An arithmetic series has positive first term aa and common difference dd. The first, fifth and second terms of the arithmetic series are the first three consecutive terms of a geometric series respectively. It is also given that the terms of the arithmetic series are decreasing.

  1. (a)

    Show that d=−716ad = -\dfrac{7}{16}a.

  2. (b)

    Give a reason why the geometric series converges.

  3. (c)

    It is given that the sum to infinity of the geometric series is 327\dfrac{32}{7}.

    Find the sum of the first twenty terms of the arithmetic series.

  4. (d)

    Given that the sum of all the terms after the nnth term of the geometric series is greater than 2% of the sum of the first nn terms of the geometric series, find the possible values of nn.

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Worked solution

11(a)

1. Express the first three terms of the geometric series in terms of $a$ and $d$.

Let the first three terms of the geometric series be v1,v2v_1, v_2, and v3v_3.
v1=u1=av_1 = u_1 = a
v2=u5=a+4dv_2 = u_5 = a + 4d
v3=u2=a+dv_3 = u_2 = a + d

2. Equate the common ratios to form an equation.

Since v1,v2,v3v_1, v_2, v_3 are consecutive terms of a geometric series:
v2v1=v3v2\frac{v_2}{v_1} = \frac{v_3}{v_2}
a+4da=a+da+4d\frac{a+4d}{a} = \frac{a+d}{a+4d}

3. Solve the equation for $d$ and use the decreasing condition to find the final result.

(a+4d)2=a(a+d)(a+4d)^2 = a(a+d)
a2+8ad+16d2=a2+ada^2 + 8ad + 16d^2 = a^2 + ad
16d2+7ad=016d^2 + 7ad = 0
d(16d+7a)=0d(16d + 7a) = 0
Since the terms of the arithmetic series are decreasing, d<0d < 0. Therefore, d≠0d \neq 0, which gives:
16d+7a=016d + 7a = 0
16d=−7a16d = -7a
d=−716a(Shown)d = -\frac{7}{16}a \quad \text{(Shown)}

Answer

d = -\frac{7}{16}a

11(b)

1. Find the common ratio of the geometric series.

The terms of the geometric series are the 1st, 5th, and 2nd terms of the arithmetic series.
T1=aT_1 = a
T2=a+4dT_2 = a + 4d
r=T2T1=a+4dar = \frac{T_2}{T_1} = \frac{a + 4d}{a}
Substitute d=−716ad = -\frac{7}{16}a (from part (a)):
r=a+4(−716a)a=1−74=−34r = \frac{a + 4(-\frac{7}{16}a)}{a} = 1 - \frac{7}{4} = -\frac{3}{4}

2. State the condition for convergence to conclude.

For a geometric series to converge, its common ratio rr must satisfy ∣r∣<1|r| < 1.
Since ∣r∣=∣−34∣=34<1|r| = \left|-\frac{3}{4}\right| = \frac{3}{4} < 1, the geometric series converges.

Answer

Since the common ratio is −34-\frac{3}{4} and ∣−34∣<1\left|-\frac{3}{4}\right| < 1, the geometric series converges.

11(c)

1. Find the common ratio of the geometric series in terms of the constant values.

The first and second terms of the geometric series are aa and a+4da+4d respectively.
Using d=−716ad = -\frac{7}{16}a from part (a), the common ratio rr is:
r=a+4da=a+4(−716a)a=a−74aa=−34r = \frac{a+4d}{a} = \frac{a + 4\left(-\frac{7}{16}a\right)}{a} = \frac{a - \frac{7}{4}a}{a} = -\frac{3}{4}

2. Use the sum to infinity formula to find the value of the first term $a$.

S∞=a1−r=327S_\infty = \frac{a}{1 - r} = \frac{32}{7}
a1−(−34)=327\frac{a}{1 - \left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)} = \frac{32}{7}
a74=327\frac{a}{\frac{7}{4}} = \frac{32}{7}
a=327×74=8a = \frac{32}{7} \times \frac{7}{4} = 8

3. Calculate the common difference $d$ and find the sum of the first twenty terms of the arithmetic series.

Substitute a=8a = 8 to find dd:
d=−716(8)=−72d = -\frac{7}{16}(8) = -\frac{7}{2}

The sum of the first twenty terms of the arithmetic series is:
S20=n2(2a+(n−1)d)S_{20} = \frac{n}{2}\left(2a + (n-1)d\right)
S20=202(2(8)+19(−72))S_{20} = \frac{20}{2}\left(2(8) + 19\left(-\frac{7}{2}\right)\right)
S20=10(16−66.5)=10(−50.5)=−505S_{20} = 10\left(16 - 66.5\right) = 10(-50.5) = -505

Answer

−505-505

11(d)

1. Formulate the inequality using the sum to infinity and the sum of the first $n$ terms.

Let SnS_n be the sum of the first nn terms and S∞S_\infty be the sum to infinity.
The sum of all terms after the nnth term is S∞−SnS_\infty - S_n.
S∞−Sn>0.02SnS_\infty - S_n > 0.02 S_n
S∞>1.02SnS_\infty > 1.02 S_n

2. Substitute the known values of $S_\infty$ and $r$ to simplify the inequality.

From earlier parts, S∞=327S_\infty = \frac{32}{7} and r=−34r = -\frac{3}{4}.
Using Sn=S∞(1−rn)S_n = S_\infty(1 - r^n), substitute into the inequality:
327>1.02[327(1−(−34)n)]\frac{32}{7} > 1.02 \left[ \frac{32}{7} \left( 1 - \left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n \right) \right]
Divide both sides by 327\frac{32}{7} (since it is positive):
1>1.02(1−(−34)n)1 > 1.02 \left( 1 - \left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n \right)
1>1.02−1.02(−34)n1 > 1.02 - 1.02\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n
1.02(−34)n>0.021.02\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n > 0.02
(−34)n>151\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n > \frac{1}{51}

3. Analyze the parity of $n$ to handle the negative common ratio.

Since 151>0\frac{1}{51} > 0, the term (−34)n\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n must be positive.
This requires nn to be an even integer. For even nn, the base becomes positive:
(−34)n=0.75n\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^n = 0.75^n
0.75n>1510.75^n > \frac{1}{51}

4. Solve for $n$ and list the possible even integer values.

Taking the natural logarithm on both sides:
nln⁡0.75>ln⁡(151)n \ln 0.75 > \ln \left(\frac{1}{51}\right)
Since ln⁡0.75<0\ln 0.75 < 0, the inequality sign flips when dividing:
n<ln⁡(1/51)ln⁡0.75≈13.667n < \frac{\ln(1/51)}{\ln 0.75} \approx 13.667
Since nn must be a positive even integer, the possible values are:
n=2,4,6,8,10,12n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

Answer

n=2,4,6,8,10,12n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

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