SUM OF THE FIRST n TERMS

aritmetic
PROGRESSION

Sn = a ( r n
− 1) , r >1
r −1
or
Sn = a(1 − r n ) , r < 1
1 −r

THE n th TERM Tn
GEOMETRIC
THE r th TERM Tr
PROGRESSION Tn = ar n-1
T = S - S
r r r-1

a = first term

r = common ratio
SUM OF INFINITY
n = number of terms
a
Sn = -1< r < 1
1− r
 GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
xr xr xr xr

2 3 4
a, ar , ar, ar, ar, …
EXAMPLE
x3 x3 x3

3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729 …

 GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION
xr xr xr xr

2 3 4
a, ar , ar, ar, ar, …
EXAMPLE
x3 x3 x3 x3 x3

3, 9, 27, 81, 243, 729 …

Find out the formula form your note.

GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

the sum to infinity

The sum of the first n term:

Sn = ______________
or
Sn = ______________

a = _______________
r = _______________
n = _______________ Fill in the
blank
1.1 Identify characteristics of geometric progression:

EXERCISE 1:

Complete each of the sequence below to form an geometric

progression.

g) 2, _____ , 8 , ______ , 32 , 64

b) 3, 9, 27 , ______ , 243 , ________

c) 4, ______ , ______ , ________ , 1024

m) -3, _____, -12, -24, _____,______

5
o) y, _____, _______, ________, y
1.2 Determine whether a given sequence is an geometric progression

EXERCISE 2 :

r = common ratio
4
-8, 4, -2,…… r = − 8 = 4 = 2 (true)
−2 1
−

5, 11, 17, 23,…

16, -8, 4,…..

2. k , k + 4 , 2k + 2 are the first three terms of
an geometric progression,find the value of k.

k +4 2k +2
= Note:
k k +4 If x,y and z are three terms of
an geometric progression ,
(k + 4)(k + 4) = k(2k + 2)
y z
2 2 =
k + 4k + 4k + 16 = 2k + 2k x y
2
0 = k − 6k − 16
2
k − 6k − 16 = 0
(k – 8)(k + 2) = 0

k–8=0 ,k+2=0
Hence k = 8, k = -2
1.3 Determine by using formula:

a. specific terms in geometric

progressions
b. the number of terms in geometric
progressions

n −1
Tn = ar
 th
Find the 7 term of the geometric progression.

- 8, 4 , -2 , …..
Solution: 4 1 Tn = ar n −1
a=-8 r= =−
−8 2

T7 = (-8)( −12 )7-1

Other method,
1 6 list out the GP,
=( −8)(− )
2
-8, 4, -2, 1,
1
= (−8)( ) -½, ¼, ( )
64
=
 a (r − 1)
n
Sn = , r >1
r −1
OR
a (1 − r )
n
Sn = , r <1
1− r
 1.Find the sum of the first n terms
of geometric progressions

1
a) 2, - 4, 8,………… n= 7
3

2
9
b) 5, 10, 20……….. n = 9
4
27
1
64
The sum of a specific number of
consecutive terms of geometric
progressions

1
4, 2, 1,…………
64
1
64
The sum of a specific number of
consecutive terms of geometric
progressions

1, 3, 9,……. 2187.
 The sum of a specific number of
consecutive terms of geometric
progressions
3
24, 12, 6, …….
4
 If
Example 14and .Find the value
1
2

= 8 first
ofT3the = 27 a and the common
T6 term
1
2 ratio r.
3
Hence, find the sumT3from T6 to
. Tn = ar n −1 2
5
ar =8
T6 = ar = 27 …(I) 3 2
a ( ) =8
3

2 2
128
27 T3 = ar = 8 …(II)
9
a ( ) =8
 2
 
 1 (I) 4
27 4
(II) r3 = a =8 ×( )
8 9
3
32
=
3 9
r=
27
64
5
3
4
2 =3
9
1
2
IfExample 14and .Find the value
= 8 first
ofT3the = 27
T6 term a and the common
1
2 ratio r.
3 Hence, find the sumT3from T6 to
. n −1
T = ar
n r =
3
5 2

3
T6 = ar = 27 ×
3
…(I)
×
3

2
T3 = ar =8,8
2 2

27
…(II)
128 12, 18, 27
 2
  (I) 3 27
Sum from T3 to T6
 1
r =
(II) 8
3
= 8r+=
123+ 18 + 27
27 2
64
= 65
3
4
1
2
IfNo 14 (a) and . Find the
T3 = 75 of the
value T4 = first
375 term a and the
1
2 common ratio r.
3 Hence, find the sumT3from T6 to
. T = ar n −1
2
ar = 75
n
3
T4 = ar = 375 …(I)
2
3

2 a (5) = 75
27 T3 = ar = 75 …(II)
128
 2
a ( 25) =75
  (I) 375
75
 1
r =
(II) 75 a=
25
r =5
3

27
64
=3
3
4
1
2
If No 14(a) and .Find the
value = of the first
= term a and the
1
2 common ratio r. =

3 Hence, find the sum from to

.
=

3 × × ×

128
27
75, 375, 1875, 9375
 2
 
 1
Sum from to
3
= 75 + 375 + 1875 + 9375
27
64
= 11700
3
4
 IfNo 14 (b) and . Find the
value = − of the first
= term a and the
common ratio r.
Hence, find the sum from to
. = −
=−
= = …(I)
− =−
= =− …(II)
  −



 (I)
=
(II) =− −
=− =
 If No 14(b) and .Find the
value== −− of the first
= term a and the
common ratio r.
Hence, find the sum from to
.
=−

×− ×− ×− ×−
-12, 48, - 192, 768 - 3072
 
 
 
Sum from to
= 48 + (-192) + 768 + (-3072)
= - 2448
 No 14 (c)
If and . Find the
= = − term a.
value of the first
Hence, find the sum from to = −
. −

=
[−− ]
− −
[ −− ]=
 
 
 

=
 No 14(c)
If = and .Find the
=−
value of the first term a.
Hence, find the sum from to
.
×− ×− ×− ×− ×−

− − −





Sum from to
 

= +− + +−

=−
Example 15
Determine the maximum number of terms for Sn <
95 with a= , r = 2.
−
=
−
− <
= <
− 1
<
− < ×
<
− <
<
Maximum n = 10
<
Example 15
Determine the maximum number of terms for Sn <
95 with a= , r = 2.
−
=
−
− <
= <
− 1
<
− < ×
<
− <
<
Maximum n = 10
<
No 15(a)
Determine the maximum number of terms for each of the following GP so that
their sum is equal to or less than the value given.
a. Sn = 2730, with a =
2, r = 4.
−
− =
= = −
−
−
=

− = ×

− =

= =

n=6
No 15(b)
Determine the maximum number of terms for each of the following GP so that
their sum is equal to or less than the value given.
b. Sn < 1500, with a =
3, r = 2. −
=
− −
= <
− 1

− < ÷
<
− <
< <

<

< Maximum n = 8
No 15(c)
Determine the maximum number of terms for each of the following GP so that
their sum is equal to or less than the value given.
b. Sn < 1600, with a =
0.8, r = 1.5. −
=
− −
= <
−

−
<
<
− <
− < <

<
Maximum n = 17
<
No 15(d)
Determine the maximum number of terms for each of the following GP so that
their sum is equal to or less than the value given.
b. Sn < 1.4 x 10 , with a = 1, r
=3 −
=
−
−
= < ×
−
−
<
<
− <
< <
<
Maximum n = 11
<
 ，，， ， ， ， ， ， ， 。。。

8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, 0.03125,

0.015625, 0.0078125, 0.00390625, 0.001953125,
0.000976562, 0.000488281, 0.00024414,
0.00012207, 0.000061, 0.000030517,
=0
4 dp
ect t o
r
If cor
 −
= =
−
− ∞
−

=
If n bigger enough and |r| < 1

∞
−
→
 Find the sum to infinity.
8, 2, ½ ,

= =




=
−

=
 Example:

 

−
= =−


 

=
 r=? Example 17 ∞ =

Find the common ratio if given the sum to infinity is 30

and the first term is 10.
a = 10

∞ = =
−

 
= −

= −
= − =

=
 Example 18
Rearrange 48, 3, 12, -1.5, -96, -6 and -24 to form a
geometric progression.
-96, 48, -24, 12, -6, 3, -1.5

− = =−
= =−
−

 
−
= =− = =−
−
−
= =− = =−
−

= = = = =
GP: -96, 48, -24, 12, -6, 3, -1.5
 18a. a=5
A geometric progression has a first term of 5 and a
=
fifth term of 80. Find the two possible values of the
common ratio.
−
= =




=

= −
 Express each of the recurring decimal below as a
fraction in its simplest form.
•
= 0.33333333333…
= 0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + …..

0.3

 
0.03
•
0.003 =
−
+…
=
0.333…

= = =
 Express each of the recurring decimal below as a
fraction in its simplest form.
••
= 4.121212121212….
= 4 + 0.12 + 0.0012 + …..

0.12 •• ••



= +
0.0012
0.000012 = +
−
+…
0.121212… = +

= =
=
 If 0.3333333333… r = 0.1

If 0.1212121212… r = 0.01

 

If 0.456456456… r = 0.001

If 0.123412341234… r =r 0.0001
=?
 
 