Common ratio meaning

The common ratio in a geometric sequence is the number that is multiplied by each term to get the next term.


Common ratio definitions

Word backwards nommoc oitar
Part of speech The part of speech of the term "common ratio" is a noun phrase.
Syllabic division com-mon ra-tio
Plural The plural of the word common ratio is common ratios.
Total letters 11
Vogais (3) o,a,i
Consonants (5) c,m,n,r,t

Common ratio is a term used in mathematics to describe the relationship between consecutive terms in a geometric sequence. In a geometric sequence, each term is found by multiplying the previous term by the common ratio.

Definition of Common Ratio

The common ratio is a constant value that is used to generate each term in a geometric sequence. It is denoted by the letter "r." The formula for finding a term in a geometric sequence is: an = a1 r^(n-1), where an is the nth term, a1 is the first term, r is the common ratio, and n is the position of the term.

Example of Common Ratio

For example, consider the geometric sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, 162,... In this sequence, the common ratio is 3 because each term is obtained by multiplying the previous term by 3. So, 6 ÷ 2 = 3, 18 ÷ 6 = 3, and so on.

Properties of the Common Ratio

The common ratio can be positive, negative, or zero. If the common ratio is greater than 1, then the terms in the sequence will increase. If it is between 0 and 1, the terms will decrease. If it is negative, the terms will alternate between positive and negative values. If the common ratio is 1, then all the terms will be the same.

In conclusion, the common ratio is a fundamental concept in understanding geometric sequences. By knowing the common ratio, you can predict any term in the sequence and understand how the values are related to each other. It is a useful tool in mathematics and has applications in various real-world scenarios.


Common ratio Examples

  1. The common ratio between consecutive terms in this geometric sequence is 2.
  2. Understanding the common ratio is crucial in solving exponential growth problems.
  3. The common ratio for this Fibonacci sequence is the golden ratio.
  4. To find the nth term of a geometric sequence, you need to know the common ratio.
  5. When calculating compound interest, the common ratio is the interest rate.
  6. In a geometric progression, each term is determined by multiplying the previous term by the common ratio.
  7. The common ratio can help identify patterns in a sequence of numbers or events.
  8. Knowing the common ratio allows you to predict future terms in a geometric sequence.
  9. The common ratio of a geometric series can be used to determine if it converges or diverges.
  10. The concept of common ratio is fundamental in the study of exponential functions.


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  • Updated 17/06/2024 - 22:10:26