Question

What is the common ratio of the geometric sequence: 1/8, -1/3, 2, -12...

Answer 1

Take the second term -1/3 and divide it by the first term 1/8

what do you get?

\[\Large -\frac{1}{3} \div \frac{1}{8} = ???\]

Answer 2

Your sequence does not look quite right. It would make more sense if the first term was \(1/18\) instead of \(1/8\)

Answer 3

You would get: -11/24

Answer 4

Is the first term 1/18 instead of 1/8 ?

Answer 5

No, the question has it 1/18.

Answer 6

so the sequence is really this

1/18, -1/3, 2, -12...

right?

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

ok so compute the following below

\[\Large -\frac{1}{3} \div \frac{1}{18} = ???\]

Answer 9

flip the second fraction and then multiply

Answer 10

Okay. Is this the last step? If so, then I can do the rest.

Answer 11

tell me what you get

Answer 12

-18/3

Answer 13

which reduces to what?

Answer 14

-6/1

Answer 15

which is just -6

Answer 16

now do the same for the third term and second term

\[\Large 2 \div -\frac{1}{3} = ???\]

Answer 17

-2/3

Answer 18

no, again first flip the second fraction and multiply

Answer 19

that's the rule for dividing fractions

Answer 20

think of 2 as 2/1

Answer 21

Alright.

Answer 22

Thanks for the help. I've figured it out.

Answer 23

you should keep getting -6 each time you divide any term by its previous term