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5.4.1 Characteristics of a Geometry Progressions

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.

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