Questions: Find the 11th term of the geometric sequence.
-18,36,-72, ...
Transcript text: -6. Find the 11 th term of the geometric sequence.
\[
-18,36,-72, \ldots
\]
Solution
Solution Steps
To find the 11th term of a geometric sequence, we need to identify the first term (a) and the common ratio (r). The nth term of a geometric sequence can be found using the formula:
\[ a_n = a \cdot r^{(n-1)} \]
Here, the first term \( a = -18 \) and the common ratio \( r = \frac{36}{-18} = -2 \). We need to find the 11th term (\( n = 11 \)).
Step 1: Identify the First Term and Common Ratio
The first term of the geometric sequence is given as \( a = -18 \). The common ratio \( r \) can be calculated as:
\[
r = \frac{36}{-18} = -2
\]
Step 2: Use the Formula for the \( n \)-th Term of a Geometric Sequence
The formula for the \( n \)-th term of a geometric sequence is:
\[
a_n = a \cdot r^{(n-1)}
\]
Here, \( n = 11 \).
Step 3: Substitute the Values into the Formula
Substitute \( a = -18 \), \( r = -2 \), and \( n = 11 \) into the formula:
\[
a_{11} = -18 \cdot (-2)^{(11-1)}
\]