CHAPTER TWO

GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

It is a sequence of numbers with each different from the preceding by a common ratio denoted r .The
geometric progression can either be decreasing or increasing. Increasing when the common ratio is greater
than one and decreasing when the common ratio is less than one.

The common ratio r = U2/U1= U3/U2=U4/U3

Expl : calculate the common ratio of the following progression 3,12, 48…..
NB. Given the first term U1 and the nth term Un. the common ratio will be given by
r= n-1√Un/U1

Expl ; The first term of an AP is 3 while the 12th term is 6144. Present the first 6 terms.

2.1 THE GENERAL TERM

The definition of of a GP requires the following:

The first term (a)
The number of terms (n)
The law by which the successive terms can be found.
Consider the various terms to be U1, U2, U3,…etc
The first term U1=a
The second term U2=U1r= ar
The third term U3= U2r= ar2
The fourth term U4=U3r= ar3
The nth term Un=Un-1r = arn-2r= arn-1

Thus a geometric progression with the first term denoted a, the common ratio r and n the term position
will have the general term .
The general term Un=arn-1

2.2 The common ratio (r)

In order to constitute a G.P, the common ratio must be known

If Un = U1.rn-1

= rn-1

=r
r=

Thus for any 2 terms in GP, Um and Un,

The common ratio r will be given by r=

the common ratio r=U2 or U4

U1 U3

Example 1, HEDWIG increases his sales each month by 5%. If he sold 50000frs in January 2011, how
much will be his sales for the month dec 2012?

Expl 2: The second term of a GP is 8 while the 5th term is 64. Calculate the first term and 10th term.

Expl 3: The third term of a GP is -18 and the 7th term is -1458. Fine the 10th term.

EXPL 4: Find the first five terms of the geometric progression whose third term is 0.09 and the whose 6th
term is 2.43

2.3 THE SUM OF TERMS IN AP

Consider the first term as a, the second term ar, the third ar2……
The sum Sn will be given by Sn = a+ ar+ ar2+ ar3……..……….arn-1
Multiplying all through by r, rSn= ar+ ar2+ ar3+………………….arn-1 + arn
Subtracting the equations gives (1-r)Sn= a -arn
Implying that the sum Sn= a(1-rn)
1-r
n
The sum of the first n terms Sn=a(1-r )
r-1
expl 1, consider the example1 above and calculate the total sale Hedwig would have realized by the end of
April 2013.

Expl 2: calculate the sum of the first 300 natural numbers

Expl 3:Calculate the sum of all the even numbers between 1 to 200

2.3 SUM TO INFINITY OF A GP

A geometric progression can either be increasing such as 1,2,4,8,16…. Or decreasing such as 1, ½, ¼,
1/8…. A GP which keeps on increasing is said to be divergent while that which keeps on decreasing is
said to be convergent.
The sum to infinity is the limit to which the sum to n terms converges as n gets larger and larger.
The sum to infinity will be = a
1-r
Expl 4: The 1st term of an infinite GP is 10 and its sum to infinity is 25. Fine the first four terms in the
series.

Expl 5: Express the recurring decimal 0.23 in the form a/b , where a and b are integers without a common
factor.

NB:Considering any three consecutive terms in a geometric progression a,b and c

The geometric mean which is b is given by a*c = b2
Implies the geometric mean b= √ac
Expl 6: The arithmetic mean of three terms in a geometric progression is 13 while the geometric mean is
9. Calculate the first term, common ratio and the sum of the first 6 terms of
the GP

APPLICATION:

1.Calculate the 6th term of a G.P whose 1st term is 25 and common ratio is 1.5

Solution

U1 = 25

r = 1.5

Un = U1 rn-1

U6 = 25(1.5)6-1

= 25(1.5)5

=25(7.59375)

U6 = 189.8437

2.The 5th term of G.P which starts with 2 is 162. Calculate the common ratio and constitute the
G.P

U5 = 162

U1 = 2

r=

r=
r = √81

r=3

thus the G.P = 2, 2(3), 2(3)2, 2(3)3, 2(3)4

= 2, 6, 18, 54, 162

3.The 8th tem of a series in G.P is 896 and the 11th term is 7168. Find the common ratio and the
first term

 Finding the common ratio and the first term

U8 = 896
U11 = 7168
but U8 = U1r7
U11 = U1r10
 U1r7 = 896………….(1)
U1r10 = 7168……….(2)

r =2

substituting r in equation 1

U1(2)7 = 896

U1 =

U1= 7

 The common ratio r = 2 and the first term U1 = 7

4.BIH had made a number of payment which were in geometric progression. If his 4th payment
was 54000FCFA find the common ratio knowing that the 7th payment is 273 375

5.A hotel manager decides to depreciate a vehicle whose value is 531000FCFA within 6 years by
depreciation which are in increasing AP with a common difference of 15 000FCFA. After the 3
depreciation, the hotel manager decides to depreciate the vehicle with depreciations which are in
a decreasing G.P. knowing that the 6th depreciation which is consequently the last is equal to the
3rd depreciation.

a. Determine the value of each of the first 3 depreciation

b. Determine the common ratio of the geometric progression
c. Determine the values of the 4th and 5th depreciation
SOLUTION
a) Determination of the value of each of the first 3 depreciation
 d = 15000
NV = 531 000
 1 + 2+ 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 531000
 1 + 1 + 15000 + 1 + 2(15000) + 1 + 3(15000) + 1+ 4(15000) + 1+
5(15000) = 531000
6 1 + 225000 = 531000
1 =
= 51000
1

2 = 51000 + 15000
= 66000
3 = 51000 + 2(15000)
= 81000
b) Determination of the common ratio
If 1 + 2 + 3 = 51000 + 66000 + 81000
 4+ 5+ 6 = 531000 -198000

4+ 5+ 6 = 333000

G.P, 4= 1

5= 1r

6= 1r

But 6= 3 = 81000

 1 + 1r + 81000
 + + 81000 = 333000
²
²
= 333000
²
841000 + 81000 + 81000 ² = 333000
Dividing all by 1000 gives,
81 + 81r + 81r2 = 333r2
-252r2 + 81r + 81 =0
±√
r=
a = -252
b = 81
c = 81
± ( ) ( )( )
 r= ( )
±
=

r1 =
 = -0.429

r2 =
r2 = 0.75

given that it is a decreasing G.P, r = 0.75

c) determination of the 4th and 5th depreciation

4 =
²

=( . )²
4 = 144000FCFA

5 =
.
5 = 108000FCFA

6.Find the 9th term of a geometric sequence whose fourth term is 4 and whose seventh term is 5

- Finding the ninth term of a geometric sequence

4= 4
7= 5

but 4= r3

7= r6
3
 1r = 4………………1
6
 1r = 5…………….…2
Equation 2 divided by 1
=
6-3
r = 1.25
r = √1.25
r = 1.077217345
substituting r = 1.077217345 in equation I gives,
3
1(1.077217345) = 4

1 =
.

1 =3.2

8
9 = 1r

=3.2(1.077217345)8
  9 = 5.801986042

CONSOLIDATION
QUESTION ONE. Three capitals in decreasing geometric progression have been placed in simple interest
at 9%. The first during 3 months, the second during 6 months and the third during 8 months. Knowing that
the produced total interest amounts to 969frs and that the difference between the first and the third capital
is 3600frs.
a) determine the common ratio
b) Determine the value of each capital
The gotten sum (capitals and interest) permit to pay back by anticipation four monthly installments of
6477 FRS each, the first coming due in one month.
C)determine the rate of discount these stretches knowing that there is equivalence to the dates of the
regulation anticipated.

Question two ; Three commercial effects of nominal values V1,V2, and V3 in geometric progression of
sum 39000frs and common ratio 3. One negotiates these three effects on the same date. The discount
rate is 9%. The three effects have to run respectively for a number of days n1,n2and n3 that are in a
geometric progression of sum 104 and product 13824frs. Calculate the net amount of the negotiation.

Question three)Consider the following series. 2, 4, 8……..

Determine a) the 7th term
b) the sum of the first 12 terms

question four)Three capitals in ascending geometric progression are in such a way that their arithmetic
mean is 19000frs and their geometric mean is 18000frs. Calculate the common ratio r and the value of
each capital..

Question five)A group of individuals form a njangi group called MARINE. Contribution at the end of
each month, at the end of the year the amount received are in a geometric progression. Knowing that the
fourth person received 360000frs and the 7th person received 2880000frs.Calculate
a) The common ratio of the progression
b) The amount received by the first three members

Question six)An agent of CAPCOL remitted to their manager 8 sums of money during one season. These
sums were in a geometric progression with the first sum being 20000frs. Find the common ratio and the
eight sums if the last sum remitted was 5120000frs.

7)A capital of 204000frs is shared into 3 parts, these three parts are in an arithmetic progression.
The first share is 7/10 of the third. These three capitals are invested at the simple interest rate of
a,b, and c respectively. These three rates are in descending geometric progression and their sum
is 36.4. The annual income of the first two capitals are proportional to 84 and 85.
a) Calculate the three capitals and the three rates.
b) Calculate the average rate of investment
Question 8:Simplicity hotel decides to depreciate equipment whose value is 531000 FRS within
6 years by depreciations which are in an increasing arithmetic progression. With a common
difference of 15000 FRS. After the third depreciation, the manager decides to depreciate the
equipment with depreciation which are in a decreasing geometric progression . knowing that the
sixth depreciation which is consequently the last in the second system of depreciation is equal to
the third depreciation.
8.1) determine the value of each of the first three depreciations
8.2) Determine the common ratio of the geometric progression
8.3) Determine the values of the 4th and 5th depreciations.

Question 9)Three bills of exchange are in geometric progression; their product is 8*10 15. their
common ratio is 2
A)Calculate the value of the first bill
b)Calculate the value of the second and third bills.

10)Three capitals with decreasing arithmetic progression with sum equal to 2700000f were
invested on 01/01/2009 at simple interest rate of 8% per quarter and the interests produced by
these capitals were in increasing geometric progression with the first one equals to 96000frs.
Required; given that the total interest produced was worth 366000 and the first capital was
invested for three months, determine
10.1)The common ratio
10.2) The common difference
10.3) The due dates of each of these investments

11)Three trade bills with nominal values in arithmetic progression and common difference 300
000frs were remitted for discount on 01/03/2008 at the simple interest rate of 6% per semester;
the sum of their nominal values was 4.2 of the nominal values of the first trade bill and their
durations for discounting are in a geometric progression with common ratio of 1.2
Required
11.1) Calculate the nominal value of each trade bill.
11.2) calculate the duration for discounting of each trade bill given that the total discount
amounted to 32950frs

12)Three capitals whose sum is 24000F are in AP. The smallest is invested at the rate of 6% for a
period of 1year, the biggest at the rate 3% per annum for a period of 32months, and the other at
4% per annum during 8months. The interests produced are in an increasing GP . The sum of
these interests is 1680Frs.
a)Determine the common difference of the three capitals and the values of the three capitals.
b)Deduce the values of the three interests and the common ratio.
13)An amount of 35000F is shared between 3 sons in GP such that the first son receives 5000F.
calculate the amounts received by the second and third sons.
14) A bonus of 485625 is to be shared amongst three employees A,B and C. knowing that the
shares are in increasing GP and that the share of A was 210 000F , Calculate the shares of B
and C.

1. Given that the frst 3 terms of the GP are √2 +1, X and √2-1. Find
a)the value of X
b)the sum of the first 10 terms. (answer in surd form)

2.the sum of the 2 and 6th terms of an AP is 2, and the sum of the 5th and 9th terms is -10. Find
a)a formula for the nth term of the progression,

b) The sum of the first 50 terms.

3. Given that
∑ ( ) = 8k find the value of k

4. In an A.P the fifteenth term is 67 and the sum of the first fifteen terms is 480. Find the twelfth term.

5.Find the difference between the sum of the first five terms and the sum to infinity of the sequence

1 , 2/3, 4/9,

6. The product of the second and sixth terms of a geometric progression and the first term is 2.

Find

i) the general term,

ii) the sum to infinity of the sequence

7.∑ [ )n= , Find the value of k.

8. The first term of a GP is 2 and the geometric mean of the first and third terms is 1. Find the sum to
infinity of the progression.

9. Given that the nth term of a sequence is Τn= 1-k/n and T3=-4. Find the value of the constant k and
calculate the 10th term.

10. which of the following are AP

10, 6, 2, -2..

K, k+3, k+6, K+9…………

-1/8, ¼, -1/2

11. The sum of the nth terms of the GP a ar ar2,………..where r>1 is

12. The 1st and third term of a GP are 3 and 308. Find the second term