Connecting the Common Ratio and the Term in a Sequence

4.15.4 Connecting the Common Ratio and the Term in a Sequence

4.15.4 • Connecting the Common Ratio and the Term in a Sequence

Here is a sequence: 500, 100, 20, . . .

Explain why this sequence could be a geometric sequence.

Compare your answer:

The given terms have a common ratio. $100 = \frac{1}{5} \cdot 500$ , and $20 = \frac{1}{5} \cdot 100$ .

What is the next term?

Compare your answer:

$20 \cdot \frac{1}{5} = 4$

Explain how you know the next term.

Compare your answer:

Multiplying a term by the common ratio gives the next term.