2. Geometric progression


2. Geometric Progression
(A) Characteristics of Geometric Progressions 
Geometric progression is a progression in which the ratio of any term to the immediate term before is a constant. The constant is called common ratio, r.

Example:
Determine whether or not each of the following number sequences is a geometric progression (GP).
(a) 1, 4, 16, 64, …..
(b) 10, –5, 2.5, –1.25, …..
(c) 2, 4, 12, 48, …..
(d) –6, 1, 8, 15, …..

Solution:
[Smart Tips: For GP, times a fixed number every time to get the next time.]

(a)

Common ratio, r = T n T n 1 T 3 T 2 = 16 4 = 4 , T 2 T 1 = 4 1 = 4 T 3 T 2 = T 2 T 1
This is a GP, a =1, r = 4.

(b)

Common ratio, r = T 2 T 1 = 5 10 = 1 2
This is a GP, a =1, r = – ½.

(c)

This is NOT a GP.
This is because the ratio of each term to its preceding term is not a similar constant.



(B) The steps to prove whether a given number sequence is a geometric progression.
Step 1: List down any three consecutive terms. [Example: T1, T2, T3.]
Step 2: Calculate the values of  T 3 T 2 and T 2 T 1 .    
Step 3: If  T 3 T 2 = T 2 T 1 = r , then the number sequence is a geometric 
 progression.
Step 4: If  T 3 T 2 T 2 T 1 , then the number sequence is not a geometric progression.

(F) Sum of the First n Terms of Geometric Progressions

1.4.3 Sum of the First n Terms of Geometric Progressions

(F) Sum of the First Terms of Geometric Progressions
S n = a ( r n 1 ) r 1 , r > 1 S n = a ( 1 r n ) 1 r , r < 1 a = first term
r = common ratio
n = number of term
Sn = sum of the first n terms

Example 1:
Find the sum of each of the following geometric progressions.
(a) 1, 2, 4, ...  up to the first 7 terms
(b) 9, 3,   1,   ,   ...    up to the first 6 terms
(c) 12, 3, ...., 3 64 [Smart TIPS: You can find n if you know the last term]


Solution:







SPM Practice Question 7 – 9


Question 7:
Given a geometric progression 2 z , 3,  9z 2 , q,.... express q in terms of z.

Solution:





Question 8:
The second and the fourth term of a geometry progression are 10 and 2 5 respectively. Find
(a) The first term and the common ratio where r > 0,
(b) The sum to infinity of the geometry progression.

Solution:





Question 9:
In a geometric progression, the first term is 18 and the common ratio is r.
Given that the sum to infinity of this progression is 21.6, find the value of r.

Solution:


(G) Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions (Part 1)

1.4.4 Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

(G) Sum to Infinity of Geometric Progressions

S = a 1 r , 1 < r < 1

a = first term
r = common ratio
S∞ = sum to infinity

Example:
Find the sum to infinity of each of the following geometric progressions.
(a) 8, 4, 2, ...
(b) 2 3 , 2 9 , 2 27 , .....   
(c) 3, 1, , ….

Solution:
(a)
8, 4, 2, ….
a = 2, r = 4/8 = ½
S∞ = 8 + 4 + 2 + 0.5 + 0.25 + 0.125 + 0.0625 + 0.03125 + …..
S = a 1 r = 2 1 1 2 = 4

(b)
2 3 , 2 9 , 2 27 , ..... a = 2 3 , r = 2 / 9 2 / 3 = 1 3 S = a 1 r S = 2 3 1 1 3 = 1

(c)
3 , 1 , 1 3 , ..... a = 3 , r = 1 3 S = a 1 r S = 3 1 1 3 = 3 2 / 3 = 9 2