AQA Core 2 Sequences and series

1 of 4 15/01/13 MEI
Section 3: Geometric sequences and series

Solutions to Exercise

1. First term 20 a
Common ratio
16
0.8
20
r
10
th
term
9 10
20 0.8 2.68 ar (3 s.f.)


2. First term 1 a
Common ratio 3 r

(i) 7
th
term
6 6
1 3 729 ar

(ii)
8 8
8
( 1) 1(3 1)
3280
1 3 1
a r
S
r






3. First term 2 a
Common ratio 0.75 r

(i) 4
th
term
3 3
2 0.75 0.84375 ar

(ii)
5 5
5
(1 ) 2(1 0.75 )
6.10
1 1 0.75
a r
S
r



(3 s.f.)

(iii)
2
8
1 1 0.75
a
S
r

4. 3
rd
term = 18
2
18 ar (1)
6
th
term = -60.75
5
60.75 ar (2)
Dividing (2) by (1):
3
60.75
3.375
18
1.5
r
r

Substituting into (1):
2
( 1.5) 18
8
a
a

The first term is 8 and the common ratio is -1.5.


AQA C2 Series 3 Exercise solutions
2 of 4 15/01/13 MEI
5. (i)
1
2
5
1
1 0.4
0.6
a
S
r
r
r
r

(ii)
10 10
10
2(1 ) 2(1 0.6 )
4.97
1 1 0.6
r
S
r



(3 s.f.)

(iii)
2(1 0.6 )
4.99
1 0.6
n

1 0.6 0.998
0.6 0.002
log0.6 log0.002
log0.6 log0.002
log0.002
log0.6
12.2
n
n
n
n
n
n

13 terms are needed.


6. (i) Common ratio
4 4
5 1
x
x

and
3 5
4 4
x
x

2
2 2
2
4 4 3 5
5 1 4 4
(4 4) (3 5)(5 1)
16 32 16 15 22 5
10 21 0
( 3)( 7) 0
3 or 7
x x
x x
x x x
x x x x
x x
x x
x x

(ii) Common ratio
4 4
5 1
x
x

For x = 3, common ratio
12 4
0.5
15 1

For x = 7, common ratio
2
3
28 4
35 1

7. (i) First term 0.45 a
Common ratio 0.01 r

Since the log of a number less
than 1 is negative, the
inequality needs to be reversed
AQA C2 Series 3 Exercise solutions
3 of 4 15/01/13 MEI
(ii)
0.45 0.45 45 5
1 1 0.01 0.99 99 11
a
S
r

8. 0.407 0.407 0.000407 0.000000407 ....
First term 0.407 a
Common ratio 0.001 r
0.407 0.407 407 11
1 1 0.001 0.999 999 27
a
S
r

9. Annual salary is a geometric sequence
First term 18000 a
Common ratio 1.04 r

(i) 10
th
term
9 9
18000 1.04 25619.61 ar (to nearest penny)

(ii)
10 10
10
( 1) 18000(1.04 1)
216107.93
1 1.04 1
a r
S
r



(to nearest penny)


10. Heights rebounded to after each bounce form a geometric sequence
After 1 bounce, it rebounds to 2 0.8 1.6 metres
First term 1.6 a
Common ratio 0.8 r

(i) nth term
1 1
1.6 0.8
n n
ar



1
1
1
1
1.6 0.8 0.1
0.8 0.0625
log0.8 log0.0625
( 1)log0.8 log0.0625
log0.0625
1
log0.8
1 12.4
13.4
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

It first rebounds to less than 10 cm after 14 bounces.

(ii) Total distance travelled 2 2
2 2
1
2 1.6
2
1 0.8
18 metres
S
a
r

AQA C2 Series 3 Exercise solutions
4 of 4 15/01/13 MEI
(iii) Total distance travelled after n bounces 2 2
n
S

1.6(1 0.8 )
2 2 0.99 18
1 0.8
2 16(1 0.8 ) 17.82
1 0.8 0.98875
0.8 0.01125
log0.8 log0.01125
log0.01125
log0.8
20.1
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

After 21 bounces.