Recognising geometric sequences
I can recognise a geometric sequence.
Recognising geometric sequences
I can recognise a geometric sequence.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Identifying a common ratio between each term can help us identify a geometric sequence.
- Divide each term by its previous consecutive term, if the results are all the same, this is the common ratio.
- If there is a common ratio, then the sequence is geometric.
Keywords
Common ratio - A common ratio is a key feature of a geometric sequence. The constant multiplier between successive terms is called 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).
To help you plan your year 9 maths lesson on: Recognising geometric sequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 maths lesson on: Recognising geometric sequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Non-linear relationships unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
16, 80, 400, 2000, ... -
5
4.2, 16.8, 67.2, 268.8, ... -
4
0.07, 0.56, 4.48, 35.84, ... -
8
1602, 4806, 14 418, 43 254, ... -
3
20 376, 10 188, 5094, 2547, ... -
$${1\over2}$$
2, 0.4, 0.08, 0.016, ... -
$${1\over5}$$

