Ch 10 Arithmetic & Geometric Series

1 2008/RJC/CT/Q1
1 It is given that x, y, z are the first three terms of a geometric progression. It is
also given that z, x, y are three consecutive terms of an arithmetic
progression.
2
z z [4]
(i) Show that   +   − 2 = 0 .
 y  y [3]
(ii) Hence determine if the sum to infinity of the geometric progression
exists.

[ Ans: Does not exist ]

2 ACJC/I/2
Find
 1   1   1   1 
 − + ( m − 1) d  +  − + md  +  − + ( m + 1) d  +  +  − + ( m + n ) d  ,
 2   2   2   2 
[3]
where m, n and d are constants, leaving your answer in terms of m, n and d.

n+2
[ Ans:  −1 + ( 2m + n − 1) d  ]
2 
3 2008/MI/Prelim/II/4
(a) The sum of the first n terms of a series is given by Sn = n2 – 2n. Find the nth
term in terms of n, and hence show that the series is an arithmetic [3]
progression.

(b) Watermelons are harvested from a farm on a monthly basis. As the fertility
of the land decreases over time, the quantity of watermelons harvested
decreases with each harvest. Each subsequent month’s harvest contains 1%
less watermelons than the previous month. In the first month, the crop
contains 2,000 watermelons. Calculate the maximum number of [2]
watermelons which can be harvested from this farm in the long run.

The owner of the farm decides to stop his harvesting operations when the
crop yields less than 500 watermelons a month. The month where he
harvests less than 500 watermelons will be his last month of harvesting.
Find the total number of months of harvesting. [5]
Given that the first harvest was in January 2008, when will the last harvest
be?
[ Ans: (b) 200,000 ; July 2019 ]
4 2008/MJC/Prelim/II/2
An infinite geometric series has first term a − 1 and second term a 2 − 3a + 2 . Given
that all the terms of the series are positive, find the set of values of a for which the
series converges. [3]
11
Given that a = , find the least value of n for which the sum of the first n terms of
4
the series exceeds 6.999. [3]
 [ Ans: {a ∈  : 2 < a < 3} ; 31 ]

5 2008/RJC/Prelim/I/4
A gardener needs to spread 1500 kg of sand over his garden. He spreads 5 kg
during the first day, and increases the amount he spreads each subsequent day by 2
kg.

(i) Find an expression for the mass of sand the gardener has spread by the end [2]
of the nth day.
(ii) Deduce the minimum number of days required for him to spread the 1500 [3]
kg of sand.

The gardener’s neighbour also needs to spread 1500 kg of sand over his garden. He
decides to spread 75 kg each day, but discovers that during each subsequent day,
the amount of sand he can spread is 5% less than that of the previous day.

(iii) Find an expression for the mass of sand the neighbour has spread by the [2]
end of the nth day. [1]
(iv) Comment on the practicality of the approach taken by the neighbour.

[ Ans: (ii) 37 ; (iii) 1500(1 − 0.95n ) ]

6 2008/TPJC/Prelim/II/2
(a) The first term of an arithmetic series is 7, its last term is 70 and its sum is
385. Find the number of terms in the series and the common difference. [3]

(b) A geometric series is given as follows:

r −1
( x + 1) ( x + 1)  − ( x + 1) 
2 3

2 − ( x + 1) + − + ... +  +….
2 22 2r −2

Find the set of values of x such that the sum to infinity of the series exists
4 [4]
and the value of x for which the sum to infinity of the series is .
3

[ Ans: (a) 10 terms, d = 7 ; (b) −3 < x ≤ 1 , x = 0 ]

7 2008/VJCPrelim/I/12
Given that
u1 + u 2 + u3 +  + u n −1 + u n = 4 2n +1 − 4 ,
15 [2]
prove that un = (4 2 n ) .
4

(i) Find u1 + u3 + u5 +  + u 2n − 3 + u 2n −1 , giving your answers in terms of n. [3]

(ii) Show that ln(u1) + ln(u2) + ln(u3) + …+ ln(un) = an2 + bn, where the exact
values of a and b are to be determined. [4]

[ Ans: (i)
17
( 4 − 1) ; (ii) a = ln 4, b = ln15 ]
4 4n