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Find the sum of the first five terms of the geometric series in which a2 is -12 and a5 is 768.

1 Answer

7 votes

Answer:

615

Explanation:

The ratio of the given terms can be used to find the common ratio between terms:

a5/a2 = (a1·r^(5-1))/(a1·r^(2-1)) = r^3 = 768/-12 = -64

r = ∛-64 = -4

So the first term is ...

a1 = a2/r = -12/-4 = 3

And the first 5 terms of the series are ...

3 + (-12) + (48) + (-192) + 768 + ...

The sum of the first 5 terms is 615.

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