Geometric Progression (G.P.)
Geometric Progression, or G.P., is a sequence of numbers where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous term by a fixed, non-zero number called the common ratio (denoted as r). The first term of the sequence is represented by a. The general formulas for a G.P. include:
- nth Term: The nth term of a G.P. can be written as:
\[ a_n = a \cdot r^{n-1} \]
where:
- a is the first term.
- r is the common ratio.
- n is the term's position in the sequence.
- Sum of First n Terms: The sum of the first n terms (when r is not equal to 1) can be calculated using:
\[ S_n = a \cdot \frac{r^n - 1}{r - 1} \]
This formula is essential for solving various problems involving sequences and series. Understanding G.P. is fundamental for deeper explorations in algebra and its applications in real-life contexts such as finance, population growth, and physics.