ISAT U CEA 2020

1] There are four geometric mean between 3 and 729. Find the sum of the geometric progression.
Solution:
3, ____, ______, ______, ______, 729
Let 𝑎1 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎6 = 729 . 𝑊𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 , 𝑎4 , 𝑎5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟.
Using the formula for finding the nth term in a Geometric Progression,
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1
We need first to find the common ratio (r) using 𝑎1 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎6 = 729.
𝑎6 = 𝑎1 𝑟 6−1
729 = 3𝑟 5
5
243 = 𝑟 5 → 𝑟 = √243 → 𝑟 = 3
𝑎2 = 3(3)2−1 = 9 ; 𝑎3 = 3(3)3−1 = 27 ; 𝑎4 = 3(3)4−1 = 81
𝑎5 = 3(3)5−1 = 243 → 𝑆𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎4 + 𝑎5 + 𝑎6 = 3 + 9 + 27 + 81 + 243 + 729 =
1092
Or
We can use the formula for the sum of a Geometric Progression,
𝑎1 (𝑟 𝑛 −1)
𝑆𝑛 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟 > 1
(𝑟−1)

3(36 −1)
𝑆6 = = 1092
(3−1)

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 ISAT U CEA 2020

2] If 𝑓(𝑥) = 10𝑥 + 1, then 𝑓(𝑥 + 1) − 𝑓(𝑥) is equal to ___________________.

Solution:
(I made a mistake yesterday while solving this. All along I thought the exponent of 10 is x+1 but it is not
based on the given. I only realized my error this morning. Nobody corrected my error but it’s okay. Anyway, let’s
move on.)
𝑓(𝑥) = 10𝑥 + 1 → 𝑓(𝑥 + 1) = 10(𝑥+1) + 1
𝑓(𝑥 + 1) − 𝑓(𝑥) = 10(𝑥+1) + 1 − (10𝑥 + 1) = 10(𝑥+1) + 1 − 10𝑥 − 1
= 10(𝑥+1) − 10𝑥 = 10 ∙ 10𝑥 − 10𝑥 = 10𝑥 (10 − 1)
= 10𝑥 (9) 𝑜𝑟 9 (10𝑥 )

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