Question

A geometric sequence is shown below:

(blank)a0, -11, 22, (blank)a1, 88, -176.

A) What is the common ratio for this geometric sequence?
(blank)a2

B) What are the missing terms in the geometric sequence shown above?

Answer 1

i)

-2

ii)

a0 = 5.5

a1 = -44

Explanation:

i)

Given a geometric sequence, the common ratio is the ratio between any two adjacent values. In our case we have the following geometric sequence;

a0, -11, 22, a1, 88, -176

To find the common ratio we can simply divide 22 by -11 or divide -176 by 88;

common ratio = 22/(-11) = -2

ii)

To find a0, we use the common ratio;

(-11)/a0 = -2

a0 = (-11)/(-2)

a0 = 5.5

We do the same for a1;

88/a1 = -2

a1 = 88/(-2)

a1 = -44