Essential Question: What is a

sequence and how do I find its terms

and sums?

How do I find the sum & terms of

geometric sequences and series?
Geometric Sequences

Geometric Sequence– a sequence whose

consecutive terms have a common ratio.
Geometric Sequence

A sequence is geometric if the ratios of

consecutive terms are the same.
a2 a3 a4
   .....  r
a1 a2 a3

The number r is the common ratio.

1, 4, 7, 10, 13, …. Infinite Arithmetic No Sum
n
3, 7, 11, …, 51 Finite Arithmetic Sn   a1  an 
2

1, 2, 4, …, 64 Finite Geometric Sn 
 
a1 r n  1
r 1

1, 2, 4, 8, … Infinite Geometric No Sum

r 1

1 1 1 Infinite Geometric a1
3,1, , , ... S
3 9 27 1 r
provided that r  1
Ex. 1 Are these geometric?

2, 4, 8, 16, …, formula?, …
12, 36, 108, 324, …, formula?, …

1 1 1 1
 , ,  , ,..., formula ?,...
3 9 27 61
1, 4, 9, 16, …, formula? , …
 Overview…………
1, 4, 7, 10, 13 35 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 62
9, 1,  7,  15 12 9,  3, 1,  1/ 3 20 / 3
6.2, 6.6, 7, 7.4 27.2 1, 1/ 4, 1/16, 1/ 64 85 / 64
,   3,   6 3  9 , 2.5, 6.25 9.75

Arithmetic Sequences Geometric Sequences

ADD MULTIPLY
To get next term To get next term

Arithmetic Series Geometric Series

Sum of Terms Sum of Terms
 Arithmetic Sequences Geometric Sequences

an  =  a1  +  (n - 1)d an = a1rn – 1

ADD MULTIPLY
To get next term To get next term

Geometric Series
Arithmetic Series
Sum of Terms
Sum of Terms

n a1 (1  r ) n

Sn = 2(a1 + an) sn 
1 r
Overview………… Infinite Geometric S  a1
1 r
Geometric Sequences
MULTIPLY
a n = a 1 rn – 1 To get next term

a1 (1  r )
n
Geometric Series
sn  Sum of Terms
1 r

Infinite Geometric S  a1
1 r
 This is important!
Arithmetic formula:      
an  =  a1  +  (n - 1)d
an  is the nth term, a1 is the first term, and d
is the common difference.
Geometric formula:          
an = a1 . r (n - 1)
an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, and r
is the common ratio.
Ex. 1 Are these geometric?
Yes 2n
2, 4, 8, 16, …, formula?, …
Yes
12, 36, 108, 324, …, formula?, …4(3)n

1 1 1 1 No
 , ,  , ,..., formula ?,... (-1) /3 n

3 9 27 61
1, 4, 9, 16, …, formula? , … No n2
Finding the nth term of a Geometric
Sequence

an = a1rn – 1

a2
r
a1
Ex. 2b
Write the first five terms of the
geometric sequence whose first
term is a1 = 9 and r = (1/3).
Ex. 2b
Write the first five terms of the
geometric sequence whose first
term is a1 = 9 and r = (1/3).
1 1
9 ,3,1, ,
3 9
Ex. 3
Find the 15th term of the geometric
sequence whose first term is 20 and
whose common ratio is 1.05
Ex. 3
Find the 15th term of the geometric
sequence whose first term is 20 and
whose common ratio is 1.05
an = a1rn – 1
a15 = (20)(1.05)15 – 1
a15 = 39.599
Ex. 4 Find a formula for the nth term.
5, 15, 45, …

What is the 9th term?

Ex. 4 Find a formula for the nth term.
5, 15, 45, …
an = a1rn – 1
an = 5(3)n – 1
What is the 9th term?
an = 5(3)n – 1
a9 = 5(3)8
a9 = 32805
Geometric means are the terms between any two
nonconsecutive terms of a geometric sequence.
 Finding Geometric Means
Find the geometric mean of each pair of numbers.
4 25
1. and 2. 16 and 25
9 36
Use the formula. Use the formula.

25 5 ab  400  20
ab  
81 9
 Check It Out! Example 3
The table shows a car’s
value for 3 years after it Year Value ($)
is purchased. The values
form a geometric 1 10,000
sequence. How much 2 8,000
will the car be worth in
the 10th year? 3 6,400
10,000 8,000 6,400

The value of r is
0.8.
 Check It Out! Example 3

an = a1rn–1 Write the formula.

a6 = 10,000(0.8)10–1 Substitute 10,000 for a1,10 for n,

and 0.8 for r.
= 10,000(0.8)9 Simplify the exponent.

= 1,342.18 Use a calculator.

In the 10th year, the car will be worth $1342.18.

sum of a finite geometric series
a1 (1  r ) n
sn 
1 r
n
2
Geometric Sequences
MULTIPLY
a n = a 1 rn – 1 To get next term

Geometric Series
a1 (1  r )
n
sn 
1 r
r 1
Sum of Terms
Infinite Geometric
a1 provided that r  1
S
1 r
sum of a finite geometric series

a1 (1  r ) n
sn 
1 r
a1  a1r n

or
S n 
1 r
Sn 

a1 r  1
n

r 1
 Geometric Series
• 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 + 81 = 121
• The formula for the sum Sn
of the first n terms of a
geometric series is given by
n n
a1- a1 r a1(1 - r )
Sn = or Sn =
1- r 1- r
 Check It Out! Example 5a

Find the indicated sum for each geometric series.

S6 for

Step 1 Find the common ratio.

 Check It Out! Example 5a Continued

Step 2 Find S6 with a1 = 2, r = , and n = 6.

Sum formula

Substitute.
Example:

Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the

geometric series   8 + 56 + 392 + 2744 + ...
Example:

Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the

geometric series   8 + 56 + 392 + 2744 + ...

Answer: Sn = [a (1 - rn)/(1 - r)]

1

Sn = [8(1- 710)/(1-7)]
Sn = [8(-282,475,248)/(-6)]
Sn =
Ex. 6 Find the sum of the first 12 terms of the
series 4(0.3)n

= 4(0.3)1 + 4(0.3)2 + 4(0.3)3 + … + 4(0.3)12

a1  a1r n
Sn 
1 r
1 .2  1 .2 ( 0 . 3 )
12
S12  = 1.714
1  0 .3
Ex. 6 Find the sum of the first 12 terms of the
series 4(0.3)n

= 4(0.3)1 + 4(0.3)2 + 4(0.3)3 + … + 4(0.3)12

a1  a1r n
Sn 
1 r
1 .2  1 .2 ( 0 . 3 )
12
S12  = 1.714
1  0 .3
Ex. 6 Find the sum of the first 12 terms of the
series 4(0.3)n

= 4(0.3)1 + 4(0.3)2 + 4(0.3)3 + … + 4(0.3)12

a1  a1r n
Sn 
1 r
1 .2  1 .2 ( 0 . 3 )
12
S12  = 1.714
1  0 .3
Ex. 7 Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the
series 5/3 + 5 + 15 + …

r = 5/(5/3) = 3

a1  a1r n
Sn 
1 r
5 5 5
 (3 )
3 3 = 605/3
S5 
1 3
Ex. 7 Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the
series 5/3 + 5 + 15 + …

r = 5/(5/3) = 3

a1  a1r n
Sn 
1 r
5 5 5
 (3 )
3 3 = 605/3
S5 
1 3
 Geometric Series
4 n
a (1 - r )


x 1
3(2) n 1
use Sn = 1
1- r
a = -3, r = 2, n = 4
1
 Geometric Series
4
 - 3 (1 - 2 )
S4 = 1 - 2
- 3 (1 - 16)
S4 =
-1
- 3 (- 15) 45
S4 = -1 = -1 =- 45
 Finding the Sum of a Geometric Series
Find the sum of the infinite geometric series, if it has one.
n 0

 11  1
8.  3 2  a1  3    3
 
n 0  2 2
a1 3
S 
1 6
1 r
2
 Finding the Sum of a Geometric Series
Find the sum of the infinite geometric series, if it has one.
n 0

 11  1
10.  2  a1  2     22
n 0 
 22
  2
a1 2 4
S  
1 r 3 3
2
You can also find the entire sum of a geometric series
using the following formula.

The sum of an infinite geometric series

is Sum of an Infinite Geometric Series
a1
s ; provided that r  1
1 r
where a1 is the first term and r is the
common ratio.
 Finding the Sum of a Geometric Series
Find the sum of the infinite geometric series, if it has one.
4 4
7. 100  20  4   
5 25
20
r  0 ..22
100
a1 100
S    125
1 r 0.8
 Finding the Sum of a Geometric Series
Find the sum of the infinite geometric series, if it has one.

9. 10  15  22.5  33.75  50.625  

15
r  1 .5  1
10
a1
No Sum
S 
1 r
 1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible: 1     ...
2 4 8
1 1
2 4 1
r    1  r  1  Yes
1 1 2
2

a1 1
S  2
1 r 1
1
2
 1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible: 1     ...
2 4 8
1 1
2 4 1
r    1  r  1  Yes
1 1 2
2

a1 1
S  2
1 r 1
1
2
 2 1 1 1
Find the sum, if possible:     ...
3 3 6 12
1 1
3 6 1
r    1  r  1  Yes
2 1 2
3 3
2
a1 3 4
S  
1 r 1 3
1
2
 2 4 8
Find the sum, if possible:    ...
7 7 7
4 8
r 7  7 2  1  r  1  No
2 4
7 7

NO SUM
 5
Find the sum, if possible: 10  5   ...
2
5
5 1
r  2   1  r  1  Yes
10 5 2

a1 10
S   20
1 r 1
1
2
 The Bouncing Ball Problem – Version A

A ball is dropped from a height of 50 feet. It rebounds 4/5 of

it’s height, and continues this pattern until it stops. How far
does the ball travel?
50

40 40

32 32

32/5 32/5

50 40
S   450
4 4
1 1
5 5
 The Bouncing Ball Problem – Version B

A ball is thrown 100 feet into the air. It rebounds 3/4 of

it’s height, and continues this pattern until it stops. How far
does the ball travel?

100 100

75 75

225/4 225/4

100 100
S   800
3 3
1 1
4 4
The sum of the first n terms of a sequence is
represented by summation notation.
upper limit of summation
n

a  a  a
i 1
i 1 2  a3  a4    an

index of lower limit of summation

summation

 4
n1
n
 41
 4 2
 4 3
 4 4
 4 5

 4  16  64  256  1024
 1364
 12
Example 6. Find the sum  4  0.3 
n

n1

Write out a few terms.

12

 4  0.3  4  0.3  4  0.3  4  0.3  ...  4  0.3

n 1 2 3 12

n1

a1  4  0.3  r  0.3 and n  12

12
 1 rn  1   0.3 12 
 4  0.3  a1   4  0.3 
n


   1.714
n 1  1 r   1  0.3 

If the index began at i = 0, you would have

to adjust your formula
12 12 n 12 n

 4  0.3  4  0.3   4  0.3   4   4  0.3  4  1.714  5.714

n 0

i 0 n 1 n1
 n 0 1 2
3 3  3 3
 6    6    6    6    ...
b 0  5  5 5
5
a1 6
S   15
1 r 3
1
5
The indicated sum of the terms of a geometric
sequence is called a geometric series. You can
derive a formula for the partial sum of a geometric
series by subtracting the product of Sn and r from Sn
as shown.
 a1
s ; provided that r  1
1 r