SAT SUBJECT TEST MATH LEVEL 1
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
CHAPTER 18
Sequences
GEOMETRIC SEQUENCES
A geometric sequence is a sequence such as 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, . . . in which the ratio between any two consecutive terms is the same. In this sequence, the ratio is
An easy way to find the nth term of a geometric sequence is to start with the first term and multiply it by the common ratio n – 1 times. Here the 5th term is 48, which can be obtained by taking the first term, 3, and multiplying it by the common ratio, 2, four times: 3 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 3 × 24 = 3 × 16 = 48. In the same way, the 100th term is 3 × 299.
Key Fact Q3
If a1, a2, a3, . . . is a geometric sequence whose common ratio is r, then an = a1rn-1.
EXAMPLE 5: What is the 12th term of the sequence 3, –6, 12, –24, 48, –96, . . . ?
This is a geometric sequence whose common ratio is –2. By KEY FACT Q3,
a12 = a1(–2)11 = 3(–2)11 = 3(–2,048) = –6,144