Solutions for Sequence and Series (Board)

Dhananjayareddy Thanakanti

23 February 2025

§1 Multiple Choice Questions

1. The sequence is defined as:

a1 = 1, an = an−1 + 2 for n ≥ 2.

Computing the 4th term:

a2 = 1 + 2 = 3, a3 = 3 + 2 = 5, a4 = 5 + 2 = 7.

Thus, the 4th term is 7.

2. The sequence is defined as:

a1 = a2 = 2, an = an−1 − 1 for n > 2.

Computing the 5th term:

a3 = 2 − 1 = 1, a4 = 1 − 1 = 0, a5 = 0 − 1 = −1.

Thus, the 5th term is −1.

3. he given sequence follows the Fibonacci pattern, so we need to compute the 4th term:

a3 = a2 + a1 = 1 + 1 = 2

a4 = a3 + a2 = 2 + 1 = 3

Thus, the 4th term a4 is 3.

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4. In a Fibonacci sequence, each term is the sum of the two preceding terms. Given the three
consecutive terms 3, n, 8, we apply the Fibonacci rule:

8=3+n

Solving for n:

n=8−3=5

Thus, the value of n is 5.

5. A sequence is defined by the recursive formula:

a1 = 2, an = an−1 + 3n − 2 for n ≥ 2.

Which of the following is the explicit formula for an ?

(A) an = n2 + 1
(B) an = n2 − n + 2
(C) an = 2n + 1
(D) an = 3n − 2
Answer: (B)an = n2 − n + 2

6. Substituting n = 20:

a20 = (19)(−18)(23)

= −7866

Final Answer: −7866

7. Substituting values of n:

1−3 −2 1
a1 = = =−
4 4 2

2−3 −1
a2 = =
4 4

3−3
a3 = =0
4
The first three terms are:

1 1
− ,− ,0
2 4

2
 8. Substituting n = 9:

a9 = (−1)9−1 × 93

= (−1)8 × 729

= 1 × 729 = 729

9. Substituting n = 1:

a1 = 2(1) + 5 = 2 + 5 = 7

Answer is 7

10. Consider the sequence {bn } defined by:

(
b(1) = −7
b(n) = b(n − 1) + 12, for n ≥ 2

What is the value of b5 ?

(A) 29
(B) 37
(C) 41
(D) 43

Solution

Expanding the sequence:

b2 = b1 + 12 = −7 + 12 = 5

b3 = b2 + 12 = 5 + 12 = 17

b4 = b3 + 12 = 17 + 12 = 29

b5 = b4 + 12 = 29 + 12 = 41

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11. Computing the first five terms:

1 1 1 1
a1 = −1, a2 = − , a3 = − , a4 = − , a5 = −
2 6 24 120
Sum:

1 1 1 1
S5 = −1 − − − −
2 6 24 120
Taking LCM 120:

−120 60 20 5 1
S5 = − − − −
120 120 120 120 120

−206 −103
S5 = =
120 60
12. Given the general term:

an = 4n(n + 1)

Substituting n = 20:

a20 = 4(20)(21) = 1680

13. Given:

5
X
S= (3 + 2i )
i=1

Expanding:

S = (3 + 2) + (3 + 4) + (3 + 8) + (3 + 16) + (3 + 32)

= 15 + 62 = 77

14. Using the geometric sum formula:

1 − (1/2)6
Sn =
1 − 1/2

63
=
32
15. The common ratio is:

0.0001
r= = 0.01
0.01

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16. Definition

17. Given thatar2 = 18, ar5 = 486

Dividing:

486
r3 = = 27 ⇒ r = 3
18
18. Using the formula:

192 3
a · 27 = 192 ⇒ a = =
128 2
19. The 10th term:

a10 = 5 × 59 = 510 .

20. Given that nth term is 131072.That is ,

4n−1 = 65536 = 48

n−1=8⇒n=9

21. Using the formula:

192
r3 = =8⇒r=2
24
22. Given an = 128.

√ √
( 2)n−1 = 64 = ( 2)12

n − 1 = 12 ⇒ n = 13

23. The general formula for the nth term of a geometric progression is:

an = arn−1

Given r = 2, the ratio of the 7th term to the 5th term is:

a7 a · 26 26
= = = 26−4 = 22 = 4
a5 a · 24 24
24. Using the formula:

81
a · 34 = 81 ⇒ a = =1
81

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25. Common ratio:

15
r= =3
5
Using the formula:

a5 = 5 × 34 = 5 × 81 = 405

26. Definition
5 5 5 1
27. Given ,first term a = 2 and Common ratio: r = 4 ÷ 2 = 2
Using the nth term formula:
 n−1
n−1 5 1
an = a · r = ×
2 2

5
an =
2n
28. Using the nth term formula:

√
( 3)n = 729 = 36

n
3n/2 = 36 ⇒ = 6 ⇒ n = 12
2
29. The sum of the first n terms of a GP is:

rn − 1
Sn = a
r−1
Substituting n = 10:

210 − 1
S10 = 2 × = 2 × (1024 − 1) = 2 × 1023 = 2046
2−1
30. The sum formula:

121n − 1
Sn = 3
120
Given Sn = 120:

121n − 1
120 = 3 ×
120

4800 = 121n − 1

121n = 4801

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 Since 121 = 112 , solving gives:

n=2

31. Find the value of the sum:

1 1 1
+ + + ...
3 9 27
1 1 2
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 3 (D) 1
1
Solution This is an infinite geometric series with first term a = 3 and common ratio
r = 13 .
The sum of an infinite GP is:

1 1
a 1
S= = 3 1 = 3
2 =
1−r 1− 3 3
2

32. The explicit formula for a GP is:

an = a · r(n−1)

an = 5 × 2(n−1)

33. This forms a geometric series with:

a(rn − 1)
Sn =
r−1
For a = 1, r = 2, and n = 64:

S64 = 264 − 1

34. If a sequence is both an arithmetic progression (AP) and a geometric progression

(GP), then it must be a constant sequence.
Reason:
• In AP: a2 = a1 + d, and in GP: a2 = a1 r.
• Equating:
a1 + d = a1 r ⇒ d = a1 (r − 1).

• Extending to a3 , we get:
a1 (r − 1)2 = 0,
implying r = 1.
• Hence, a1 = a2 = · · · = an , proving the sequence is constant.

35. Theorem

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36. The sum of an infinite geometric series is given by:
a
S=
1−r

Substituting the values:

1 1 2
S= 1 = 1 = .
1 − (− 2 ) 1+ 2
3

37. We need a geometric progression (GP) between 3 and 81.

Let the common ratio be r, and the sequence be:

3, a2 , a3 , . . . , 81.

Since 3rn−1 = 81 and 81 = 34 , we get:

rn−1 = 27 = 33 .

Possible sequences:
√ √
• 3 terms: r = 3 ⇒ 3, 3 3, 9.
• 4 terms: r = 3 ⇒ 3, 9, 27, 81.

38. Formula

39. Given the geometric progression (GP): 1, G1 , G2 , G3 , 256, with first term a = 1 and common
ratio r,

r4 = 256 ⇒ r = ±2

G2 = ar2 = 1 · (±2)2 = 4

40. Given:
an+1 + bn+1 √
= ab
an + bn
Multiplying both sides by an + bn :
√
an+1 + bn+1 = ab(an + bn )

Dividing by bn and setting x = ab :

√
xn+1 + 1 = x(xn + 1)

Rearrange and factor:

1 1
xn (x − x 2 ) = 1 − x 2

For equality to hold, setting x = 1 gives:

1
n=
2

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 41. Delete this question and renumber
42. Inequality relation

43. Given AM of roots = 8 and product = 5,

α+β
= 8 ⇒ α + β = 16
2

αβ = 5

Quadratic equation:

x2 − 16x + 5 = 0

44. Given:
a+b
= 10 ⇒ a + b = 20
2
√
ab = 8 ⇒ ab = 64

Solving the quadratic equation x2 − 20x + 64 = 0:

√
20 ± 144 20 ± 12
x= =
2 2
Thus, the numbers are x = 16, 4.

§2 Fill in the Blanks

1. In a Fibonacci sequence, each term is the sum of the two preceding terms:

n=8−3=5

2. To find the 3rd term of the sequence an = (−1)n (n − 1)3 , we substitute n = 3:

a3 = (−1)3 (3 − 1)3 = (−1) · 23

= (−1) · 8 = −8

3. To find the 4th term (a4 ):

a4 = 4(4) − 3 = 16 − 3 = 13.

Thus, the 4th term of the sequence is 13.

4. To find the 4th term (a4 ):

42 16
a4 = = =1
24 16
Thus, the 4th term of the sequence is 1.

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 5. To find a3 :

3−3 0
a3 = = = 0.
4 4
Thus, the value of a3 is 0.

6. To find a24 :

a24 = 4(24) − 3 = 96 − 3 = 93.

Thus, the value of a24 is 93.

7. To find a2 :

a2 = (−1)(2−1) 5(2+1) = (−1)1 · 53 = −1 · 125 = −125

Thus, the value of a2 is -125.

8. To find a7 :

72 49
a7 = 7
=
2 128
49
Thus, the value of a7 is 128 .

9. To find a20 :

20(20 − 2) 20 × 18 360
a20 = = =
20 + 3 23 23

Thus, the value of a20 is 360

23 .
√
10. Given the G.P. 2, 2 3, 6, the common ratio r is:
√
2 3 √
r= = 3
2

6 √
r= √ = 3
2 3
√
Thus, the common ratio is 3.

11. Given the G.P. 2, 6, 18, . . ., with common ratio r = 3, the 5th term is:

a5 = 2 × 34 = 162

12. Given a = 3, r = 23 , the 4th term is:

 3
3 81
a4 = 3 × =
2 8

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 13. The nth term formula is:
√
an = 2( 2)(n−1)

Setting an = 128:
√
2( 2)(n−1) = 128

√ √
( 2)(n−1) = 64 = ( 2)12

Thus, n − 1 = 12 ⇒ n = 13.
14. The sum of an infinite G.P. is:

a 1
S= = 1 =2
1−r 1− 2

Thus, the sum of the series is 2.

15. The geometric mean of two numbers a and b is:
√
GM = a×b

For a = 4 and b = 9:

√ √
GM = 4×9= 36 = 6

Thus, the geometric mean of 4 and 9 is 6.

§3 Subjective Questions(2 marks)

1.
a1 = (−1)1−1 51+1 = (−1)0 · 52 = 1 · 25 = 25
a2 = (−1)2−1 52+1 = (−1)1 · 53 = −1 · 125 = −125
a3 = (−1)3−1 53+1 = (−1)2 · 54 = 1 · 625 = 625
The first three terms of the sequence are:
a1 = 25, a2 = −125, a3 = 625

2.
1(12 + 5) 6 3
a1 = = =
4 4 2
2(22 + 5) 2(9) 9
a2 = = =
4 4 2
3(32 + 5) 3(14) 21
a3 = = =
4 4 2
The first three terms of the sequence are:
3 9 21
a1 = , a2 = , a3 = .
2 2 2

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 3069
3. Given Sn = 512 :   n 
1 3069
6 1− = .
2 512
 n
1 3069
1− = .
2 3072
 n
1 3
= = 2−10 .
2 3072

Thus:
n = 10.

4. Given an = 729: √
( 3)n = 729 = 36 .
√
( 3)n = (31/2 )n = 3n/2 .

Equating powers:
n
= 6 =⇒ n = 12.
2
5. Given a8 = 192 and r = 2
192
a8 = a · 27 =⇒ a = = 1.5
128
The 12th term: a12 = a · 211 = 1.5 · 2048 = 3072

6. The 4th term is the square of the 2nd term:

−3r3 = 9r2 =⇒ r = −3.

The 7th term is:

a7 = −3 · (−3)6 = −2187.

7. Given a7 = 64.

4
64 = 729 · r6 =⇒ r = .
9

7 !  7 !
1 − 49 6561 4
S7 = 729 4 = · 1− .
1− 9 5 9

8. The number of bacteria after n hours is given by:

an = 30 · 2n .

For n = 8:
a8 = 30 · 28 = 30 · 256 = 7680.

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 9. Given: P = 500, r = 10%, n = 10.
Substitute the values in the formula:
 10
10
A = 500 · 1 +
100
A = 500 · (1.1)10
10. The common ratio is: r
4 243
r= = 3.
1
The GP sequence is:
1, 3, 9, 27, 243.
Final Answer: 3, 9, 27

§4 Subjective Question (3 marks)

1. The sequence is:
a1 = 3, a2 = 3a1 + 2 = 11, a3 = 3a2 + 2 = 35.

Sum of the first three terms:

S = a1 + a2 + a3 = 3 + 11 + 35 = 49.

Final Answer: 49
2. In a GP:
a3 = 24 =⇒ a · r2 = 24, a6 = 192 =⇒ a · r5 = 192.
Dividing:
192
r3 = = 8 =⇒ r = 2.
24
Substitute r = 2 into a · r2 = 24:
a · 4 = 24 =⇒ a = 6.

10th term:
a10 = 6 · 29 = 6 · 512 = 3072.
3. For the GP − 72 , x, − 72 :
x − 72
= .
− 27 x
Cross-multiply:    
2 7
x2 = − · − = 1 =⇒ x = ±1.
7 2
Common ratio:
7 7
If x = 1, r = − . If x = −1, r = .
2 2
7 7
Final Answer: x = ±1, r = − or
2 2

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4. The given series has a = 1 and r = 23 .
Sum of first n terms  n 
1 − rn

2
Sn = =3 1− .
1−r 3

Sum of first 5 terms:  5 !

2
S5 = 3 1 − .
3
 5
2 32 243 − 32 211 211
= , S5 = 3 · =3· = .
3 243 243 243 81

Final Answers:   n 
2 211
Sn = 3 1 − , S5 = .
3 81

5. Given
rn − 1
Sn = a · , a = 3, r = 3.
r−1
Substitute values:
3n − 1
120 = 3 · .
3−1
3(3n − 1)
120 = =⇒ 240 = 3(3n − 1).
2
Solve for n:
80 = 3n − 1 =⇒ 3n = 81 =⇒ 3n = 34 =⇒ n = 4.

6. The general term is:

an = a · rn−1 .
√
Substitute an = 128, a = 2, and r = 2:
√
128 = 2 · ( 2)n−1 .

Simplify: √
64 = ( 2)n−1 .
√
64 = ( 2)12 =⇒ n − 1 = 12 =⇒ n = 13.

Final Answer: n = 13
1
7. Given an = 729 :  n−1
1 1 1
= · .
729 3 3

Simplify:
 n−1
1 1
= .
3 243

Equating powers:
n − 1 = 5 =⇒ n = 6.

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 13
8. Since the product of the three terms is −1, and their sum is 12 .
That is

a
· a · ar = −1 =⇒ a3 = −1 =⇒ a = −1.
r
and
a 13
+ a + ar = .
r 12
Substitute a = −1:
1 13 1 13
− −1−r = =⇒ + r + 1 = − .
r 12 r 12
Multiply through by r:
13r
r2 + r + 1 = − =⇒ 12r2 + 25r + 12 = 0.
12
Solve the quadratic equation:
√
2 −25 ± 625 − 576 −25 ± 7
12r + 25r + 12 = 0 =⇒ r = = .
24 24
−25 + 7 3 −25 − 7 4
r= =− , r= =− .
24 4 24 3
9. Given a = 1 (since the product of the terms is 1), the sum of the terms is:
1 39
+1+r = .
r 10
Multiply by r:
39r
1 + r + r2 = .
10
Simplify:
10r2 − 29r + 10 = 0.

Solve using the quadratic formula:

p √
−(−29) ± (−29)2 − 4(10)(10) 29 ± 841 − 400
r= = .
2(10) 20
29 ± 21
r= .
20
Thus:
5 2
r= , r= .
2 5
10. Let the sequence be 1, a1 , a2 , a3 , 256, with a common ratio r.
From the GP formula:
T5 = 1 · r4 = 256 =⇒ r4 = 256 =⇒ r = 4.

The terms are:

a1 = 1 · 4 = 4, a2 = 1 · 42 = 16, a3 = 1 · 43 = 64.

The numbers are 4, 16, 64.

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11. The 5th , 8th , and 11th terms of the GP are:

p = a · r4 , q = a · r7 , s = a · r10 .

Now:
q 2 = (a · r7 )2 = a2 · r14 , ps = (a · r4 )(a · r10 ) = a2 · r14 .

Thus:
q 2 = ps.

12. Let the first term be a and the common ratio be r.

The sum of the first three terms:

a(1 + r + r2 ) = 16. (1)

The sum of the next three terms:

ar3 (1 + r + r2 ) = 128. (2)

Divide (2) by (1):

128
r3 = = 8 =⇒ r = 2.
16
Substitute r = 2 into (1):
16
a(1 + 2 + 4) = 16 =⇒ a · 7 = 16 =⇒ a = .
7
16
Final Answer: a = 7 , r = 2.

13. The products of corresponding terms are:

1
2 · 128, 4 · 32, 8 · 8, 16 · 2, 32 · = 256, 128, 64, 32, 16.
2

The sum of these products is:

256 + 128 + 64 + 32 + 16 = 496.

14. Given a = 5, r = 2, and Sn = 315:

315 = 5(2n − 1) =⇒ 2n − 1 = 63 =⇒ 2n = 64 =⇒ n = 6.

The last term:

Tn = 5 · 25 = 160.

Final Answer:Tn = 160, n = 6.

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