A geometric series has common ratio rr, and an arithmetic series has first term aa and common difference dd, where aa and dd are non-zero. The first three terms of the geometric series are equal to the first, fourth and sixth terms respectively of the arithmetic series.

  1. (i)

    Show that 3r2−5r+2=03r^{2} - 5r + 2 = 0.

  2. (ii)

    Deduce that the geometric series is convergent and find, in terms of aa, the sum to infinity.

  3. (iii)

    The sum of the first nn terms of the arithmetic series is denoted by SS. Given that a>0a > 0, find the set of possible values of nn for which SS exceeds 4a4a.

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Worked solution

Q4(i)

1. Express the first three terms of both the arithmetic and geometric series.

Let the first three terms of the geometric series be G1G_1, G2G_2, and G3G_3.
Since the first term of the arithmetic series is aa, G1=aG_1 = a.
Then, G2=arG_2 = ar and G3=ar2G_3 = ar^2.

Let the terms of the arithmetic series be T1T_1, T4T_4, and T6T_6.
T1=aT_1 = a
T4=a+3dT_4 = a + 3d
T6=a+5dT_6 = a + 5d

2. Equate the corresponding terms to form simultaneous equations.

Since the first three terms of the geometric series are equal to the first, fourth and sixth terms of the arithmetic series respectively:
ar=a+3d— (1)ar = a + 3d \quad \text{--- (1)}
ar2=a+5d— (2)ar^2 = a + 5d \quad \text{--- (2)}

3. Express $d$ in terms of $a$ and $r$ using the first equation.

From equation (1):
3d=ar−a3d = ar - a
d=a(r−1)3d = \frac{a(r - 1)}{3}

4. Substitute the expression for $d$ into the second equation and rearrange to obtain the required quadratic equation.

Substitute dd into equation (2):
ar2=a+5(a(r−1)3)ar^2 = a + 5\left( \frac{a(r - 1)}{3} \right)
Multiply both sides by 3 to clear the fraction:
3ar2=3a+5a(r−1)3ar^2 = 3a + 5a(r - 1)
3ar2=3a+5ar−5a3ar^2 = 3a + 5ar - 5a
3ar2=5ar−2a3ar^2 = 5ar - 2a
Since aa is non-zero (a≠0a \neq 0), we can divide the entire equation by aa:
3r2=5r−23r^2 = 5r - 2
3r2−5r+2=0(Shown)3r^2 - 5r + 2 = 0 \quad \text{(Shown)}

Answer

Shown\text{Shown}

Q4(ii)

1. Solve the quadratic equation from part (i) to find the possible values of $r$.

3r2−5r+2=03r^2 - 5r + 2 = 0
(3r−2)(r−1)=0(3r - 2)(r - 1) = 0
r=23 or r=1r = \frac{2}{3} \text{ or } r = 1

2. Reject the invalid value of $r$ and deduce that the geometric series converges.

If r=1r = 1, the first three terms of the geometric series are all aa.
Then the 4th term of the arithmetic series is a+3d=a  ⟹  d=0a + 3d = a \implies d = 0.
Since the question states dd is non-zero, r=1r = 1 is rejected.
Thus, r=23r = \frac{2}{3}.
Since ∣r∣=∣23∣<1|r| = \left|\frac{2}{3}\right| < 1, the geometric series is convergent.

3. Find the sum to infinity in terms of $a$.

S∞=a1−rS_\infty = \frac{a}{1 - r}
S∞=a1−23S_\infty = \frac{a}{1 - \frac{2}{3}}
S∞=3aS_\infty = 3a

Answer

The series is convergent as ∣r∣=23<1|r| = \frac{2}{3} < 1.
S∞=3aS_\infty = 3a

Q4(iii)

1. Find the common difference $d$ in terms of $a$ using the common ratio $r$ obtained from the earlier parts.

From part (ii), the geometric series converges, so the common ratio is r=23r = \frac{2}{3}.
The fourth term of the arithmetic series is equal to the second term of the geometric series:
a+3d=ara + 3d = ar
3d=a(23)−a3d = a\left(\frac{2}{3}\right) - a
3d=−13a  ⟹  d=−19a3d = -\frac{1}{3}a \implies d = -\frac{1}{9}a

2. Express the sum of the first $n$ terms, $S$, in terms of $n$ and $a$.

The sum of the first nn terms of an arithmetic series is given by:
S=n2[2a+(n−1)d]S = \frac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d]
Substitute d=−19ad = -\frac{1}{9}a:
S=n2[2a−a(n−1)9]S = \frac{n}{2}\left[2a - \frac{a(n-1)}{9}\right]

3. Formulate the inequality $S > 4a$ and simplify it to a quadratic inequality.

Given that S>4aS > 4a, we have:
n2[2a−a(n−1)9]>4a\frac{n}{2}\left[2a - \frac{a(n-1)}{9}\right] > 4a
Since a>0a > 0, we can divide both sides by aa without reversing the inequality sign:
n2[2−n−19]>4\frac{n}{2}\left[2 - \frac{n-1}{9}\right] > 4
n[18−(n−1)9]>8n\left[\frac{18 - (n-1)}{9}\right] > 8
n(19−n)>72n(19 - n) > 72
19n−n2>7219n - n^2 > 72
n2−19n+72<0n^2 - 19n + 72 < 0

4. Solve the quadratic inequality to find the range of possible values for $n$.

First, find the roots of the corresponding quadratic equation n2−19n+72=0n^2 - 19n + 72 = 0:
n=−(−19)±(−19)2−4(1)(72)2(1)n = \frac{-(-19) \pm \sqrt{(-19)^2 - 4(1)(72)}}{2(1)}
n=19±361−2882=19±732n = \frac{19 \pm \sqrt{361 - 288}}{2} = \frac{19 \pm \sqrt{73}}{2}
Calculating the approximate values, we get n≈5.23n \approx 5.23 and n≈13.77n \approx 13.77.
Since the quadratic curve opens upwards and we require it to be less than zero, nn must lie between the roots:
5.23<n<13.775.23 < n < 13.77

5. Determine the set of possible integer values for $n$.

Since nn represents the number of terms, it must be a positive integer.
The integers strictly between 5.235.23 and 13.7713.77 are 6,7,8,9,10,11,126, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 1313.
The set of possible values of nn is {6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}\{6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13\}.

Answer

{6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}\{6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13\}

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