Geometric Progression - Product

Product

The product of a geometric progression is the product of all terms. If all terms are positive, then it can be quickly computed by taking the geometric mean of the progression's first and last term, and raising that mean to the power given by the number of terms. (This is very similar to the formula for the sum of terms of an arithmetic sequence: take the arithmetic mean of the first and last term and multiply with the number of terms.)

(if ).

Proof:

Let the product be represented by P:

.

Now, carrying out the multiplications, we conclude that

.

Applying the sum of arithmetic series, the expression will yield

.
.

We raise both sides to the second power:

.

Consequently

and
,

which concludes the proof.

Read more about this topic:  Geometric Progression

Famous quotes containing the word product:

    Out of the thousand writers huffing and puffing through movieland there are scarcely fifty men and women of wit or talent. The rest of the fraternity is deadwood. Yet, in a curious way, there is not much difference between the product of a good writer and a bad one. They both have to toe the same mark.
    Ben Hecht (1893–1964)

    Man’s main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is. The most important product of his effort is his own personality.
    Erich Fromm (1900–1980)

    The writer’s language is to some degree the product of his own action; he is both the historian and the agent of his own language.
    Paul De Man (1919–1983)