How do you write the first five terms of the geometric sequence a_1=81, a_(k+1)=1/3a_k and determine the common ratio and write the nth term of the sequence as a function of n?

1 Answer
Mar 27, 2017

First five terms are {81,27,9,3,1], common ratio is 1/3 and n^(th) term a_n=3^(5-n)

Explanation:

In a geometric series common ratio r is the ratio of term to its immediately preceding term. Here we have a term a_k and as next term is a_(k+1) and a_(k+1)/a_k=1/3,

we have r=1/3

AS given first term as a_1 and common ratio as r, the n^(th) term a_n=a_1xxr^(n-1). Now given first term a_1=81 and r=1/3

n^(th) term a_n is 81xx1/3^(n-1)

= 3^4/3^(n-1)=3^(4-n+1)=3^(5-n)

first five terms are {81,81xx1/3=27,27xx1/3=9,9xx1/3=3,3xx1/3=1}

i.e. {81,27,9,3,1}