Q: Determine the sum of the first seven terms of a geometric series in which the first term is 11 and the seventh term is 704.

^Are there two answers, since the common ratio could be positive or negative?

1 answer

The ratio between successive terms is
(704/11)^(1/6) = 2 (or -2)

Yes, two answers are possible.

One series would be

11, 22, 44, 88, 176, 352, 704

and the other
11, -22, 44, -88, 176, -352, 704

You do the adding