Geometric sequence is
The geometric sequence is a sequence in which each term has a constant(common) ratio to its preceding term.
For example, the geometric sequence with the first term ‘a’ and the common ratio ‘r’ is as follows.
If the common ratio is greater than ‘1’, the sequence value will increase.
For example, if the first term is ‘1’ and the common ratio is ‘2.’
If the common ratio is a value between 0 and 1, the sequence’s value becomes smaller and smaller.
For example, if the first term is ‘1’ and the common ratio is ‘0.5 (= 1/2)’,
Geometric sequences have the following characteristics according to the common ratio ‘r’.
- r > 1 : The value of the term is increasingly larger.
- r = 1 : All the terms are has same value.
- 0 < r < 1 : The value of the term becomes smaller and becomes exponentially closer to 0.
- r = 0 : All terms excluding the first term are zero.
- -1 < r < 0 : The minus (-) sign is alternately displayed, and it approaches zero exponentially.
- r = -1 : The absolute value of the term is the same, but the minus (-) sign is alternately displayed.
- r < -1 : The value of the term becomes larger and the minus (-) symbol is displayed alternately.
Infinite geometric series
Continuing to add the terms of the geometric sequence, it becomes an infinite geometric series.
If the common ratio is 1 or more, the geometric series will infinitely increase. Conversely, if the common ratio’s absolute value is smaller than 1, the geometric series tends to approach a fixed value.