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Here is a sequence of numbers:

1,   2,   4,   8,   16,   32,   64,   128...

 

Starting at 1, we get the next number by multiplying by 2 or doubling the previous number.

 

These numbers are also called the powers of 2.

20 = 1

21 = 2

22 = 4

23 = 8

24 = 16

25 = 32

26 = 64

27 = 128

... etc...

 

The 'powers of 2' are an example of a geometric sequence, where each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous term by a fixed number, called the common ratio. The common ratio is 2.

The 'powers of 2' sequence goes on for ever. It is infinite and grows quickly!

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