Mathematics Standard Level

Sequences and Series Assignment

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
SEQUENCES AND SERIES
1. Write the sum of each series using sigma notation:
(a) 15 ... 7 5 3 1 + + + + + (b)
3 3 3 3
25 ... 9 8 7 + + + +
(c)
20
31
...
10
11
1
8
7
7
5
+ +
(d)
2
...
16
4
9
3
4
2
1
1
n
n
+ + + + +
2. Find the sum of the following series:
(a)
( )

+
4
1
1
k
k
(b)

5
1
1
k
k
(c)
( ) [ ]

+
8
1
1 1
i
i

3. Determine the common difference, the fifth term, the n
th
term and the 100
th
term
of each of the arithmetic sequences.
(a)
,... 11 , 8 , 5 , 2
(b)
,... 3 2 , 2 2 , 2 , 2 s s s + + +
4. (a) The 10
th
term of an arithmetic sequence is
2
55
and the second term is
2
7
. Find the first
term of the sequence.
(b) Which term of the arithmetic sequence 1,4,7, is 88?
(c) If 4,x,y,z, 10 are in an arithmetic sequence, find the values of x ,y and z
5. In each case, the partial sum of an arithmetic series is given. Find the sum:
(a) 401 ... 9 5 1 + + + + (b)
( )

+
10
0
25 . 0 3
k
k
(c)
( )

20
0
2 1
n
n
6. (a) Find the sum of the even numbers between 199 and 1999
(b) The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic series is
) 20 4 (
2
+ n
n
.
(i) Write down the expression for the sum of the first
) 1 ( n
terms.
(ii) Find the first term and the common difference of the above series.
7. Find the sum, to the number of terms given of the following GPs:
(a) ... 12 6 3 + + + , 6 terms (b) 1+
...,
4
1
2
1
+ +
20 terms
8. (a) Find the common ratio, given that it is negative, of a GP whose first term is 8 and
whose fifth term is
2
1
.
(b) Find the sum of the first n terms of the GP
...
16
25
4
5
1 + + +
and find the least value of n
for which the sum exceeds 20.
(c) Find the sum of the first ten terms of the geometric sequence
,... 32 , 16 , 8 , 4
9. Find the sum of 9 + 27 + 81 ++ 729
1
Mathematics Standard Level
Sequences and Series Assignment
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Find the geometric mean of each of the following pairs of numbers:
(a) -9,-1 (b) 3,12
11. The sum of the first four terms of a geometric series with common ratio
2
1

is 30.
Determine the tenth term and the sum to infinity

S .
12. Represent each recurring decimal as the ratio of two integers, in reduced form.
(a) 0. 3 (b) 0.214
13. Given the infinite series
r
r
x
x

,
`

.
|
0
1
(a) Show that the series is a geometric series
Determine the values of
x

) 0 ( > x
so that the sum to infinity

S
exists.
(c) If 2 x , find the sum of the first five terms, 5
S
, and

S
. Show
that

32 : 33 :
5

S S
.
14. Show that
(a)
1 1 1
1
) ( a a a a
r i i
r
i

+ +

(b)
1
1
3 3 2
+
+
+
i i
i i
i a a if
i
i
i a 3 . Hence, using (a) evaluate

r
i
i
i
1
3 2
in terms of r
15. An engineering company offers a position to Azmi with the starting salary of RM20000 per
year, annual increment of 10% yearly. Find an expression for his salary for the second and
third years. Show that his total salary from the first year to the
th
n year is
] 1 ) 1 . 1 [( 200000
n
RM . Find the number of years that he has worked if his total salary is
RM635450.
16. A mortgage is taken out for RM 10 000 and is repaid by annual installments of RM 2000.
Interest is charged on the outstanding debt at 10%, calculated annually. If the first repayment
is made one year after the mortgage is taken out, find the number of years it takes for the
mortgage to be repaid.
17. A bank loan of RM 500 is arranged to be repaid in two years by equal monthly
installments . Interest (calculated monthly) is charged at 11% p.a. on the remaining debt.
Calculate the monthly repayment if the first repayment is to be made one month after the
loan is granted.
2
Mathematics Standard Level
Sequences and Series Assignment
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ANSWERS
1. (a)

8
1
1 2
r
r
(b)

+
19
1
3
) 6 (
r
r
(c)

,
`

.
|
+
+

14
1
1
6
3 2
) 1 (
r
r
r
r
(d)

n
r
r
r
1
2
2. (a) 14 (b)
60
17
2
(c) 8
3. (a) 3 , 14 , 1 3 n , 299 (b) s , s 4 2 + ,
s n ) 1 ( 2 +
, s 99 2 +
4. (a)
2
1
(b) 30
th
(c)
2
1
8 , 7 ,
2
1
5
5. (a) 20301 (b) 46.75 (c) 399
6. (a) 989100 (b) (i)
) 4 )( 1 ( 2 + n n
ii) 12 a , 4 d
7. (a) 189 (b)
19
2
1
2
,
`

.
|

8. (a)
2
1
, 2 (b)
]
]
]
]

,
`

.
|
1
4
5
4
n
n
S
, 9 n (c) 1364
9. 1089
10. (a) 3,-3 (b) 6,-6
11.
32
3

, 32
12. (a)
3
1
(b)
495
106

13. (b)
2
1
> x
(c)
16
11
,
3
2
14. (b)
2
3 3 ) 1 2 (
1
+
+ r
r
15.
) 1 . 1 ( 20000 RM
,
2
) 1 . 1 ( 20000 RM , 15 years
16. 8 years
17. RM23.30
3