210k views
17 votes
The first term of a geometric sequence is 729, and the 7th term is 64. What is the positive, real value for the 5th term

1 Answer

9 votes

Answer:

144

Explanation:

Given: a1 = 729 , a7 = 64 , a5 = ?

The explicit formula for the term an of a geometric sequence that has the ratio r is : an = a1 *r^(n-1)

The sequence is 729, 729*r, 729* r², 729*r³,....

a7= 729* r^6

64 = 729 * r^6, divide both sides by 729

64/729 = r^6, take the root or raze to the (1/6) th power both sides to find r

(64/729) ^ (1/6) = r

a5 = 729* r^4 , using the explicit formula

a5 = 729* ((64/729) ^(1/6) )^4, substitute the ratio we found

a5 = 729* (64/729) ^(4/6) , use the fact that (a^b)^c = a^(b*c)

a5 = 729* (64/729) ^(2/3), simplify the fraction 4/6 as 2/3

a5 = 729* ((64 ^(2/3) )/ 729^(2/3)), raise a fraction to power (a/b)^c = (a^c)/(b^c)

a5 = 729* (∛64²/∛729²), use rule a^(b/c) = square root base c of a^b

a5 = 729* (16/81), use calculator

a5 = 11,664/ 81, use rule a(b/c) = (a*b)/ c

a5 = 144

User Yaxu
by
4.3k points