New
New
Year 9

Features of geometric sequences

I can appreciate the features of a geometric sequence.

New
New
Year 9

Features of geometric sequences

I can appreciate the features of a geometric sequence.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arithmetic sequences are not the only type of sequence.
  2. In a geometric sequence, there is still a first term.
  3. Instead of a common difference, there is a common multiplier.
  4. This common multiplier is referred to as the common ratio.

Common misconception

After becoming very familiar with arithmetic sequences pupils can find the difference between the first two terms and just assume the sequence is arithmetic.

Explore a large number of geometric and arithmetic sequences and see if pupils can articulate how they check if a sequence is geometric. They might say the terms of the sequence grow more quickly (for some geometric sequences).

Keywords

  • Geometric sequence - A geometric sequence is a sequence with a constant multiplicative relationship between successive terms.

  • Common ratio - A common ratio is a key feature of a geometric sequence. The constant multiplier between successive terms is called the common ratio.

Explore the link between the way pupils have explored ratios in the past with what is meant by a common ratio in geometric sequences. This lesson explores this in two ways, as a multiplier and a constant ratio between terms.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
If a numerical sequence does not have a common additive difference then you can say it is ...
linear
negative
Correct answer: non-linear
Correct answer: not arithmetic
quadratic
Q2.
Which of these sequences are not arithmetic sequences?
$$2, 4, 6, 8, ...$$
Correct answer: $$2, 4, 8, 16, ...$$
$$10, 30, 50, 70, ...$$
Correct answer: $$10, 30, 90, 270, ...$$
$$2, 8, 14, 20, 26, ...$$
Q3.
What is the result when you multiply $$3$$ by $$5$$ four times? You can use a calculator.
$$15$$
$$60$$
$$625$$
Correct answer: $$1875$$
$$50 625$$
Q4.
Use your calculator to halve $$80$$ then find half of your result and then halve it again. The result is .
Correct Answer: 10, ten
Q5.
What number should be written in the box in these equivalent ratios? .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 162, one hundred and sixty two
Q6.
What number should be written in the box in these equivalent ratios? .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 81, eighty one

6 Questions

Q1.
A geometric sequence is a sequence with a constant __________ relationship between successive terms.
additive
decreasing
increasing
Correct answer: multiplicative
Q2.
The next term in this geometric sequence 7, 14, 28, ... is .
Correct Answer: 56, fifty six, fifty-six
Q3.
Which of these are geometric sequences?
3, 6, 9, 12, ...
Correct answer: 3, 6, 12, 24, ...
3, 6, 10, 15, ...
3, 9, 15, 21, ...
Correct answer: 3, 9, 27, 81, ...
Q4.
Which of these numbers will be a term in the geometric sequence: "Start on 2 and use a common multiplier of 5"?
Correct answer: 10
Correct answer: 50
100
500
Correct answer: 1250
Q5.
Which of these numbers will be terms of the geometric sequence: "Start on $$432$$ and use a common multiplier of $$1\over2$$"?
$$864$$
Correct answer: $$108$$
$$72$$
Correct answer: $$27$$
Correct answer: $$27\over2$$
Q6.
The $$1^{\text{st}}$$ term of a geometric sequence is not zero and the common ratio is negative. Which of these statements is true about this sequence?
It decreases.
It decreases but never reaches zero.
Correct answer: The terms will oscillate between positive and negative.
All of the terms will be negative.