Identifying Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences

Classify the sequences according to whether they are arithmetic, geometric, or neither.

1. [tex]98.3, 94.1, 89.9, 85.7, \ldots[/tex]

2. [tex]1, 0, -1, 0, \ldots[/tex]

3. [tex]1.75, 3.5, 7, 14[/tex]

4. [tex]-12, -10.8, -9.6, -8.4[/tex]

5. [tex]-1, 1, -1, 1, \ldots[/tex]

Answer :

Sure! Let's determine the type of each sequence step-by-step:

1. Sequence 1: [tex]\(98.3, 94.1, 89.9, 85.7, \ldots\)[/tex]

- To check if it's an arithmetic sequence, we find the difference between consecutive terms:
- [tex]\(94.1 - 98.3 = -4.2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(89.9 - 94.1 = -4.2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(85.7 - 89.9 = -4.2\)[/tex]

Since the difference is consistent, this sequence is arithmetic.

2. Sequence 2: [tex]\(1, 0, -1, 0, \ldots\)[/tex]

- This sequence has no common difference (varying between 1, 0, -1), nor does it have a common ratio, as division by zero occurs.

This sequence is neither arithmetic nor geometric.

3. Sequence 3: [tex]\(1.75, 3.5, 7, 14\)[/tex]

- To check if it's a geometric sequence, we find the ratio of consecutive terms:
- [tex]\(3.5 / 1.75 = 2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(7 / 3.5 = 2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(14 / 7 = 2\)[/tex]

Since the ratio is consistent, this sequence is geometric.

4. Sequence 4: [tex]\(-12, -10.8, -9.6, -8.4\)[/tex]

- To check for an arithmetic sequence, we calculate the difference:
- [tex]\(-10.8 - (-12) = 1.2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(-9.6 - (-10.8) = 1.2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(-8.4 - (-9.6) = 1.2\)[/tex]

Since the difference is consistent, this sequence is arithmetic.

5. Sequence 5: [tex]\(-1, 1, -1, 1, \ldots\)[/tex]

- This sequence alternates between -1 and 1. It doesn't have a common difference or a consistent common ratio because the sign changes.

This sequence is neither arithmetic nor geometric.

In summary:
- Sequence 1: Arithmetic
- Sequence 2: Neither
- Sequence 3: Geometric
- Sequence 4: Arithmetic
- Sequence 5: Neither