consider the sequence 16, -8,4,-2,1,....
a. describe the pattern formed in the sequence.
b. find the next three terms

Question

consider the sequence 16, -8,4,-2,1,....
a. describe the pattern formed in the sequence.
b. find the next three terms

mathmale · Answer

Ask yourself:  how do we get from 16 to -8?  from -8 to 4?  from 4 to -2?

what is the "common ratio" of this sequence?  We usually denote "common ratio" by ' r '.

anonymous · Answer

dividing?

mathmale · Answer

Dividing by what?  or multiplying by what fraction

anonymous · Answer

-2?

anonymous · Answer

multiply by 2

mathmale · Answer

Let's test that:  If we start with 16 and multiply it by 2, do we get -8?

anonymous · Answer

no but you do if you do it backwards :)

anonymous · Answer

im so confused and my computer keeps on throwing me out of the internet

mathmale · Answer

We always work forward in this kind of problem.

16 multiplied by (   ?   ) equals -8.      Find the common ratio, r.

anonymous · Answer

-1/2

mathmale · Answer

Good.  So, to find the newest term of a geometric sequence, multiply the previous term by the common ratio (which, in this case, is r = -1/2).

can you now finish this problem?

anonymous · Answer

yup thank you

mathmale · Answer

Good going!