 3$ To write the rule, we can substitute $a_{1} = 2$ and $r = 3$ into the general rule for geometric sequences. $a_{n} = a_{1} \cdot r^{n - 1} \Rightarrow a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{n - 1}$ To find if there are enough pellets to finish the eighth group, we must know the eighth term in the sequence. We'll substitute $n = 8$ into the rule.

a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{n - 1}

Substitute

n = 8

a_{8} = 2 \cdot 3^{8 - 1}

SubTermSubtract term

a_{8} = 2 \cdot 3^{7}

CalcPowCalculate power

a_{8} = 2 \cdot 2187

MultiplyMultiply

a_{8} = 4374

The eighth term,

a_{8} = 4374,

is greater than the number of remaining pellets,

3273 .

Thus, there are not enough pellets for Lisa to make the eighth group.

Describing Geometric Sequences

Geometric Sequence

Example

Find the common ratio

Explicit Rule of Geometric Sequences

Example

Find and use the explicit rule of the geometric sequence

Example

Use the terms to find the rule of the geometric sequence

Example

Model the situation using a geometric sequence