The Explicit Rule for a Geometric Sequence

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 32 views

Introduction

In mathematics, 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. The explicit rule for a geometric sequence is given by the formula $a_n = a_1 \cdot r^{n-1}$ , where $a_n$ is the nth term of the sequence, $a_1$ is the first term, and $r$ is the common ratio. In this article, we will explore the explicit rule for a geometric sequence and derive the recursive rule for the sequence.

The Explicit Rule for a Geometric Sequence

The explicit rule for a geometric sequence is given by the formula $a_n = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{n-1}$ . This formula tells us that the nth term of the sequence is equal to 3 multiplied by the common ratio $\frac{1}{6}$ raised to the power of $n-1$ . We can see that the common ratio is $\frac{1}{6}$ , which means that each term of the sequence is obtained by multiplying the previous term by $\frac{1}{6}$ .

Deriving the Recursive Rule

To derive the recursive rule for the geometric sequence, we need to find a formula that expresses the nth term of the sequence in terms of the previous term. Let's start by writing the explicit rule for the sequence:

$a_n = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{n-1}$

We can rewrite this formula as:

$a_n = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{n-1} = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{n-2} \cdot \frac{1}{6}$

Now, we can see that the nth term of the sequence is equal to the $(n-1)$ th term multiplied by $\frac{1}{6}$ . This gives us the recursive rule for the sequence:

$a_n = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_{n-1}$

Recursive Rule for the Geometric Sequence

The recursive rule for the geometric sequence is given by the formula:

$a_n = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_{n-1}$

This formula tells us that the nth term of the sequence is equal to the $(n-1)$ th term multiplied by $\frac{1}{6}$ . We can see that the recursive rule is a simple multiplication of the previous term by the common ratio.

Finding the First Term

To find the first term of the sequence, we need to substitute $n=1$ into the recursive rule:

$a_1 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_{0}$

However, we don't know the value of $a_0$ . To find the value of $a_0$ , we need to use the explicit rule for the sequence:

$a_n = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{n-1}$

Substituting $n=1$ into this formula, we get:

$a_1 = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{0}$

Simplifying this expression, we get:

$a_1 = 3$

Therefore, the first term of the sequence is $a_1 = 3$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored the explicit rule for a geometric sequence and derived the recursive rule for the sequence. We have shown that the recursive rule is a simple multiplication of the previous term by the common ratio. We have also found the first term of the sequence by substituting $n=1$ into the explicit rule. The recursive rule for the geometric sequence is given by the formula:

$a_n = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_{n-1}$

References

[1] "Geometric Sequences" by Math Open Reference
[2] "Recursive Sequences" by Wolfram MathWorld

Glossary

Geometric Sequence: 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.
Common Ratio: The fixed, non-zero number that is multiplied by each term of the sequence to obtain the next term.
Recursive Rule: A formula that expresses the nth term of a sequence in terms of the previous term.
Explicit Rule: A formula that expresses the nth term of a sequence in terms of the first term and the common ratio.
Q&A: Geometric Sequences and Recursive Rules =============================================

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?

A: The common ratio is the fixed, non-zero number that is multiplied by each term of the sequence to obtain the next term.

Q: What is the recursive rule for a geometric sequence?

A: The recursive rule for a geometric sequence is a formula that expresses the nth term of the sequence in terms of the previous term. It is given by the formula:

$a_n = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_{n-1}$

Q: How do I find the first term of a geometric sequence?

A: To find the first term of a geometric sequence, you need to use the explicit rule for the sequence. The explicit rule is given by the formula:

$a_n = 3\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^{n-1}$

Substituting $n=1$ into this formula, you get:

$a_1 = 3$

Q: What is the difference between the explicit rule and the recursive rule?

A: The explicit rule for a geometric sequence is a formula that expresses the nth term of the sequence in terms of the first term and the common ratio. The recursive rule, on the other hand, is a formula that expresses the nth term of the sequence in terms of the previous term.

Q: Can I use the recursive rule to find the nth term of a geometric sequence?

A: Yes, you can use the recursive rule to find the nth term of a geometric sequence. However, you need to know the value of the previous term, which can be found using the recursive rule itself.

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

A: To use the recursive rule to find the nth term of a geometric sequence, you need to start with the first term and apply the recursive rule repeatedly until you reach the nth term. For example, if you want to find the 5th term of a geometric sequence with a common ratio of $\frac{1}{6}$ , you would start with the first term and apply the recursive rule four times:

$a_1 = 3$ $a_2 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_1 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot 3 = \frac{1}{2}$ $a_3 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_2 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{12}$ $a_4 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_3 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot \frac{1}{12} = \frac{1}{72}$ $a_5 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot a_4 = \frac{1}{6} \cdot \frac{1}{72} = \frac{1}{432}$

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

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

Modeling population growth and decline
Analyzing the behavior of financial markets
Studying the spread of diseases
Optimizing the design of electronic circuits
Predicting the behavior of complex systems

Q: Can I use the recursive rule to solve other types of problems?

A: Yes, you can use the recursive rule to solve other types of problems, including:

Solving linear recurrence relations
Modeling the behavior of complex systems
Analyzing the behavior of financial markets
Optimizing the design of electronic circuits

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the recursive rule?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using the recursive rule include:

Not checking for convergence or divergence
Not using the correct initial conditions
Not checking for the presence of a steady-state solution
Not using the correct recursive formula

Q: How do I know if a recursive rule is correct?

A: To determine if a recursive rule is correct, you need to check the following:

The recursive rule must be consistent with the explicit rule.
The recursive rule must be consistent with the initial conditions.
The recursive rule must be consistent with the behavior of the system.

Q: Can I use the recursive rule to solve non-linear problems?

A: No, the recursive rule is typically used to solve linear problems. However, there are some techniques that can be used to solve non-linear problems, including:

Using a linearization technique
Using a perturbation technique
Using a numerical method

Q: What are some common techniques for solving recursive problems?

A: Some common techniques for solving recursive problems include:

Using a recursive formula
Using a linearization technique
Using a perturbation technique
Using a numerical method

Q: Can I use the recursive rule to solve problems with multiple variables?

A: Yes, you can use the recursive rule to solve problems with multiple variables. However, you need to be careful to ensure that the recursive rule is consistent with the explicit rule and the initial conditions.

Q: What are some common challenges when using the recursive rule?

A: Some common challenges when using the recursive rule include:

Ensuring that the recursive rule is consistent with the explicit rule and the initial conditions.
Ensuring that the recursive rule is consistent with the behavior of the system.
Ensuring that the recursive rule converges or diverges correctly.
Ensuring that the recursive rule is computationally efficient.