In Maths, Geometric Progression (GP) is a type of sequence where each succeeding term is produced by multiplying each preceding term by a fixed number, which is called a common ratio. This progression is also known as a geometric sequence of numbers that follow a pattern. Also, learn arithmetic progression here.

The common ratio multiplied here to each term to get the next term is a non-zero number. An example of GP is 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, …, where the common ratio is 2.

As discussed in the introduction, a geometric progression or a geometric sequence is the one, in which each term is varied by another by a common ratio. The next term of the sequence is produced when we multiply a constant (which is non-zero) to the preceding term. It is represented by:

a, ar, ar², ar³, ar⁴, and so on.

Where a is the first term and r is the common ratio.

Note: It is to be noted that when we divide any succeeding term from its preceding term, then we get the value equal to the common ratio.

Suppose we divide 3rd term by 2nd term we get:

ar²/ar = r

In the same way:

ar³/ar² = r

ar⁴/ar³ = r

The general form of Geometric Progression is:

a, ar, ar², ar³, ar⁴,…,aⁿ

Where,

a = First term

r = common ratio

aⁿ = nth term

General Term or Nth Term of GP

Let a be the first term and r be the common ratio for a G.P.

Then the second term, a₂ = a × r = ar

Third term, a₃ = a₂ × r = ar × r = ar²

Similarly, nth term, a_n = ar^n-1

Therefore, the formula to find the nth term of GP is:

Note: The nth term is the last term of finite GP.

Common Ratio

Consider the sequence a, ar, ar², ar³,……

First term = a

Second term = ar

Third term = ar²

Similarly nth term, t_n = ar^n-1

Thus, the common ratio of geometric progression formula is given as:

Common ratio = (Any term) / (Preceding term)

= t_n / t_n-1

= (ar^{n – 1} ) /(ar^{n – 2})

= r

Thus, the general term of a G.P is given by ar^n-1 and the general form of a G.P is a + ar + ar² + …..

For Example: r = t₂ / t₁ = ar / a = r

Sum of N term of GP

Suppose a, ar, ar², ar³,……ar^n-1 is the given Geometric Progression.

Then the sum of n terms of GP is given by:

S_n = a+ar+ar²+ ar³+…+ar^n-1

The formula to find the sum of n terms of GP is:

Where

a is the first term

r is the common ratio

n is the number of terms

Also, if the common ratio is equal to 1, then the sum of the GP is given by:

Geometric Progression Types

Geometric progression can be divided into two types based on the number of terms it has. They are:

• Finite geometric progression (Finite GP)
• Infinite geometric progression (Infinite GP)

These two GP’s are explained below with their representations and the formulas to find the sum.

Finite Geometric Progression

The terms of a finite G.P. can be written as a, ar, ar², ar³,……ar^n-1

a, ar, ar², ar³,……ar^n-1 is called finite geometric series.

The sum of finite Geometric series is given by:

Infinite Geometric Progression

Terms of an infinite G.P. can be written as a, ar, ar², ar³, ……ar^n-1,…….

a, ar, ar², ar³, ……ar^n-1,……. is called infinite geometric series.

The sum of infinite geometric series is given by:

\(\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}\left(a r^{k}\right)=a\left(\frac{1}{1-r}\right)\) This is called the geometric progression formula of sum to infinity.

Geometric Progression Formulas

The list of formulas related to GP are given below which will help in solving different types of problems.

• The general form of terms of a GP is a, ar, ar², ar³, and so on. Here, a is the first term and r is the common ratio.
• The nth term of a GP is T_n = ar^n-1
• Common ratio = r = T_n/ T_n-1
• The formula to calculate the sum of the first n terms of a GP is given by:
  S_n = a[(rⁿ-1)/(r-1)] if r ≠ 1and r > 1
  S_n = a[(1 – rⁿ)/(1 – r)] if r ≠ 1 and r < 1
• The nth term from the end of the GP with the last term l and common ratio r = l/ [r(n – 1)].
• The sum of infinite, i.e. the sum of a GP with infinite terms is S_∞= a/(1 – r) such that 0 < r < 1.
• If three quantities are in GP, then the middle one is called the geometric mean of the other two terms. 
• If a, b and c are three quantities in GP, then and b is the geometric mean of a and c. This can be written as b² = ac or b =√ac
• Suppose a and r be the first term and common ratio respectively of a finite GP with n terms. Thus, the kth term from the end of the GP will be = ar^n-k.

Properties of Geometric Progression (GP)

Some of the important properties of GP are listed below:

• Three non-zero terms a, b, c are in GP if and only if b² = ac
• In a GP,
  Three consecutive terms can be taken as a/r, a, ar
  Four consecutive terms can be taken as a/r³, a/r, ar, ar³
  Five consecutive terms can be taken as a/r², a/r, a, ar, ar²
• In a finite GP, the product of the terms equidistant from the beginning and the end is the same
  That means, t₁.t_n = t₂.t_n-1 = t₃.t_n-2 = …..
• If each term of a GP is multiplied or divided by a non-zero constant, then the resulting sequence is also a GP with the same common ratio
• The product and quotient of two GP’s is again a GP
• If each term of a GP is raised to the power by the same non-zero quantity, the resultant sequence is also a GP
• If a₁, a₂, a₃,… is a GP of positive terms then log a₁, log a₂, log a₃,… is an AP (arithmetic progression) and vice versa

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