What is the common ratio for the geometric sequence?

54, 36, 24, 16...

Question

What is the common ratio for the geometric sequence? 


54, 36, 24, 16...

marcelie · Answer

formula  = 1 
               ___________
                 1-r 
i believe that you would get your numbers by subtracting them and that would be your r

chrishogan · Answer

So @marcelie You're saying r=-22??

mathstudent55 · Answer

The common ratio is the number you multiply a term to find the next term.
To find the common ratio, pick any two consecutive numbers, and divide the one term by the previous term.

mathstudent55 · Answer

In your case, you can find the common ratio by doing any of these divisions:

$\dfrac{36}{54} $

$\dfrac{24}{36} $

$\dfrac{16}{24} $

All of them will give you the same answer.

yuii · Answer

Im confused..

mathstudent55 · Answer

What are you confused with?
In a geometric sequence, if you divide any term by the previous term, you find the common ratio.
Since you have 4 given terms, you can find the common ratio using one of the 3 fractions I gave you above.
You don't need to do all three fractions. They all reduce to the same fraction.
Just reduce one of the fractions to lowest terms.