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Find the sum of the first 7 terms of the geometric sequence. -1 + 3 - 9 + 27.

Option 1: -1641
Option 2: -547
Option 3: 547
Option 4: 1641

User Jlstrecker
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The sum of the first 7 terms of the geometric sequence -1, 3, -9, 27, ... is -547. This is calculated using the geometric series sum formula with a common ratio of -3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked for the sum of the first 7 terms of the geometric sequence -1, 3, -9, 27, .... This sequence has a common ratio of -3 (each term is multiplied by -3 to get the next term). To find the sum of the first n terms of a geometric sequence, we use the formula:

Sn = a1(1 - rn) / (1 - r),

where a1 is the first term, r is the common ratio, and n is the number of terms.

Using the formula, we calculate:

S7 = (-1)(1 - (-3)7) / (1 - (-3)) = (-1)(1 + 2187) / 4 = (-1)(2188) / 4 = -547.

The sum of the first 7 terms of the given geometric sequence is -547, which corresponds to Option 2.

User Animesh Jena
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