SOLUTION: Insert 3 geometric means between 16 and 81

Question 1093779: Insert 3 geometric means between 16 and 81
Answer by ikleyn(52794) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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They want you construct the 5-term geometric progression starting 16 and ending 81:

16 = a,  ar,  ar^2,  ar^3,  ar^4 = 81.


Hence,  r^4 =  = .


Thus  r =  = +/-  is the common ratio of the progression.


So, you have two ways to construct the required progression:


1)  16,   = 24,   = 36,   = 54,   = 81,    and


2)  16, -24, 36, -54, 81.

Solved.

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On geometric progressions, see the introductory lessons
    - Geometric progressions
    - The proofs of the formulas for geometric progressions
    - Problems on geometric progressions
    - Word problems on geometric progressions
in this site.

Also, you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-II in this site
    - ALGEBRA-II - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

The referred lessons are the part of this online textbook under the topic
"Geometric progressions".

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