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  1. Home
  2. 12th grade
  3. Precalculus
  4. Exercise : Find the term of a geometric sequence

Find the term of a geometric sequence Precalculus

Find the general term of the geometric sequences defined as follows.

4, \dfrac{-8}{3},\dfrac{16}{9},\dfrac{-32}{27},\dfrac{64}{81}, …

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{-\dfrac{8}{3}}{4}=-\dfrac{2}{3}

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}=4\cdot \left( -\dfrac{2}{3} \right)^{n-1}

2, 6, 18, 54, 162, ...

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{6}{2}=3

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}=2\cdot \left( 3 \right)^{n-1}

6, -\dfrac{9}{2}, \dfrac{27}{8}, -\dfrac{81}{32},...

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{-\dfrac{9}{2}}{6}=-\dfrac{3}{4}

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}=6\cdot \left( -\dfrac{3}{4} \right)^{n-1}

\dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{1}{4}, \dfrac{1}{8}, \dfrac{1}{16},\dfrac{1}{32}...

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

Where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{\dfrac{1}{4}}{\dfrac{1}{2}}=\dfrac{1}{2}

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}= \left( \dfrac{1}{2} \right)^{n}

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

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

Where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{-12}{6}=-2

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}= 6\cdot\left( -2 \right)^{n-1}

-4,-5,-\dfrac{25}{4},-\dfrac{125}{16},...

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

Where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{5}{4}

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}= -4\cdot\left( \dfrac{5}{4} \right)^{n-1}

27, 18, 12, 8, \dfrac{16}{3},...

The explicit formula for a geometric sequence is:

u_{n}=u_{1}\cdot \left(q\right)^{n-1}

Where u_{1} is the first term of the sequence and q is the common ratio.

Calculate the common ratio:

q=\dfrac{u_{2}}{u_{1}}=\dfrac{18}{27}=\dfrac{2}{3}

The explicit formula for the given sequence is:

u_{n}= 27\cdot\left( \dfrac{2}{3} \right)^{n-1}

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See also
  • Course : Sequences
  • Exercise : Determine whether a any sequence defined by a graph increases, decreases or is not monotonic
  • Exercise : Find the term of an arithmetic sequence
  • Exercise : Convert an arithmetic sequence between recursive and explicit form
  • Exercise : Convert a geometric sequence between recursive and explicit form
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