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Section exercises

Verbal

What is a geometric sequence?

A sequence in which the ratio between any two consecutive terms is constant.

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How is the common ratio of a geometric sequence found?

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What is the procedure for determining whether a sequence is geometric?

Divide each term in a sequence by the preceding term. If the resulting quotients are equal, then the sequence is geometric.

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What is the difference between an arithmetic sequence and a geometric sequence?

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Describe how exponential functions and geometric sequences are similar. How are they different?

Both geometric sequences and exponential functions have a constant ratio. However, their domains are not the same. Exponential functions are defined for all real numbers, and geometric sequences are defined only for positive integers. Another difference is that the base of a geometric sequence (the common ratio) can be negative, but the base of an exponential function must be positive.

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Algebraic

For the following exercises, find the common ratio for the geometric sequence.

1 , 3 , 9 , 27 , 81 , ...

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0.125 , 0.25 , 0.5 , 1 , 2 , ...

The common ratio is 2

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2 , 1 2 , 1 8 , 1 32 , 1 128 , ...

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For the following exercises, determine whether the sequence is geometric. If so, find the common ratio.

6 , 12 , 24 , 48 , 96 , ...

The sequence is geometric. The common ratio is 2.

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5 , 5.2 , 5.4 , 5.6 , 5.8 , ...

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1 , 1 2 , 1 4 , 1 8 , 1 16 , ...

The sequence is geometric. The common ratio is 1 2 .

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6 , 8 , 11 , 15 , 20 , ...

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0.8 , 4 , 20 , 100 , 500 , ...

The sequence is geometric. The common ratio is 5.

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For the following exercises, write the first five terms of the geometric sequence, given the first term and common ratio.

a 1 = 5 , r = 1 5

5 , 1 , 1 5 , 1 25 , 1 125

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For the following exercises, write the first five terms of the geometric sequence, given any two terms.

a 6 = 25 , a 8 = 6.25

800 , 400 , 200 , 100 , 50

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For the following exercises, find the specified term for the geometric sequence, given the first term and common ratio.

The first term is 2, and the common ratio is 3. Find the 5 th term.

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The first term is 16 and the common ratio is 1 3 . Find the 4 th term.

a 4 = 16 27

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For the following exercises, find the specified term for the geometric sequence, given the first four terms.

a n = { 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , ... } . Find a 12 .

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a n = { 2 , 2 3 , 2 9 , 2 27 , ... } . Find a 7 .

a 7 = 2 729

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For the following exercises, write the first five terms of the geometric sequence.

a 1 = 486 , a n = 1 3 a n 1

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a 1 = 7 , a n = 0.2 a n 1

7 , 1.4 , 0.28 , 0.056 , 0.0112

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For the following exercises, write a recursive formula for each geometric sequence.

a n = { 1 , 5 , 25 , 125 , ... }

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a n = { 32 , 16 , 8 , 4 , ... }

a = 1 32 , a n = 1 2 a n 1

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a n = { 14 , 56 , 224 , 896 , ... }

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a n = { 10 , 3 , 0.9 , 0.27 , ... }

a 1 = 10 , a n = 0.3 a n 1

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a n = { 0.61 , 1.83 , 5.49 , 16.47 , ... }

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a n = { 3 5 , 1 10 , 1 60 , 1 360 , ... }

a 1 = 3 5 , a n = 1 6 a n 1

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a n = { 2 , 4 3 , 8 9 , 16 27 , ... }

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a n = { 1 512 , 1 128 , 1 32 , 1 8 , ... }

a 1 = 1 512 , a n = 4 a n 1

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For the following exercises, write the first five terms of the geometric sequence.

a n = 4 5 n 1

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a n = 12 ( 1 2 ) n 1

12 , 6 , 3 , 3 2 , 3 4

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For the following exercises, write an explicit formula for each geometric sequence.

a n = { 2 , 4 , 8 , 16 , ... }

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a n = { 1 , 3 , 9 , 27 , ... }

a n = 3 n 1

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a n = { 4 , 12 , 36 , 108 , ... }

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a n = { 0.8 , 4 , 20 , 100 , ... }

a n = 0.8 ( 5 ) n 1

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a n = { 1.25 , 5 , 20 , 80 , ... }

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a n = { 1 , 4 5 , 16 25 , 64 125 , ... }

a n = ( 4 5 ) n 1

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a n = { 2 , 1 3 , 1 18 , 1 108 , ... }

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a n = { 3 , 1 , 1 3 , 1 9 , ... }

a n = 3 ( 1 3 ) n 1

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For the following exercises, find the specified term for the geometric sequence given.

Let a 1 = 4 , a n = 3 a n 1 . Find a 8 .

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Let a n = ( 1 3 ) n 1 . Find a 12 .

a 12 = 1 177 , 147

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For the following exercises, find the number of terms in the given finite geometric sequence.

a n = { 1 , 3 , 9 , ... , 2187 }

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a n = { 2 , 1 , 1 2 , ... , 1 1024 }

There are 12 terms in the sequence.

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Graphical

For the following exercises, determine whether the graph shown represents a geometric sequence.

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, -0.5), (2, 0.25), (3, 1.375), (4, 3.0625), and (5, 5.5938). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.

The graph does not represent a geometric sequence.

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For the following exercises, use the information provided to graph the first five terms of the geometric sequence.

a 1 = 3 , a n = 2 a n 1

Graph of a scattered plot with labeled points: (1, 3), (2, 6), (3, 12), (4, 24), and (5, 48). The x-axis is labeled n and the y-axis is labeled a_n.
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a n = 27 0.3 n 1

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Extensions

Use recursive formulas to give two examples of geometric sequences whose 3 rd terms are 200.

Answers will vary. Examples: a 1 = 800 , a n = 0.5 a n 1 and a 1 = 12.5 , a n = 4 a n 1

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Use explicit formulas to give two examples of geometric sequences whose 7 th terms are 1024.

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Find the 5 th term of the geometric sequence { b , 4 b , 16 b , ... } .

a 5 = 256 b

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Find the 7 th term of the geometric sequence { 64 a ( b ) , 32 a ( 3 b ) , 16 a ( 9 b ) , ... } .

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At which term does the sequence { 10 , 12 , 14.4 , 17.28 ,   ... } exceed 100 ?

The sequence exceeds 100 at the 14 th term, a 14 107.

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At which term does the sequence { 1 2187 , 1 729 , 1 243 , 1 81   ... } begin to have integer values?

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For which term does the geometric sequence a n = 36 ( 2 3 ) n 1 first have a non-integer value?

a 4 = 32 3 is the first non-integer value

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Use the recursive formula to write a geometric sequence whose common ratio is an integer. Show the first four terms, and then find the 10 th term.

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Use the explicit formula to write a geometric sequence whose common ratio is a decimal number between 0 and 1. Show the first 4 terms, and then find the 8 th term.

Answers will vary. Example: Explicit formula with a decimal common ratio: a n = 400 0.5 n 1 ; First 4 terms: 400 , 200 , 100 , 50 ; a 8 = 3.125

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Is it possible for a sequence to be both arithmetic and geometric? If so, give an example.

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Questions & Answers

for the "hiking" mix, there are 1,000 pieces in the mix, containing 390.8 g of fat, and 165 g of protein. if there is the same amount of almonds as cashews, how many of each item is in the trail mix?
ADNAN Reply
linear speed of an object
Melissa Reply
an object is traveling around a circle with a radius of 13 meters .if in 20 seconds a central angle of 1/7 Radian is swept out what are the linear and angular speed of the object
Melissa
test
Matrix
how to find domain
Mohamed Reply
like this: (2)/(2-x) the aim is to see what will not be compatible with this rational expression. If x= 0 then the fraction is undefined since we cannot divide by zero. Therefore, the domain consist of all real numbers except 2.
Dan
define the term of domain
Moha
if a>0 then the graph is concave
Angel Reply
if a<0 then the graph is concave blank
Angel
what's a domain
Kamogelo Reply
The set of all values you can use as input into a function su h that the output each time will be defined, meaningful and real.
Spiro
how fast can i understand functions without much difficulty
Joe Reply
what is inequalities
Nathaniel
functions can be understood without a lot of difficulty. Observe the following: f(2) 2x - x 2(2)-2= 2 now observe this: (2,f(2)) ( 2, -2) 2(-x)+2 = -2 -4+2=-2
Dan
what is set?
Kelvin Reply
a colony of bacteria is growing exponentially doubling in size every 100 minutes. how much minutes will it take for the colony of bacteria to triple in size
Divya Reply
I got 300 minutes. is it right?
Patience
no. should be about 150 minutes.
Jason
It should be 158.5 minutes.
Mr
ok, thanks
Patience
100•3=300 300=50•2^x 6=2^x x=log_2(6) =2.5849625 so, 300=50•2^2.5849625 and, so, the # of bacteria will double every (100•2.5849625) = 258.49625 minutes
Thomas
158.5 This number can be developed by using algebra and logarithms. Begin by moving log(2) to the right hand side of the equation like this: t/100 log(2)= log(3) step 1: divide each side by log(2) t/100=1.58496250072 step 2: multiply each side by 100 to isolate t. t=158.49
Dan
what is the importance knowing the graph of circular functions?
Arabella Reply
can get some help basic precalculus
ismail Reply
What do you need help with?
Andrew
how to convert general to standard form with not perfect trinomial
Camalia Reply
can get some help inverse function
ismail
Rectangle coordinate
Asma Reply
how to find for x
Jhon Reply
it depends on the equation
Robert
yeah, it does. why do we attempt to gain all of them one side or the other?
Melissa
how to find x: 12x = 144 notice how 12 is being multiplied by x. Therefore division is needed to isolate x and whatever we do to one side of the equation we must do to the other. That develops this: x= 144/12 divide 144 by 12 to get x. addition: 12+x= 14 subtract 12 by each side. x =2
Dan
whats a domain
mike Reply
The domain of a function is the set of all input on which the function is defined. For example all real numbers are the Domain of any Polynomial function.
Spiro
Spiro; thanks for putting it out there like that, 😁
Melissa
foci (–7,–17) and (–7,17), the absolute value of the differenceof the distances of any point from the foci is 24.
Churlene Reply
Practice Key Terms 2

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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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