Geometric Progressions
A geometric progression (GP), also called a geometric sequence, is a sequence of numbers which differ from each other by a common ratio. For example, the sequence is a geometric sequence with common ratio .
We can find the common ratio of a GP by finding the ratio between any two adjacent terms.
The following sequence is a geometric progression with initial term and common ratio :
Contents
Describing Geometric Progressions
Important terminology
- Initial term: In a geometric progression, the first number is called the "initial term."
- Common ratio: The ratio between a term in the sequence and the term before it is called the "common ratio."
Recursive Formula
We can describe a geometric sequence with a recursive formula, which specifies how each term relates to the one before. Since in a geometric progression, each term is given by the product of the previous term and the common ratio, we can write a recursive description as follows:
More concisely, with the common ratio , we have
Explicit Formula
While the recursive formula above allows us to describe the relationship between terms of the sequence, it is often helpful to be able to write an explicit description of the terms in the sequence, which would allow us to find any term.
If we know the initial term, the following terms are related to it by repeated multiplication of the common ratio. Thus, the explicit formula is
Using exponents, we can write this with common ratio , as
Note: It is sometimes easier to compute values in a geometric progression based on a term in the middle rather than the initial term. When we begin our calculations from the term, the term in the geometric progression is given by
Now let's work out some basic examples that can familiarize you with the above definitions.
What is the explicit formula for the geometric sequence
The initial term is . Since each subsequent term is the product of the previous term and , the common ratio is . Thus the formula describing this sequence is
If the fourth term of a geometric progression with common ratio equal to half the initial term is what is the term?
Let the initial term be and the common ratio . As stated in the problem, the term is and the initial term is . Solving these two simultaneous equations gives
Hence, the term is
Sums of Geometric Progressions
We sometimes want to find the sum of some terms of a geometric progression. When the number of terms we want to add is large, it can be difficult to add them all one at a time. The problem below illustrates a method that can be developed into a general technique:
Find the sum of the first terms of the following geometric progression:
Let the sum of the first terms of the given series be then
Multiplying by we get
Taking gives
In the example above, we multiplied the sum of the geometric progression by its common ratio and then subtracted the result from the original sum, finding that all the terms cancel out except the first and last ones. Now we can use the same approach to find the general formula for the sum.
For a geometric progression with initial term and common ratio the sum of the first terms is
Suppose we wanted to add the first terms of a geometric progression. If , then we have a constant sequence, and hence the sum is just . Now, let's suppose that then we would obtain
Multiplying both sides by gives
Taking we get
Therefore,
What is the sum of the first terms of a geometric progression with initial term and common ratio
Applying the above formula for the sum of geometric progression terms, we have
Sums of Infinite Geometric Progressions
Now that we know how to find the sum of finitely many terms, let's move on to find the sum of infinitely many terms of a geometric progression. This is done in a similar way, and we do an example first.
Calculate the following geometric series:
Let the given sum be then
Multiplying by , we get
Taking gives
Note that we're using the same trick of multiplying by the common ratio and subtracting! In fact, this trick can be used to find a general formula for the sum of the infinite terms of a geometric progression. Here we go:
For a geometric progression with initial term and common ratio satisfying the sum of the infinite terms of the geometric progression is
When , as becomes arbitrarily large, tends to zero. Hence, taking the limit of the sequence, we get
Geometrical Proof:
We can also think of this formula visually. If is the sum of the series and the initial term is , we can construct a square and a triangle as follows:
We can see that the large triangle and the inverted triangle on the left side of the square are similar. Therefore by similarity,
Solving for , we get
After striking the floor, your tennis ball bounces to two-thirds of the height from which it has fallen. What is the total vertical distance it travels before coming to rest when it is dropped from a height of
Let be the height (in meters) from which the ball is dropped, and a number such that Also, let be the total vertical distance covered before the ball comes to rest. Then
Since we are given and
Find the sum of the geometric series
Observe that the given series is a geometric progression with initial term and common ratio Then since the series is convergent and we will use the formula for infinite sum to evaluate the value of the given series. Hence
As we are now familiar with the above concepts, let's try our hand at solving some problems below:
Problem Solving
Cody has started running in a well-organized manner. He runs east, then turns left and runs another north, turns left and runs again turns left and runs and on the next turn and so on.
Assuming that Cody can run in this pattern infinitely, the displacement from his initial position can be written as with and being positive integers and square-free.
What is the value of