Summary/Background
A geometric progression, also known as a geometric sequence, is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed non-zero number called the common ratio. For example, the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, ... is a geometric progression with common ratio 3 and 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, ... is a geometric sequence with common ratio 1/2.
The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is known as a geometric series.
\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n ar^{k-1} = ar^0 + ar^1 + ar^2 + ... + ar^{n-1}
The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is known as a geometric series.
\displaystyle \sum_{k=1}^n ar^{k-1} = ar^0 + ar^1 + ar^2 + ... + ar^{n-1}
Software/Applets used on this page
Glossary
geometric
A sequence where each term is obtained by multiplying the previous one by a constant.
sequence
a number pattern in a definite order following a certain rule
series
the sum of terms in a sequence
union
The union of two sets A and B is the set containing all the elements of A and B.
This question appears in the following syllabi:
Syllabus | Module | Section | Topic | Exam Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
AP Calculus BC (USA) | 5 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
AQA A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | C2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
AQA A2 Maths 2017 | Pure Maths | Sequences and Series | Geometric Sequences | - |
AQA AS/A2 Maths 2017 | Pure Maths | Sequences and Series | Geometric Sequences | - |
CBSE XI (India) | Algebra | Sequence and Series | Geometric progression | - |
CCEA A-Level (NI) | C2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
CIE A-Level (UK) | P1 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Edexcel A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | C2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Edexcel A2 Maths 2017 | Pure Maths | Sequences and Series | Geometric Sequences | - |
Edexcel AS/A2 Maths 2017 | Pure Maths | Sequences and Series | Geometric Sequences | - |
I.B. Higher Level | 1 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
I.B. Standard Level | 1 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Methods (UK) | M7 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
I.B. (MSSL) | 2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
OCR A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | C2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
OCR A2 Maths 2017 | Pure Maths | Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences | Geometric Sequences | - |
OCR MEI A2 Maths 2017 | Pure Maths | Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences | Geometric Sequences | - |
OCR-MEI A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | C2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Pre-Calculus (US) | E3 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Pre-U A-Level (UK) | 3 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Scottish Advanced Highers | M2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Scottish (Highers + Advanced) | AM2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
Universal (all site questions) | S | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |
WJEC A-Level (Wales) | C2 | Sequences and series | Geometric series | - |