Sequences [119 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 5] 24M.1.AHL.TZ1.5

Consider a geometric sequence with first term 1 and common ratio 10.

Sn is the sum of the first n terms of the sequence.

(a)
n

Find an expression for S n in the form a

b
−1
, where
a, b ∈ Z
+
. [1]

(b) Hence, show that

n
10(10 −1)−9n
S1 + S2 + S3 + … + Sn =
81
. [4]

2. [Maximum mark: 16] 24M.1.AHL.TZ2.10

Consider the arithmetic sequence a, p, q … , where a, p, q ≠ 0.

(a) Show that 2p − q = a. [2]

Consider the geometric sequence a, s, t … , where a, s, t ≠ 0.

(b) Show that s 2 = at. [2]

The first term of both sequences is a.

It is given that q = t = 1.

(c) Show that p >

1
. [2]
2

Consider the case where a = 9, s > 0 and q = t = 1.

(d) Write down the first four terms of the

(d.i) arithmetic sequence; [2]

 (d.ii) geometric sequence. [2]

The arithmetic and the geometric sequence are used to form a new arithmetic
sequence u n .

The first three terms of u n are u 1 = 9 + ln 9, u 2 = 5 + ln 3, and

u 3 = 1 + ln 1.

(e.i) Find the common difference of the new sequence in terms of

ln 3. [3]

(e.ii) Show that ∑ i=1

10
= −90 − 25 ln 3. [3]

3. [Maximum mark: 7] 23N.1.SL.TZ1.4

The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence is given by
− qn, where p and q are positive constants.
2
Sn = pn

It is given that S 5 = 65 and S 6 = 96.

(a) Find the value of p and the value of q. [5]

(b) Find the value of u 6 . [2]

4. [Maximum mark: 14] 23M.1.AHL.TZ1.10

Consider the arithmetic sequence u 1 , u 2 , u 3 , … .

The sum of the first n terms of this sequence is given by S n = n

2
+ 4n.

(a.i) Find the sum of the first five terms. [2]

(a.ii) Given that S 6 = 60, find u 6 . [2]

(b) Find u 1 . [2]

 (c) Hence or otherwise, write an expression for u n in terms of n. [3]

Consider a geometric sequence, v n , where v 2 = u1 and v 4 = u6 .

(d) Find the possible values of the common ratio, r. [3]

(e) Given that v 99 < 0, find v 5 . [2]

5. [Maximum mark: 18] 22M.1.AHL.TZ1.10

Consider the series ln x + p ln x +
1

3
ln x + …, where x ∈ R, x > 1

and p ∈ R, p ≠ 0.

Consider the case where the series is geometric.

(a.i) Show that p = ±

1
. [2]
√3

(a.ii) Hence or otherwise, show that the series is convergent. [1]

(a.iii) Given that p > 0 and S ∞ = 3 + √ 3, find the value of x. [3]

Now consider the case where the series is arithmetic with common difference d.

(b.i) Show that p =

2
. [3]
3

(b.ii) Write down d in the form k ln x, where k ∈ Q. [1]

(b.iii) The sum of the first n terms of the series is ln( 1

3
).
x

Find the value of n. [8]

6. [Maximum mark: 15] 21N.1.SL.TZ0.8

Consider the function f (x) = a
x
where x, a ∈ R and x > 0, a > 1.
 The graph of f contains the point ( 23 , 4).

(a) Show that a = 8. [2]

(b) Write down an expression for f −1 (x). [1]

(c)
Find the value of f −1 (√32). [3]

Consider the arithmetic sequence

log 8 27 , log 8 p , log 8 q , log 8 125 , where p > 1 and q > 1.

(d.i) Show that 27, p, q and 125 are four consecutive terms in a
geometric sequence. [4]

(d.ii) Find the value of p and the value of q. [5]

7. [Maximum mark: 9] 21N.2.SL.TZ0.6

The sum of the first n terms of a geometric sequence is given by
n
r
2 7
Sn = Σ
3
(
8
) .
r=1

(a) Find the first term of the sequence, u 1 . [2]

(b) Find S ∞ . [3]

(c) Find the least value of n such that S ∞ − S n < 0. 001. [4]

8. [Maximum mark: 5] 21M.1.SL.TZ1.3

Consider an arithmetic sequence where u 8 = S 8 = 8. Find the
value of the first term, u 1 , and the value of the common difference, d. [5]

9. [Maximum mark: 5] 20N.1.AHL.TZ0.H_5

 The first term in an arithmetic sequence is 4 and the fifth term is
log 2 625.

Find the common difference of the sequence, expressing your answer

in the form log 2 p, where p ∈ Q. [5]

10. [Maximum mark: 8] 20N.2.SL.TZ0.S_6

An infinite geometric series has first term u 1 = a and second term

− 3a, where a > 0.

1 2
u2 = a
4

(a) Find the common ratio in terms of a. [2]

(b) Find the values of a for which the sum to infinity of the series
exists. [3]

(c) Find the value of a when S ∞ = 76. [3]

11. [Maximum mark: 5] 19N.2.AHL.TZ0.H_1

A geometric sequence has u 4 = −70 and u 7 = 8.75. Find the

second term of the sequence. [5]

12. [Maximum mark: 7] 19M.2.SL.TZ1.S_7

The first terms of an infinite geometric sequence, u n , are 2, 6, 18, 54, …

The first terms of a second infinite geometric sequence, v n , are 2, −6, 18, −54, …

The terms of a third sequence, w n , are defined as w n = un + vn .

225 m

The finite series, ∑ wk , can also be written in the form ∑ 4r

k
.
k=1 k=0
 (a) Write down the first three non-zero terms of w n . [3]

(b.i) Find the value of r. [2]

(b.ii) Find the value of m. [2]

13. [Maximum mark: 5] 18N.2.AHL.TZ0.H_1

Consider a geometric sequence with a first term of 4 and a fourth term of −2.916.

(a) Find the common ratio of this sequence. [3]

(b) Find the sum to infinity of this sequence. [2]

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