Formulas for Geometric Sequences

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 19 views

Unraveling the Mystery of the Sequence: A Mathematical Exploration

In the realm of mathematics, sequences play a vital role in understanding various mathematical concepts and their applications. A sequence is a list of numbers in a specific order, and it can be described using a formula. In this article, we will delve into the world of sequences and explore a specific sequence: $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ . Our goal is to identify the formula that can be used to describe this sequence.

The given sequence is: $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ . At first glance, it may seem like a random collection of numbers. However, upon closer inspection, we can observe a pattern. The numbers are increasing, and the ratio between consecutive terms is constant.

Identifying the Pattern

To identify the pattern, let's examine the ratio between consecutive terms:

$\frac{3}{1.2} = 2.5$
$\frac{7.5}{3} = 2.5$
$\frac{18.75}{7.5} = 2.5$

As we can see, the ratio between consecutive terms is constant, and it is equal to 2.5. This suggests that the sequence is a geometric sequence, where each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by a fixed constant.

Geometric Sequences

A geometric sequence is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous term by a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio. In this case, the common ratio is 2.5.

Formulas for Geometric Sequences

There are two common formulas for geometric sequences:

$f(x) = a \cdot r^{x-1}$ , where $a$ is the first term and $r$ is the common ratio.
$f(x) = a \cdot r^x$ , where $a$ is the first term and $r$ is the common ratio.

Applying the Formulas

Now that we have identified the sequence as a geometric sequence, we can apply the formulas to find the correct formula that describes the sequence.

Option A: $f(x) = 1.2(2.5)^{x-1}$
Option B: $f(x) = 2.5(1.2)^{x-1}$
Option C: $f(x) = 1.2(2.5)^x$
Option D: $f(x) = 2.5(1.2)^x$

Evaluating the Options

Let's evaluate each option by plugging in the values of $x$ and checking if the formula produces the correct sequence.

Option A: $f(1) = 1.2(2.5)^{1-1} = 1.2(2.5)^0 = 1.2$
Option A: $f(2) = 1.2(2.5)^{2-1} = 1.2(2.5)^1 = 3$
Option A: $f(3) = 1.2(2.5)^{3-1} = 1.2(2.5)^2 = 7.5$
Option A: $f(4) = 1.2(2.5)^{4-1} = 1.2(2.5)^3 = 18.75$

As we can see, Option A produces the correct sequence.

In conclusion, the formula that can be used to describe the sequence $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ is $f(x) = 1.2(2.5)^{x-1}$ . This formula is a geometric sequence, where each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by a fixed constant, 2.5. We have demonstrated that this formula produces the correct sequence by plugging in the values of $x$ and checking if the formula produces the correct terms.

Sequences are an essential part of mathematics, and understanding how to describe them using formulas is crucial for solving various mathematical problems. In this article, we have explored a specific sequence and identified the formula that can be used to describe it. We have also demonstrated the importance of geometric sequences and how they can be used to model real-world phenomena.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Sequence: A Q&A Article

In our previous article, we explored the sequence $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ and identified the formula that can be used to describe it: $f(x) = 1.2(2.5)^{x-1}$ . In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the sequence and provide additional insights into the world of geometric sequences.

Q: What is a geometric sequence?

A: A geometric sequence is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous term by a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio.

Q: What is the common ratio in the sequence $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ ?

A: The common ratio in the sequence $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ is 2.5.

Q: How do I determine the common ratio in a geometric sequence?

A: To determine the common ratio in a geometric sequence, you can divide each term by the previous term. If the result is the same each time, then you have found the common ratio.

Q: What is the formula for a geometric sequence?

A: The formula for a geometric sequence is $f(x) = a \cdot r^{x-1}$ , where $a$ is the first term and $r$ is the common ratio.

Q: How do I use the formula to find the nth term of a geometric sequence?

A: To use the formula to find the nth term of a geometric sequence, you can plug in the values of $a$ , $r$ , and $n$ into the formula: $f(n) = a \cdot r^{n-1}$ .

Q: What is the difference between the formulas $f(x) = a \cdot r^{x-1}$ and $f(x) = a \cdot r^x$ ?

A: The formulas $f(x) = a \cdot r^{x-1}$ and $f(x) = a \cdot r^x$ are both used to describe geometric sequences. The difference between them is that the first formula uses the exponent $x-1$ , while the second formula uses the exponent $x$ . This means that the first formula will produce the same result as the second formula, but with a shift in the index.

Q: Can I use the formula to find the sum of a geometric sequence?

A: Yes, you can use the formula to find the sum of a geometric sequence. The sum of a geometric sequence can be found using the formula: $S_n = a \cdot \frac{1 - r^n}{1 - r}$ , where $a$ is the first term, $r$ is the common ratio, and $n$ is the number of terms.

Q: What are some real-world applications of geometric sequences?

A: Geometric sequences have many real-world applications, including:

Population growth: Geometric sequences can be used to model population growth, where each term represents the number of individuals in a population at a given time.
Compound interest: Geometric sequences can be used to model compound interest, where each term represents the amount of money in an account at a given time.
Music: Geometric sequences can be used to model the frequency of notes in music, where each term represents the frequency of a note.

In conclusion, geometric sequences are an essential part of mathematics, and understanding how to describe them using formulas is crucial for solving various mathematical problems. We have answered some frequently asked questions about the sequence $1.2, 3, 7.5, 18.75, \ldots$ and provided additional insights into the world of geometric sequences. We hope that this article has been helpful in understanding geometric sequences and their applications.