QA GP
GP
A succession of numbers is said to be in a geometric progression if the successive terms have a
constant ratio. Therefore in the GP series each successive (or next) term is multiplied by a fix
number.
For example: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, ..
2, 8, 32, 128, 512,
-3, 6, -12, 24, -48, .
1, 2, 4, 8, .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
20, 10, 5, .,.,.,.,.,
a, ar, ar2, ......
Common ratio of series (i) is 2.
Common ratio of series (ii) is 0.5.
Common ratio of series (iii) is r.
Nth term of a geometric progression
If a is the first term, l is the last term, r is the common ratio, T n is the nth and Sn is the sum of n
term,
then
)
(
First term = ar1-1=a
Second term ar = ar2-1
Third term ar2 = ar3-1
Fourth term ar3 = ar 4-1
The seventh term of a GP is 8 times the fourth term and the 5th term of the same GP is 48. Find
the 6th term of this GP.
Given t7 = 8 x t4,
Or, ar6 = 8 x ar3
r3 = 8, or, r = 2
Now, ar4 = 48, So, a = 3
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So, 6th term = ar5 = 3 x 25 = 96
Find the 6th term of 2, 4, 8,.
( )
( )
Sum of n terms of a geometric progression
(
if r > 1
if r < 1
Sn = na when r = 1
where n = number of terms, a = 1st term and d = common difference.
Find the sum of 7 terms of the following series 1, 3, 9, 27, 81,
(
Since
)
(
Therefore
Geometric Mean
If two numbers a and b are in GP, then their geometric mean (GM) =
So, if three terms a, b and c are in GP, then their GM =
In general, if a, b, c, . . . n terms are in GP, then their GM=
(
)
The G.M. of odd number of consecutive terms of a G.P. is the middlemost term itself.
Properties of GP
If a, b, c, d-,.. .are in GP, then
1)
ak, bk, ck, dk.... will be in GP, where k is any nonzero constant.
2)
will be in GP, where k is any non-zero constant.
In the above two cases, the common ratio will be the same as the earlier.
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3)
If a GP of any even number of terms is given, then its common ratio will be the same
as the ratio of the sum of all the terms in the even position and the sum of all the
terms in the odd position.
For example in the GP : 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32
Sum of even positioned terms = 2+8+32= 42
Sum of odd positioned terms = 1+4+16= 21
Ratio of the 2 sums = 42/21= 2= common ratio of the series
Special Cases
The consecutive odd number of term of a G.P. is written as.
etc.
The consecutive even number of terms of a G.P. is written as ,
etc.
Sum of infinite geometric progression
Infinite GP is generally the one where the common ratio is less than 1, i.e. r <0. So the value of
the terms keep on reducing till they become very, very small and almost 0. Since after a few
terms the values become very small and almost negligible therefore these terms have a very
little impact on the overall sum of the series.
Therefore though the series is infinite we can still calculate the sum of the series.
Sum of Infinite GP =
, where 1 < r < 1.
Increasing GP: What is the sum of the following series: 1 + 2 + 4 + ... till infinity.
It is very obvious that the sum is going to be +=. This formula is applicable only for 1 < r < 1.
After striking the .floor, a ball rebounds to 4/5th of the height from which it has fallen. What is
the total distance that it travels before coming to rest if it is gently dropped from a height of
120 m?
The distance covered before the first rebound = 120m
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And then the ball bounces back to a height of 120 x and then falls from the same height. Next
time the ball will go up by 120 x x m and then it will fall from the same height.
So, the total distance covered
(
Alternatively, if the ball rebounds to
th of the original height H, then the total distance
covered =
In the above example, the total distance covered
Perimeter of an equilateral triangle is 20 cm. The mid points of the sides of this triangle is joined
to form another triangle. The mid-points of the new triangle are then joined to form another
triangle. This process is continued infinitely. Find the sum of the perimeters of all such triangles
formed.
The perimeter of the first triangle will be 60. And that of the
second triangle will be 30. That of the third triangle will be 15. Ans
so on....
So our answer will be, 60 + 30 + 15 + 7.5 + ........infinite terms
Since this forms an infinitely diminishing series with r = . Our
answer will be:
60(1 ) = 120.
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Solved Examples
1) On 1 January 2004, two new societies S1 and S2 are formed, each of n numbers. On the
first day of each subsequent month, S1 adds b members while S2 multiples its current
numbers by a constant factor r. Both the societies have the same number of members
on 2 July 2004. lfb= 10.5n, what is the value of r?
(CAT 2004)
a) 2.0
b) 1.9
c) 1.8
d) 1.7
There will be an increase of 6 times. The number of members in S, will be in an AP.
On 2 July 2004, S, will have n + 6b members
= n + 6 x 10.5 n, = 64n
The number of members in S2 will be in a GP.
On 2 July 2004, the number of members in S2 = nr6
They are equal, hence 64 n = nr6
64 = r6 r = 2
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