an = a1r^(n-1)
a5 = a1 r^(5-1)
-6 =a1 r^4
a2 = a1 r^(2-1)
-48 = a1 r
divide
-6 =a1 r^4
---------------- yields 1/8 = r^3 take the cube root or each side
-48 = a1 r 1/2 = r
an = a1r^(n-1)
an = a1 (1/2)^ (n-1)
-48 = a1 (1/2) ^1
divide by 1/2
-96 = a1
an = -96 (1/2)^ (n-1)
the sum
Sn = a1[(r^n - 1/(r - 1)]
S18 = -96 [( (1/2) ^17 -1/ (1/2 -1)]
=-96 [ (1/2) ^ 17 -1 /-1/2]
= 192 * [-131071/131072]
approximately -192