Question

If x = 1, y = 7, and z = 15, determine a number that when added to x, y, and z yields

consecutive terms of a geometric sequence. What are the first three terms in the
geometric sequence?

Answer 1

You're looking for a number w such that the numbers

{1 + w, 7 + w, 15 + w}

form a geometric sequence, which in turn means there is a constant r for which

7 + w = r (1 + w)

15 + w = r (7 + w)

Solving for r, we get

r = (7 + w) / (1 + w) = (15 + w) / (7 + w)

Solve this for w :

(7 + w)² = (15 + w) (1 + w)

49 + 14w + w ² = 15 + 16w + w ²

2w = 34

w = 17

Then the three terms in the sequence are

{18, 24, 32}

and indeed we have 24/18 = 4/3 and 32/24 = 4/3.