Thread: Common ratio problems

been stuck on thesse for a while now.
Solve for the missing variable and find the common ratio. ( these are two diffrent problems)
1.)
answer r=3 & R=-1/2

2.)
answer r=5 r=-5

If we KNOW there is a geometric sequence, division with any two consecutive values should produce the same result.

Let's try this one: 1, 2, 4, 6, 16

Notice: 2/1 = 2 and 4/2 = 2 and 8/4 = 2 and etc.

With your problem #1, we have:



So,

and

Therefore:

I think it's wonderful that we used the common ratio to help solve for the missing variable value, but we did NOT yet solve for the common ratio.