Üsküdar American Academy

Grade 10 IB - HL
WS #16 - SEQUENCE AND SERIES
Name and Number:

X1 ✓ ◆n
2x
1. (a) Find the set of values of x for which the series has a finite sum.
n=1
x + 1

(b)Hence find the sum in terms of x.

2. A geometric sequence has a first term of 2 and a common ratio of 1.05. Find the
value of the smallest term which is greater than 500.

3. The sum of the n terms of an arithmetic sequence is Sn = 3n2 2n.

Find the nth term un .

4. A sequence un is defined by u0 = 1, u1 = 2, un+1 = 3un 2un 1 where n 2 Z+ .

(a) Find u2 , u3 , u4 .

(b) (i) Express un in terms of n.

Un 2
(ii) Verify that your answer to part (b)(i) satisfies the equation un+1 = 3un 2un 1 .

2n 3 2 2 2
3.2
122
2
3 2
2 2
1 2n 3 1
5. A sum of $5000 is invested at a compound interest rate of 6.3% per annum.

(a) Write down an expression for the value of the investment after n full years.

(b) What will be the value of the investment at the end of five years ?

(c) The value of the investment will exceed $10000 after n full years.

(i) Write an inequality to represent this information.

(ii) Calculate the minimum value of n.

6. (a)The cubic equation x3 + px2 + qx + c = 0 has roots ↵, , .

By expanding (x ↵)(x )(x ) show that

(i) p = (↵ + + );

(ii) q = ↵ + +↵ ;

(iii) c = ↵ .

(b)It is now given that p = 6 and q = 18 for parts (b) and (c) below.

(i) In the case that the three roots ↵, , form an arithmetic sequence, show that
one of the roots is 2.

(ii)Hence determine the value of c.

(c)In another case the three roots ↵, , form a geometric sequence.Determine

the value of c.

2
7. A geometric sequence {un }, with complex terms is defined by un+1 = (1 + i)un
and u1 = 3.

(a) Find the fourth term of the sequence, giving your answer in the form x + yi,
x, y 2 R.

(b) Find the sum of the first 20 terms of un , giving your answer in the form
a ⇥ (1 + 2m ) where a 2 C and m 2 Z are to be determined.

A second sequence {vn } is defined by vn = un un+k , k 2 N.

(c) (i) Show that {vn} is a geometric sequence.

(ii)State the first term.

(iii)Show that the common ratio is independent of k.

A third sequence {wn} is defined by wn = |un un+1 |.

(d) Show that {wn } is a geometric sequence.

3
8. (a) Antonio and Barbara start work at the same company on the same day. They
each earn an annual salary of 8000 euros during the first year of employment. The
company gives them a salary increase following the completion of each year of
employment. Antonio is paid using plan A and Barbara is paid using plan B.

Plan A: The annual salary increases by 450 euros each year.

Plan B: The annual salary increases by 5% each year.

Calculate
(i) Antonio’s annual salary during his second year of employment;

(ii) Barbara’s annual salary during her second year of employment.

(b) Write down an expression for

(i) Antonio’s annual salary during his nth year of employment;

(ii) Barbara’s annual salary during her nth year of employment.

(c)Determine the number of years for which Antonio’s annual salary is greater
than or equal to Barbara’s annual salary.

(d) Both Antonio and Barbara plan to work at the company for a total of 15 years.

(i) Calculate the total amount that Barbara will be paid during these 15 years.

(ii) Determine whether Antonio earns more than Barbara during these 15 years.