# Geometric Progression Formulas

In mathematics, a geometric progression(sequence) (also inaccurately known as a geometric series) is a sequence of numbers such that the quotient of any two successive members of the sequence is a constant called the common ratio of the sequence.

The geometric progression can be written as:

ar0=a, ar1=ar, ar2, ar3, ...
where r ≠ 0, r is the common ratio and a is a scale factor(also the first term).

#### Examples

A geometric progression with common ratio 2 and scale factor 1 is
1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32...

A geometric sequence with common ratio 3 and scale factor 4 is
4, 12, 36, 108, 324...

A geometric progression with common ratio -1 and scale factor 5 is
5, -5, 5, -5, 5, -5,...

#### Formulas

Formula for the n-th term can be defined as:

an = an-1⋅r
an = a1⋅rn-1

Formula for the common ratio is:

r =
 ak ak-1

If the common ratio is:

• Negative, the results will alternate between positive and negative.
Example:
1, -2, 4, -8, 16, -32... - the common ratio is -2 and the first term is 1.
• Greater than 1, there will be exponential growth towards infinity (positive).
Example:
1, 5, 25, 125, 625 ... - the common ratio is 5.
• Less than -1, there will be exponential growth towards infinity (positive and negative).
Example:
1, -5, 25, -125, 625, -3125, 15625, -78125, 390625, -1953125 ... - the common ratio is -5.
• Between 1 and -1, there will be exponential decay towards zero.
Example:
4, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625 ... - the common ratio is $\frac{1}{2}$
4, -2, 1, -0.5, 0.25, -0.125, 0.0625 ... - the common ratio is $-\frac{1}{2}$.
• Zero, the results will remain at zero.
Example:
4, 0, 0, 0, 0 ... - the common ratio is 0 and the first term is 4.

#### Geometric Progression Properties

a2k = ak-1⋅ak+1
a1⋅an = a2⋅an-1 =...= ak⋅an-k+1

Formula for the sum of the first n numbers of a geometric series

 Sn = a1 - anr 1  -  r = a1. 1 - rn 1 - r

#### Infinite geometric series where |r| < 1

If |r| < 1 then an -> 0, when n -> ∞.
The sum S of such an infinite geometric series is given by the formula:

S = a1
 1 1 - r
which is valid only when |r| < 1.
a1 is the first term.

#### Geometric Progression Calculator

 First term Common ratio Number of terms(n=?)

#### Geometric Progression Problems

Problem 1.
Is the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8... a geometric progression?
Solution: No, it is not. (2, 4, 8 is a geometric progression)

Problem 2
If 2, 4, 8... form a geometric progression. What is the 10-th term?
Solution: We can use the formula an = a1 ⋅ rn-1
a10 = 2 ⋅ 210-1 = 2 ⋅ 512 = 1024

Problem 3
Find the scale factor and the command ratio of a geometric progression if
a5 - a1 = 15
a4 - a2 = 6
Solution: there are two geometric progressions. The first one has a scale factor 1 and common ratio = 2
the second decidion is -16, 1/2
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