RVHS H2 Mathematics Remedial Programme

Topic: Arithmetic and Geometric Series

Basic Mastery Questions
1. The first term of an arithmetic progression is 2. The sum of the first 8 terms is 58 and the sum
of the whole series is 325.
Calculate
(i) the common difference.
(ii) the number of terms.
(iii) the last term.
Solution: (i) d = 1.5 (ii) 20 (iii) 30.5

2. MI Promo 9758/2020/PU2/P2/Q6(a)
A sequence of numbers u1 , u2 , u3 , .... has a sum S n where Sn = n2 + 6n .
(i) Find an expression for un . Simplify your answer. [3]

(ii) Show that the sequence follows an arithmetic progression. [2]

RVHS JC Skills Builder: Click here or scan this to view video example!

(iii) Hence find the value of u1 + u3 + u5 + ... + u49 . [2]

Solution: (i) un = 2n + 5 (iii) 1375

3. A geometric progression is given as

1 1 1
1, − , , ... ,
2 4 1024

(i) Determine the value of the 6th term in the progression.

(ii) Find the total number of terms in the progression.
(iii) Find the sum of all the terms in the progression.
1
Solution: (i) − (iii) 11 (iii) 0.666
32

81
4. The second term of a geometric progression is –18 and its sum to infinity is . Find the
2
value of the common ratio and the first term of the geometric progression.
RVHS JC Skills Builder: Click here or scan for video example on Sum to Infinity!
1
Solution: r = − , a = 54
3

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Standard Questions
1. SAJC Promo 9758/2020/Q6

( )
The sum of the first n terms of a series, G, is given by Sn = c 2 − 21−n , where c is a positive
constant.

(i) Show that the n th term of the series G, Tn = c21−n . [2]

(ii) Hence, prove that the series G is a geometric series. [2]
RVHS JC Skills Builder: Click here or scan for video example!

3
(iii) It is given that the sixth term of G is . Show that T1 = 12 . [2]
8

2. MI Promo 9758/2020/PU1/Q9 (i),(ii),(iii)

Athletes are training for a long distance race. During a training session, they run in 10-minute
intervals and the distances they run in each 10-minute interval are recorded. Athlete A runs 2000
metres in the first 10-minute interval. On each subsequent 10-minute interval, she runs 45 metres
less than in the previous interval.

(i) What distance is run on the 8th 10-minute interval? [1]

When Athlete A runs less than 1200 metres in a 10-minute interval, she will stop running after
completing that interval.

(ii) Find the number of 10-minute intervals that Athlete A runs. [3]

(iii) Hence find the total distance run by Athlete A. [2]

Solution: (i) 1685 (ii) 19 (iii) 30305

Teacher’s copy 2
3. VJC Promo 9758/2020/Q7
An infinite geometric series has first term a and common ratio r, where r  0 . The third term is 36
and the sum to infinity is 243.
(i) Find the value of a and r. [3]
An arithmetic series has first term 1 and common difference d. The sum of the first 6 terms of the
arithmetic series is equal to the sum of the first 3 terms of the geometric series.
(ii) Find the value of d. [3]
(iii) Find the least value of n for which the nth term of the arithmetic series is more than the sum
of the first 2n terms of the geometric series. [3]
2
Solution: (i) r = , a = 81 (ii) d = 11 (iii) 23
3

4. HCI Promo 9740/2013/Q3

A water tank contains 8000 litres of water initially. At the beginning of each day, 500 litres of
water is added to the tank. At the end of each day, 10% of the amount of water in the tank will be
used.
(i) Show that the amount of water in the tank after 3 days is 7051.5 litres. [1]
(ii) Find the least number of days it will take for the water in the tank to be less than 5000 litres.
(iii) Will the tank ever dry up? Justify your answer. [4]
Solution: (ii) 19 (iii) No

5. YIJC Promo 9758/2021/Q5

An arithmetic series has first term 3 and common difference d, where d is non-zero. A geometric
series has first term a and common ratio r. Given that the 37th, 7th and 1st terms of the arithmetic
series are consecutive terms of the geometric series, find d.
[3]
Deduce that the geometric series is convergent. Find, in terms of a, the sum to infinity of the odd-
numbered terms (i.e. the 1st, 3rd, 5th, …. terms) of the geometric series. [3]
Given further that a = 3072, find the least value of n such that the sum of the first n terms of the
arithmetic series exceeds the sum to infinity of the odd-numbered terms of the geometric series.
[2]
25
Solution: d = 2 ; Sum to infinity of odd-numbered terms = a ; 56
24

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