ALGEBRA
1. Arithmetic Series & Sequences
FORMULAE
Arithmetic Sequence and Series
1) 𝑈𝑛 = 𝑈1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑
𝑈𝑛 − 𝑈1
2) 𝑛= +1
𝑑
𝑛
3) 𝑆𝑛 = 2
2𝑈1 + 𝑛 − 1 𝑑 when 𝑈1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛
𝑛
4) 𝑆𝑛 = 2
𝑈1 + 𝑈𝑛 when 𝑈1 and 𝑈𝑛 are given
PAPER 1
1. The second term of an arithmetic sequence is 7. The sum of the first four terms of the arithmetic
sequence is 12. Find the first term, a, and the common difference, d, of the sequence. [4]
2. An arithmetic sequence has 5 and 13 as its first two terms respectively.
(a) Write down, in terms of n, an expression for the nth term, an.
(b) Find the number of terms of the sequence which are less than 400. [4]
3. The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence is Sn = 3n2 – 2n. Find the nth term un. [3]
4. Find the sum of the positive terms of the arithmetic sequence 85, 78, 71, ....... [3]
5. The sum of the first n terms of a series is given by
Sn = 2n2 – n, where n +
.
(a) Find the first three terms of the series.
(b) Find an expression for the nth term of the series, giving your answer in terms of n. [6]
6. In an arithmetic sequence the second term is 7 and the sum of the first five terms is 50. Find the
common difference of this arithmetic sequence. [6]
PAPER 2
7. The ratio of the fifth term to the twelfth term of a sequence in an arithmetic progression is 6 .
13
If each term of this sequence is positive, and the product of the first term and the third term is
32, find the sum of the first 100 terms of this sequence. [7]
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8. [Maximum mark: 18]
Let {𝑢𝑛 } , 𝑛 ∈ 𝑍 + , be an arithmetic sequence with first term equal to a and common
difference of d , where d ≠ 0 . Let another sequence {𝑣𝑛 }, 𝑛 ∈ 𝑍 +, be defined by 𝑣𝑛 = 2𝑢 𝑛 .
𝑣𝑛 +1
(a) (i) Show that is a constant
𝑣𝑛
(ii) Write down the first term of the sequence {𝑣𝑛 }
(iii) Write down a formula for 𝑣𝑛 in terms of a , d and n . [4]
Let 𝑆𝑛 be the sum of the first n terms of the sequence {𝑣𝑛 }.
(b) (i) Find 𝑆𝑛 , in terms of a , d and n .
∞
(ii) Find the values of d for which 𝑖=0 𝑣𝑖 exists.
∞
You are now told that 𝑖=0 𝑣𝑖 does not exist and is denoted by 𝑆∞
(iii) Write down 𝑆∞ in terms of a and d .
(iv) Given that 𝑆∞ = 2𝑎+1 , find the value of d . [8]
𝑍 +, be a geometric sequence with first term equal to p and common ratio q ,
Let {𝑤𝑛 }, 𝑛 ∈
where p and q are both greater than zero. Let another sequence {𝑧𝑛 }, be defined
by 𝑧𝑛 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑤𝑛 .
𝑛
(c) Find 𝑖=0 𝑧𝑖 giving your answer in the form 𝑙𝑛 𝑘 with 𝑘 in terms of 𝑛 , 𝑝 and 𝑞 . [6]
ANSWERS
1. Let a be the first term and d be the common difference, then
4
a + d = 7 and S4 = (2a + 3d) = 12 (M1)
2
ad 7
(M1)
4a 6d 12
a = 15, d = –8 (A2) (C2)(C2
[
2. (a) a1 = 5 and d = 8 (M1)
an = a1 + (n – 1)d
an = 8n – 3 (A1) (C2)
(b) 8n – 3 < 400 (M1)
8n < 403
3
n < 50.375 or n < 50 or n < 51
8
Therefore, there are 50 terms less than 400. (A1) (C2)
[4]
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3. un = Sn – Sn–1 (M1)
= [3n2 – 2n] – [3(n – 1)2 – 2(n – 1)] (A1)
= 6n – 5 (A1) (C3)
OR
u1 + un = 6n – 4 (M1)(A1)
u1 = 1
un = 6n – 5 (A1) (C3)
4. Arithmetic progression: 85, 78, 71, ...
u1 = 85, d = –7
un = u1 + (n – 1) d = 85 – 7(n – 1) = 92 – 7n (M1)
Thus, un > 0 provided n 13.
13 13
The required sum = S13 = (u1 + u13) = (85 + 1). (M1)
2 2
= 559 (A1) (C3)
5. (a) Sn = 2n2 – n
n 1 S1 u1 2 – 1 1 (A1)
n 2 S 2 u1 u 2 8 – 2 6 u 2 5 (A1)
n 3 S 3 u1 u 2 u3 18 – 3 15 u3 9 (A1) (C3)
(b) u n S n – S n –1 (M1)
u n 2n 2 – n – 2(n – 1) 2 – (n – 1) (A1)
u n 2n 2 – n – 2n 2
– 4n 2 – n 1
u n 4n – 3 (A1) (C3)
[6]
6. Using u2 = u1 + d (M1)
u1 + d = 7 A1
Using S 5
5
2u1 4d 50 (M1)
2
2u1 + 4d = 20 A1
Attempting to solve (M1)
d=3 A1 N3
Note: Special case: u2 = 7, S5 = 50 u3 = 10 d
= 3 gains full marks.
[6]
PAPER 2
7. Let the arithmetic sequence be written as a, a + d, a + 2d, ...
a 4d 6
Then (M1)
a 11d 13
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So 13a + 52d = 6a + 66d 7a = 14d (M1)
a = 2d. (A1)
Since each term is positive, both a and d are positive.
We are given a(a + 2d) = 32, setting a = 2d, we get 2d(2d + 2d) = 8d2 = 32. (M1)
d = 2. (A1)
Hence, d = 2 and a = 4 and sum to 100 terms of this sequence is
100
{(2)(4) + (100 – l)2}. (M1)
2
= 10 300 (A1)
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