At Westonci.ca, we connect you with the best answers from a community of experienced and knowledgeable individuals. Join our platform to connect with experts ready to provide accurate answers to your questions in various fields. Get quick and reliable solutions to your questions from a community of experienced experts on our platform.

What is the value of the fourth term in a geometric sequence for which [tex]$a_1=30$[/tex] and [tex]$r=\frac{1}{2}$[/tex]?

Sagot :

To find the value of the fourth term in a geometric sequence, we can use the formula for the [tex]\(n\)[/tex]th term of a geometric sequence, which is given by:

[tex]\[ a_n = a_1 \cdot r^{n-1} \][/tex]

Here, [tex]\(a_1\)[/tex] is the first term of the sequence, [tex]\(r\)[/tex] is the common ratio, and [tex]\(n\)[/tex] is the term number we are looking for.

Given:
- [tex]\(a_1 = 30\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(r = \frac{1}{2}\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(n = 4\)[/tex]

We substitute these values into the formula:

[tex]\[ a_4 = 30 \cdot \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{4-1} \][/tex]

Simplify the exponent:

[tex]\[ a_4 = 30 \cdot \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^3 \][/tex]

Calculate [tex]\(\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^3\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^3 = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{8} \][/tex]

So,

[tex]\[ a_4 = 30 \cdot \frac{1}{8} \][/tex]

Multiply the terms:

[tex]\[ a_4 = \frac{30}{8} = 3.75 \][/tex]

Thus, the value of the fourth term in the geometric sequence is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{3.75} \][/tex]