Title: Sequence & Series

Chapter: Sequence & Series

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Worksheet Compiled By: Prashant Jain (PJ Sir)

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Geometric progression (G.P.) :

G.P. is a sequence of numbers whose first term is non zero & each of the succeeding terms is equal to
the preceeding terms multiplied by a constant. Thus in a G.P. the ratio of successive terms is constant.
This constant factor is called the common ratio of the series & is obtained by dividing any term by that
which immediately preceeds it. Therefore a, ar, ar2, ar3, ar4,...... is a G.P. with 'a' as the first term & 'r' as
common ratio.
1 1 1 1
e.g. (i) 2, 4, 8, 16, ....... (ii) , , , , .......
3 9 27 81

Results : (i) nth term of GP = a rn−1

(ii) Sum of the first n terms of GP

 a ( r n − 1)
 , r 1
Sn =  r − 1
 na , r =1

(iii) Sum of an infinite terms of GP when r < 1. When n →  rn → 0 if r < 1 therefore,
S =
a
1− r
( r  1)
1
Example # 13 : The nth term of the series 3, 3 , 1 , ------ is , then find n
243
n–1
 1  1
Solution : 3.   =  n = 13
 3 243

Example # 14 : The first term of an infinite G.P. is 1 and any term is equal to the sum of all the succeeding
terms. Find the series.
Solution : Let the G.P. be 1, r, r2, r3, .........
r2 1
given condition  r=  r= ,
1− r 2
1 1 1
Hence series is 1, , , , ..............
2 4 8
Example # 15 : In a G.P.., T2 + T5 = 216 and T4 : T6 = 1 : 4 and all terms are integers, then find its first term :
ar 3 1
Solution : ar (1 + r3) = 216 and =
ar 5 4
 r2 = 4  r = ± 2
when r = 2 then 2a(9) = 216  a = 12
when r = – 2, then – 2a (1–8) = 216
216 108
 a= = , which is not an integer.
14 7
Self practice problems :
(7) Find the G.P. if the common ratio of G.P. is 3, nth term is 486 and sum of first n terms is 728.
(8) If x, 2y, 3z are in A.P. where the distinct numbers x, y, z are in G.P. Then find the common ratio
of G.P.
(9) A G.P. consist of 2n terms. If the sum of the terms occupying the odd places is S 1 and that of
the terms occupying the even places is S2 , then find the common ratio of the progression.

(10) If continued prodcut of three number in G.P. is 216 and sum of there product in pairs is 156. Find
the numbers.
1 S
Ans. (7) 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, 486 (8) (9) 2 .
3 S1
(10) 2, 6, 18
Remarks :
(i) If a, b, c are in G.P.  b2 = ac, in general if a1, a2, a3, a4,......... an – 1 , an are in G.P.,
then a1an = a2an – 1 = a3 an – 2 = ..........................
a
(ii) Any three consecutive terms of a G.P. can be taken as , a , ar.
r
a a
(iii) Any four consecutive terms of a G.P. can be taken as, 3 , ar, ar3.
r r
(iv) If each term of a G.P. be multiplied or divided or raised to power by the same non−zero
quantity, the resulting sequence is also a G.P..
(v) If a1, a2, a3,........ and b1, b2, b3,......... are two G.P’s with common ratio r1 and r2 respectively, then
the sequence a1b1, a2b2, a3b3, ..... is also a G.P. with common ratio r1 r2.
(vi) If a1, a2, a3,..........are in G.P. where each ai > 0, then log a1, loga2, loga3,..........are in A.P. and its
converse is also true.

Example # 16 : Three numbers form an increasing G.P. If the middle number is doubled, then the new
numbers are in A.P. The common ratio of G.P. is :
a
Solution : Three number in G.P. are , a, ar
r
a
then , 2a ar are in A.P. as given.
r
 1
 2(2a) = a  r + 
 r
or r2 – 4r + 1 = 0
or r=2± 3
or r = 2 + 3 as r > 1 for an increasing G.P.

Example # 17 : The sum of an infinite geometric progression is 2 and the sum of the geometric progression
made from the cubes of this infinite series is 24. Then find its first term and common ratio :
Solution : Let a be the first term and r be the common ratio of G.P.
a a3
= 2, = 24 , –1 < r < 1
1– r 1– r 3
1
Solving we get a = 3, r = –
2
p
Example # 18 : Express 0.423 in the form of , (where p, q  , q  0)
q
4 23 23 4 a 4 23 419
Solution : S= + 3 + 5 + .......  = + = + =
10 10 10 10 1– r 10 990 990

Example # 19 : Evaluate 9 + 99 + 999 + ........... upto n terms.

Solution : Let S = 9 + 99 + 999 + ..........upto n terms.
= [9 + 99 + 999 + .......]
= [(10 – 1) + (102 – 1) + (103 – 1) + ........ + upto n terms]
 10(10n − 1) 
= [10 + 102 + 103 + ...........+ 10n – n] =  − n
 9 
Geometric means (mean proportional) (G.M.):
If a, b, c are in G.P., b is called as the G.M. of a & c.
If a and c are both positive, then b = ac and if a and c are both negative, then b = – ac .
b² = ac, therefore b = ac ; a > 0, c > 0.
n-Geometric means between a, b :
If a, b are two given numbers & a, G1, G2,....., Gn, b are in G.P.. Then
G1, G2, G3,...., Gn are n G.M.s between a & b.

G1 = a(b/a)1/n+1, G2 = a(b/a)2/n+1,......, Gn = a(b/a)n/n+1

Note : The product of n G.M.s between a & b is equal to the nth power of the single G.M. between a & b

( )
n


n
i.e. Gr = ab = Gn , where G is the single G.M. between a & b.
r =1

Example # 20 : Between 4 and 2916 are inserted odd number (2n + 1) G.M’s. Then the (n + 1)th G.M. is
Solution : 4, G1.G2, ....... Gn+1, .... G2n, G2n+1, 2916
Gn+1 will be the middle mean of (2n +1) odd means and it will be equidistant from Ist and last
term
 4,Gn+1 , 2916 will also be in G.P.
 Gn2+1 = 4 × 2916 = 4 × 9 × 324 = 4 × 9 × 4 × 81
Gn+1 = 2 × 3 × 2 × 9 = 108.
Self practice problems :
a n + 1 + b n +1
(11) Find the value of n so that may be the G.M. between a and b.
an + bn
(12) If a = 111 ..........1 , b = 1 + 10 + 102 + 103 + 104 and c = 1 + 105 + 1010 + ..... + 1050, then prove
55

that
(i) ‘a’ is a composite number (ii) a = bc.
1
Ans. (11) n=–
2
 Exercise – I
Section (A) : Geometric Progression
1. The third term of a G.P. is the square of the first term. If the second term is 8, find its sixth term.

2. The continued product of three numbers in G.P. is 216, and the sum of the products of them in pairs is
156; find the numbers

3. The sum of infinite number of terms of a G.P. is 4 and the sum of their cubes is 192. Find the series.

4. The sum of three numbers which are consecutive terms of an A.P. is 21. If the second number is reduced
by 1 & the third is increased by 1, we obtain three consecutive terms of a G.P., find the numbers.

5. If the pth, qth & rth terms of an AP are in GP. Find the common ratio of the GP. [16JM110054]

6. If a, b, c, d are in G.P., prove that : [16JM110053]

(i) (a2 − b2), (b2 − c2), (c2 − d2) are in G.P.
1 1 1
(ii) , , are in G.P.
a2 + b2 b2 + c 2 c 2 + d2

32 243
7. Let five geometric means are inserted between and then find sum of all the geometric means.
3 2

Section (B) : Geometric Progression

1. The third term of a G.P is 4. The product of the first five terms is
(A) 43 (B) 45 (C) 44 (D) 4

2. If S is the sum to infinity of a G.P. whose first term is ‘a’, then the sum of the first n terms is [16JM110059]

 a
n
  a 
n

(A) S  1 −  (B) S 1 −  1 −  
 S    S  

  a 
n   S n 
(C) a 1 −  1 −   (D) S 1 −  1 −  
  S     a 


an + 1 1 20
3. For a sequence {an}, a1 = 2 and
an
=
3
. Then a
r =1
r is

20  1 
(A) [4 + 19 × 3] (B) 3  1 − 20 
2  3 
 1 
(C) 2 (1 – 320) (D)  1 − 20 
 3 

4. ,  be the roots of the equation x2 – 3x + a = 0 and ,  the roots of x2 – 12x + b = 0 and numbers
, , ,  (in this order) form an increasing G.P., then [16JM110060]
(A) a = 3, b = 12 (B) a = 12, b = 3 (C) a = 2, b = 32 (D) a = 4, b = 16
5. One side of an equilateral triangle is 24 cm. The mid−points of its sides are joined to form another triangle
whose mid − points are in turn joined to form still another triangle. This process continues indefinitely.
Then the sum of the perimeters of all the triangles is
(A) 144 cm (B) 212 cm (C) 288 cm (D) 172 cm

6. Let 3 geometric means G1, G2, G3 are inserted between two positive number a and b such that
G3 − G2 b
= 2, then equal to
G2 − G1 a

(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 8 (D) 16

 Answer Key
Exercise – I
Section (A) : Geometric Progression
1. 128 2. 2, 6, 18 or 18, 6, 2 3. 6, –3, 3/2, ......
q−r
4. 3, 7, 11 or 12, 7, 2 5. 7. 211
p−q

Section (B) : Geometric Progression

1. (B) 2. (B) 3. (B) 4. (C) 5. (A)
6. (D)

Solution
Exercise – I
Section (A) : Geometric Progression
1. Let the three terms be a, ar, ar2  ar2 = a2  a = r2 and ar = 8
  r3 = 8, r = 2 and a=4  T6 = 4(2)5 = 128

a a a
2. Let the Numbers are , a, ar so a3 = 216  a = 6  .a + a.ar + ar. = 156
r r r
1 1 1 156
 a2 (1+ r + ) = 156  (1+ r + ) = 1+r+ =
r r r 36
 r = 3 or 1/3. Numbers are 2, 6, 18 or 18, 6, 2

(1– r )
2
a a3 (1 − r)3 192
3. = 4  = 192  =  =3
1– r 1– r 3 1− r3 (4)3 1+ r + r2
 1 + r2 – 2r = 3 + 3r + 3r2  2r2 + 5r + 2= 0  (2r + 1) (r + 2) = 0
r = –1/2, r = –2(rejected) When r = –1/2 , a = 6 so series is 6, –3, 3/2 .....

4. Let a – d , a, a + d  3a = 21  a =7
a – d, a –1, a + d + 1 are in G.P  7 – d, 6 , 8 + d are in G.P
 36 = (7– d) (8 + d)  36 = 56 – d –d2
 d2 + d – 20 = 0  d = –5 , 4
so Numbers are 3, 7, 11  12, 7, 2

Tq Tr a + (q − 1)d a + (r − 1)d
5. = = common ratio ; =
Tp Tq a + (p − 1)d a + (q − 1)d
using dividendo
(q − p) (r − q) Tq r −q q−r
=  = =
a + (p − 1)d a + (q − 1)d Tp q−p p−q

6. (i) Let b = ar
c = ar2 and d = ar3
So a (1– r ),a (r )(1 – r ),a r (1–r2) these are in G.P.
2 2 2 2 2 2 4

So (a2 – b2), (b2 – c2), (c2 – d2) are in G.P.

1 1 1 1 1 1
(ii) , , 2 = 2 , 2 2 , are in G.P.
a2 + b2 b2 + c 2 c + d2 a (1 + r 2 ) a r (1 + r 2 ) a2r 4 (1 + r 2 )

1/ 6
 243 3  3
7. Common ratio of means =   =
 2 32  2
 means are 16, 24, 36, 54, 81
their sum is 211.

Section (B) : Geometric Progression

1. T3 = 4
T1. T2. T3. T4. T5 = a5. r 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = a5. r10 = (ar2)5 = 45

a S–a a[1 − r n ]   S – a n 
2. S= r= ; S = = S 1 −   
1− r S 1− r   S  

an a1 2 a2 2
3. a1 = 2; an+1 = ; a2 = = ; a3 = =
3 3 3 3 32
  1 20 
2 . 1 −   
2 2   3    1 
a1 + a2 +.......................+ a20 = 2 + + 2 + .......... = = 3  1– 20 
3 3
1–
1  3 
3

4. +=3 ,  = a ;  +  = 12 ,  = b
       are in G.P. Let r be the common ratio so  (1+ r) = 3
r2(1+ r) = 12  r2 = 4  r=2
so  = 1  so a = 2, b = 32 Ans
 24
5. = 3[24 + 12 + 6 + .........] = 3 = 144
1
1−
2
6. If a, G1, G2, G3, b are in G.P. with common ratio equal to 'r' then G1– a, G2 –G1, G3 – G2, b–G3 are also
G3 − G2 b
in G.P. with same common ratio  =r= 2 = r4 = 16
G2 − G1 a