1

3.

Solution: Sequences, Series & Partial Fraction

1.

The 1st term of an arithmetic progression is 11 while

the 17th term is 155. What is the common
difference? What is the 100th term? Find the sum of
the first 100 terms.

Solution:
Given :

a1 = 11
a17 = 155

Common difference:
a17= a1+ (n-1)d
155 = 11 + (17-1)(d)
d=9

100th term:
a100 = a1+ (n-1)d
a100 = 11+ (100-1)(9)
a100 = 902

17, 23, 29 form AP with d = 6 and a1 = 17

Sum of first 100 terms:

15th term:

S100 = (n/2)(a1+an)
S100 = (100/2)(11+902)
S100 = 45,650

2.

a15 = a1+ (n-1)d

a15 = 17 + (15-1)(6)
a15 = 101

The nth term of a sequence is given by the following

expression, 3n+14. What is the sum of the first 30
terms?

4.

Solution:
Given :

an = 3n + 14

The question did not specify what type of sequence is present.

We must first identify what kind of sequence we are dealing
with. As we change the value of n with an increment of 1,
the an changes by a factor of 3.

An unidentified flying object moves along a straight

path. For the first second, it travels 20m. For every
succeeding second hereafter, it travels 6m farther
than it did in the preceding second. How far did it
travel in 13seconds?

Solution:
Given :

a1 = 20m.
d = 6m.
a13 = ?

13th term:

n = 1, an = 3(1) + 14 = 17
n = 2, an = 3(2) + 14 = 20
n = 3, an = 3(3) + 14 = 23

a13 = a1+ (n-1)d

a13 = 20+ (13-1)(6)
a13 = 92m.

5.

With these, we proved that the sequence is an arithmetic

sequence with d = 3 and a1 = 17.
Sum of first 30 terms:

The half life of a certain radioactive substance is 2

years. Determine the amount that will be left from a
500-gram substance after 20 years.

Solution:

Sn = (n/2)(a1+an)
an = a1 + (n-1)(d)
Sn = (n/2)[a1 + a1 + (n-1)(d)]
Sn = (n/2)[2a1 + (n-1)(d)]

Given :

S30 = (n/2)[2a1 + (n-1)(d)]

S30 = (30/2)[2(17) + (30-1)(3)]
S30 = 1,815

Engr. June-June Santos

Sn = 14n + 3n2

We first find the first term (a1)

Sn = a1 = 14(1) + 3(1)2
a1 = 17
S2 = 14(2) + 3(2)2 = 40
S2 = a1 + a2
40 = 17 + a2
a2 = 23
S3 = 14(3) + 3(3)2 = 69
S3 = a1 + a2 + a3
69 = 17 + 23 + a3
a3 = 29

Solution:
Given:

The sum of the first terms of a progression can be

expressed as 14n+3n2. Find the 15th term.

r=
a1 = 500 g.
t = 20 years.

The only thing we need to know in this problem is the

n. Knowing that every 2 years, the amount being left is
of the previous amount, then the n years we are
looking for is :
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a9am = 1/15 + (9-1)(1/60)

a9am = 1/5
1/a11hp = 1/5
a11hp = 5

n = 20/2 + 1
n = 11
we have added since our a1 = 500g starts at year 0 where
n= 1
n=1
n=2
n=3

Year = 0
Year = 2
Year = 4

8.

A Besiege fortress is held by 5700 men who have

provisions for 66 days. If the garrison loses 20 men
each day, how how many days can the provision hold
out?

500g
250g
125g
Solution:

thus, n = t/half life + 1

The provision will last by 5700 men x 66 days = 376,200.

10th term:
an = a1r(n-1)
a10 = 500(1/2)(11-1)
a10 = 0.488 g.

On the first day, 5,700 consume the provision.

On the second day, 5680 men consume the provision.
On the 3rd day, 5,660 men consume the provision.

6. The first term of a geometric progression is 400. What

is the common ratio if the 3rd term is 144?

(5,700 men x 1 day ) + (5,680 men x 1 day) + (5,660 men x 1

day) .n men x 1 day = 376,200 man-days

Solution:
Given :

Mathematically,

Number of men forms an arithmetic sequence with d = -20

a1 = 400
a3 =144
r=?

Sum of AP = 376,200
(n/2)[2a1 + (n-1)(d)] = 376,200
(n/2)[2(5700)+(n-1)(-20)]=376,200
n = 76 days

a3 = a1r(n-1)
a3 = 400(r)(3-1)
r = 3/5
7. A harmonic progression has a 3rd term of 15 and 9th
term of 6. Determine the 11th term.

9.

A rubber ball is dropped from a height of 15m. On each

rebound, it rises 2/3 of the height from which it last
fell. Find the distance travelled by the ball before it
comes to rest.

Solution:
Given :

a3hp = 15
a9hp =6
a11hp = ?

Solution:

Get the reciprocal of these terms.

15m

The first dropped is 2/3 (15) =10

1/a3hp = 1/15
1/a9hp = 1/6
These terms now form an Arithmetic Progression where:
a1am = 1/a3hp = 1/15
a7am = 1/a9hp = 1/6
a9am = 1/a11hp = ?
a7am = a1am + (n-1)(d)
1/6 = 1/15 + (7-1)(d)
d = 1/60
a9am = a1am + (n-1)(d)
Engr. June-June Santos

Since the drop of ball from first drop is infinite with r = 2/3.
We may use the Sum of infinite geometric series. And since,
the ball bounce and fall of the same height, we shall multiply
this by 2 to get total distance travelled and add this to initial
height since the ball dropped from this height.
Total distance = Initial Height + 2 x a1 / (1-r)
Total distance = 15m + 2 x (10m)/(1-2/3)
Total distance = 75m.
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10.

A
B
(x)(x 2) +
(x)(x 2)
x+4
x2
=x
x(x 2)
x(x 2)

In a benefit show, a number of wealthy men agreed

that the first one to arrive would pay 10 centavos to
enter and each later arrival would pay twice as much
as the preceding man. The total amount collected form
all of them was P 104,857.50. How many wealthy men
had paid?

x+4
A(x 2) + B(x)
=
x(x 2)
x(x 2)

Solution:

x + 4 = A(x 2) + Bx

The first man pays P0.10 which serves as a1. the second man
pays P0.20, the third pays P0.40 and so on. The sequence
forms a geometric series with r=2 and total amount is the sum
of our series.

x + 4 = Ax 2A + Bx

Sn =

104,857.50 =

a1 (1 r n )
(1 r)
0.10(1 2n )
(1 2)

Equating the coefficients of left side to corresponding

coefficient of the right side gives us two equations.
(coefficient of x)

1 = A + B (eq. 1)

(constant)

4 = 2A (eq. 2)

Solving simultaneously:

n = 20 days
11.

x + 4 = (A + B)x 2A

A contractor who does not meet the deadline on the

construction of a building is fined P40,000 per day for
each of the first 10 days of extra time, and for each
additional day thereafter the fine is increased by
P8,000. If the contractor is fined P1,008,000, by how
many extra days was the construction delayed?

A = -2
B=3
x2 3x+5
x2 (x4)

13.

, Find the value of B.

4

Solution:
The Least Common Denominator (LCD) of above expression is
x2(x-4).

Solution:

Multiply the LCD to These terms:

P1,008,000 = P40,000(10)+P4800+P5600+.
P1,008,000 = P40,000 + n/2[2(4800)+(n-1)(8000)]
n = 8 days

[ ( 4)] + 2 [ 2 ( 4)] +
[ 2 ( 4)]
x 2 3x + 5

=
x 2 (x 4)
2 ( 4)

But since this n days starts after 10 days of delay, the total
number of days being delayed is:

x 2 3x + 5
( 4) + ( 4) + 2
=
2
x (x 4)
2 ( 4)

ntotal = 10days + 8 days

ntotal = 18 days

2 3 + 5 = 2 4 + 4 + 2
2 3 + 5 = ( + ) 2 + (4 + ) 4

12.

x+4
x(x2)

A
x

Equating the coefficients of left side to corresponding

coefficient of the right side gives us three equations.

+ x2 , Find the value of A.

Solution:

(coefficient of x2)
(coefficient of x)
(constant)

The Least Common Denominator (LCD) of above expression is

x(x-2).

A+C=1
-4A+B = -3
-4B = 5

(eq. 1)
(eq. 2)
(eq. 3)

Solving simultaneously:
Multiply the LCD to These terms:
A = 7/16
Engr. June-June Santos

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2 2 + 3 = 3 + 4 + 2 + 4 + +

B = -5/4
C = 9/16

2 2 + 3 = 3 + 2 + (4 + ) + 4 +
3x2 +5x1
(2x2 3)(x+2)

14.

+
+ 2 2 3, Find the value of C.
+2

Equating the coefficients of left side to corresponding

coefficient of the right side gives us four equations.
(coefficient of x3)
(coefficient of x2)
(coefficient of x)
(constant)

Solution:
The Least Common Denominator (LCD) of above expression is
(x+2)(2x2-3).

A=0
B =2
4A+C = 3
4B+D = 0

(eq.1)
(eq.2)
(eq.3)
(eq.4)

Solving simultaneously:
A=0
B=2
C=3
D = -8

Multiply the LCD to These terms:

+
(2x 2 3)(x + 2) + 2
(2x 2 3)(x + 2)
3x 2 + 5x 1
2 3
= +2
2
2
(2x 3)(x + 2)
(2x 3)(x + 2)
3x 2 + 5x 1
(2x 2 3) + ( + )(x + 2)
=
(2x 2 3)(x + 2)
(2x 2 3)(x + 2)

3 2 + 5 1 = 2 2 3 + 2 + 2 + + 2
3 2 + 5 1 = (2 + ) 2 + (2 + ) 3 + 2
Equating the coefficients of left side to corresponding
coefficient of the right side gives us three equations.
(coefficient of x2)
(coefficient of x)
(constant)

2A+B = 3
2B+C = 5
-3A+2C = -1

(eq.1)
(eq.2)
(eq.3)

Solving simultaneously:
A = 1/5
B = 13/5
C = -1/5
15.

2x2 +3x
(x2 +4)2

+
2 +4

+ ( 2 +4)2, Find the value of D.

Solution:
The Least Common Denominator (LCD) of above expression is
(x2+4)2.
Multiply the LCD to These terms:
+ 2
+
( + 4)2 + 2
( 2 + 4)2
2x 2 + 3x
2 + 4
( + 4)2
=
(x 2 + 4)2
( 2 + 4)2
2x 2 + 3x ( + )( 2 + 4) + +
=
(x 2 + 4)2
( 2 + 4)2
Engr. June-June Santos

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