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Sequences and Series
4
Example 4.1
A geometric series has common ratio r, and an arithmetic series has frst term a
and common difference d, where a and d are non-zero. The frst three terms of
the geometric series are equal to the frst, sixth and tenth terms respectively of
the arithmetic series.
(i) Show that 5r
2
9r + 4 = 0.
(ii) Deduce that the geometric series is convergent and fnd, in terms of a, the
sum to infnity.
(iii) The sum of the frst n terms of the geometric series is denoted by S. Given
that a > 0, fnd the least value of n for which S exceeds 99% of the sum to
infnity.
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
In this chapter, you learn how to use GC to

Find the nth term of a Sequence.

Find the Sum of a Sequence.

Find the Sum to Infinity of a GP.

Solve Quadratic Equation under EQUA mode.

Evaluate .

Find the Root(s) of an Equation under GRAPH mode.

Determine the Behaviour of a Sequence.

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(i)
2 2
2
(6 1) (10 1)
(6 1)
1 9
1 5
1 5
1
1 9
1 1 5
1 9 5 5 9 9
1 5 5
1 5
5
5 9 4 0 (shown)
a d a d
r
a a d
d
d a
r
d a
a
r
d r r
r r r r
r a
r r
+ +
= =
+
| |
+
|
| |
\ .
= + =
|
| |
\ .
+
|
\ .
| |
+
|
| |
\ .
= = = + = +
|
| |
\ .
+
|
\ .
+ =
(ii)
2
4
5 9 4 0 ( 1)(5 4) 0 1 or
5
Since 0, the three terms of GP are not the same, thus 1.
4
Hence, Since 1, the geometric series is convergent.
5
And the sum to infinity 5 .
4
1
5
r r r r r r
d r
r r
a
a
+ = = = =

= <
= =

(iii) 0.99
(1 0.8 )
0.99
1 0.8 1 0.8
1 0.8 0.99
0.8 0.01
lg0.8 lg0.01
lg0.01
lg0.8
20.6
Hence, the least value of is 21.
n
n
n
n
S S
a a
n
n
n
n

>

>

>
<
<
>
>
(You may use GC to verify your answer.)
SOLUTION
If x, y and z are in G
.P.,
=
=
y
z
r
x
y
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p1
iq
uuq
uy
0.8^
f$,f
,1,2
00,1
kl
Select RUN.MAT
mode.
Select LIST.
Select SUM.
Select Seq.
Enter the parameters
in the following
format: Seq
(Expression, Variable,
Start, End, Increment)
Answer: 4 which
is S

where a = 0.8
and r = 0.8. (Here,
we assume a takes a
positive value.)
p8
eq
0.8^
fl
Select RECUR mode.
Select TYPE, F1:
a
n
= An + B.
Enter the expression
0.8
n
.
y
1l50
ll
Lp
ql
Select SET.
Enter 1 for Start,
50 for End.
Increase the End
value if found
necessary later.
Enter SET UP.
Set On for
Display

.
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Practical Guide To GCE ALevel H2 Mathematics GC Approach
u
N
Select TABL.
Press N until
n
a

exceeds 0.99S

, i.e.
0.99 4 = 3.96.
You may also
consider 0.8
n
falling
below 0.01.
Both approaches
arrive at the same
answer: the least
value of n is 21.
Example 4.2
(i) Patrick saves $20 on 1 January 2008. On the frst day of each subsequent
month he saves $4 more than in the previous month, so that he saves $24
on 1 February 2008, $28 on 1 March 2009, and so on. On what date will he
frst have saved over $5000 in total?
(ii) Kenny puts $20 on 1 January 2008 into a bank account which pays
compound interest at a rate of 3% per month on the last day of each month.
He puts a further $20 into the account on the frst day of each subsequent
month.
(a) How much compound interest has his original $20 earned at the end
of 3 years?
(b) How much in total, correct to the nearest dollar, is in the account at
the end of 3 years?
(c) After how many complete months will the total in the account frst
exceed $5000?
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SOLUTION
(i) T
1
= 20, d = 4
| |
2
2(20) 4( 1) 5000 9 2500 0 54.7 or 45.7
2
n
n n n n n + > + > < >
Hence, Patrick will frst have saved over $5000 in total on 1 October 2011.
(You may use GC to fnd the roots.)
(ii) (a) The required compound interest = 20(1.03)
36
20 = $38.0 (3 s.f.)
(b)
2 36
36
The required amount 20(1.03) 20(1.03) ... 20(1.03)
20(1.03) (1.03) 1
1.03 1
$1303
= + + +
(

=

=

(You may use GC to verify your answer.)
pf
w
q
1l9l
n250
0l
q
Select EQUA mode.
Select F2:Polynomial.
Select Degree 2.
Enter the values of a,
b and c.
Select SOLV.
Answers:
45.7 or 54.7
p8
e
w
Select RECUR
mode.
Select TYPE.
Select
F2: a
n+1
= Aa
n
+ Bn
+ C.
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1.03
jw+2
0kl
Enter the
recurrence
formula.
Press w for a
n
.
y
N100
l
Select SET.
Enter the start
and end value of
n as well as the
value of a
n
.
du
N
Select TABL.
Keep pressing
N until the
value on the left
column reaches
36.
Record the
corresponding
value on the
right column:
1303.4.
(c)
2
20(1.03) 20(1.03) ... 20(1.03) 5000
20(1.03)(1.03 1)
5000
1.03 1
1.03 8.282
lg8.282
lg1.03
71.5
n
n
n
n
n
+ + + >

>

>
>
>
The total in the account will frst exceed $5000 after 72 months.
(You may use GC to verify your answer.)
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GLM PTE LTD
N
Keep pressing N
until the value on
the right column
first reaches 5000
or above.
Record the
corresponding
value on the right
column: 72.
Example 4.3
A sequence u
1
, u
2
, u
3
, is such that u
1
= 1 and
2
1
3 3
3 3 1
, for all 1.
( 1)
n n
n n
u u n
n n
+
+ +
=
+
(i) Use the method of mathematical induction to prove that
3
1
.
n
u
n
=
(ii) Hence fnd
2
3 3
1
3 3 1
.
( 1)
N
n
n n
n n
=
+ +
+

(iii) Give a reason why the series in part (ii) is convergent and state the sum to
infnity.
(iv) Use your answer to part (ii) to fnd
2
3 3
2
3 3 1
.
( 1)
N
n
n n
n n
=
+

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SOLUTION
(i)
2
1 1
3 3 3
1
2
1
3
1 3 3 1
Let P be the statement where and 1 for .
( 1)
1
When 1, L.H.S. 1 ; R.H.S. 1.
1
L.H.S. R.H.S.
P is true.
1
Assume P is true for some , i.e. .
To prove
n n n n
k k
n n
u u u u n
n n n
n u
k u
k
+
+
+
+ +
= = =
+
= = = = =
=

1 1
3
2
1
3 3
2
3 3 3
3 2
3 3
3 2 2
3 3
3
1
1
1
P is true, i.e.
( 1)
3 3 1
L.H.S.
( 1)
1 3 3 1
( 1)
( 1) 3 3 1
( 1)
3 3 1 3 3 1
( 1)
1
( 1)
R.H.S.
P is true whenever P is true.
Since P is t
k k
k k
k k
u
k
k k
u u
k k
k k
k k k
k k k
k k
k k k k k
k k
k
+ +
+
+
=
+
+ +
= =
+
+ +
=
+
+
=
+
+ + +
=
+
=
+
=

1
rue and P P is true by Mathematical Induction,
P is true for all .
k k
n
n
+
+

(ii)
2
1
3 3
1 1
1 2
2 3
1
1
1 1
3
3 3 1
( )
( 1)

...


1
1
( 1)
N N
n n
n n
N N
N N
N
n n
u u
n n
u u
u u
u u
u u
u u
N
+
= =

+
+
+ +
=
+
=
+
+
+
=
=
+

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GLM PTE LTD
p1
ruw
N!f$
1B8
N!!!
!z3f
s+3f
+1Nf
^3$j
f+1k
^3l
Select RUN.MAT
mode.
Select MATH,

( .
Enter the initial
value 1 and the end
value 8 (randomly
chosen).
Enter the expression.
Answer: 728/729. If
the answer is not in
fraction form, press
x.
1-z1
N9^3
l
Evaluate the answer
in part (ii) when N = 8.
Answer: 728/729
(You may use GC to verify your answer.)
(iii)
2
3 3 3 3
1
1 1 3 3 1
When , 0 1 1 1
( 1) ( 1) ( 1)
N
n
n n
N
N N n n
=
+ +

+ + +

Hence, the series in part (ii) is convergent and the sum to infnity is 1.
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Practical Guide To GCE ALevel H2 Mathematics GC Approach
[Apply similar
keystrokes found
in part (ii).]
Answer: 511/512
Answer: 511/512
(iv)
2 2 1
3 3 3 3
2 1
2 1
3 3
1
2 1
3 3
1
2 1
3 3
1
3
3
3 3 1 3( 1) 3( 1) 1
when 1
( 1) ( 1)
3( 1) 3( 1) 1
( 1)
3 6 3 3 3 1
( 1)
3 3 1
( 1)
1
1
( 1 1)
1
1
N N
n r
N
r
N
r
N
r
n n r r
n r
n n r r
r r
r r
r r r
r r
r r
r r
N
N

= =

=
+ + + +
= = +
+
+ + +
=
+
+ + +
=
+
+ +
=
+
=
+
=

(You may use GC again to verify your answer.)

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GLM PTE LTD
Example 4.4
The diagram shows the graph of
2
2 .
x
y x e =
The two roots of the equation are
denoted by and . where < .
(i) Find the values of and , each correct to 3 decimal places.
A sequence of real numbers x
1
, x
2
, x
3
, satisfes the recurrence relation
1
2
1
2
+
=
n
x
n
x e

for n 1.
(ii) Prove algebraically that, if the sequence converges, then it converges to
either or .
(iii) Use a calculator to determine the behaviours of the sequence for each of
the cases x
1
= 0, x
1
= 3, x
1
= 6.
(iv) By considering x
n+1

x
n
, prove that

1
1
if ,
if or ,
n n n
n n n n
x x x
x x x x
+
+
< < <
> < >


(v) State briefy how the results in part (iv) relate to the behaviours determined in
part (iii).
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Practical Guide To GCE ALevel H2 Mathematics GC Approach
SOLUTION
p5
2f-L
GjfM
2kl
Enter GRAPH mode.
Enter the equation of
the graph as Y1.
u
Select DRAW.
yq
$
Find the first root .
Answer: 0.715
Find the second root .
Answer: 4.307
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(i) From GC, = 0.715 and = 4.307.
(ii)
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2 0
2 0 given that and when .
+
+
+
+
=
=
=
=
n
n
n
n n
x
n
x
n
x
n
L
x e
x e
x e
L e x L x L n



Since and are the roots of
2
2 0, =
x
x e hence x
n
converges to or if the
sequence converges.
(iii)
p8
e
w
0.5L
GjwM
2kl
Enter RECUR mode.
Select TYPE.
Select F2:
a
n+1
= Aa
n
+ B
n
+ C .
Enter the recurrence
equation.
w corresponds to a
n
.
y
w
1l20
l0l
Enter Table Setting.
Change a
0
to a
1
.
Apply the settings
as shown. Use a
larger value for
End if later found
insufficient.
Use a
1
= 0 for the
first case.
du
Select TABL.
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Practical Guide To GCE ALevel H2 Mathematics GC Approach
N
While pressing N,
observe the change
in a
n+1
.
It is noted that the
sequence converges
to 0.7148 which is
when x
1
= 0.
Repeat the same process for the cases x
1
= 3 and x
1
= 6.
[Set a
1
= 3 and
apply similar
key strokes.]
It is noted that the
sequence converges
to 0.7148 also which
is when x
1
= 3.
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[Set a
1
= 6 and
apply similar
key strokes.]
It is noted that the
sequence diverges
when x
1
= 6 as shown
by the 'ERROR'
message.
(iv)
2 2
2 2
2 2
1 2
1 1
1 1
1 1 1
(2 )
2 2 2
1
If , 2 0 (2 ) 0 0 .
2
1
If or , 2 0 (2 ) 0 0 .
2
x x
n n
n
x x
n n
x x
n n
x
n n n n n
n n n n n n n
n n n n n n n n
x x e x e x x e
x x e x e x x x x
x x x e x e x x x x
+
+ +
+ +
= = =
< < > < < <
< > < > > >


(v)
2
2
1 1 1 1 2 3 2
1 1 1 1 2 3 2
1 1 1 1 2 3
1 1
For 0 where , hence ... .
2 2
1 1
For 3 where , hence ... .
2 2
If 6 where , hence ... .
n
n
x
n n
x
n n
n n
x x x e x e x x x
x x x x e e x x x
x x x x x x x
+
+
+
= < = < = < < < <
= < < > = > = > > > >
= > < < < <

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Practical Guide To GCE ALevel H2 Mathematics GC Approach
GC Techniques covered in this chapter
TECHNIQUES 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4
Find the nth term of a Sequence.

Find the Sum of a Sequence.

Find the Sum to Infinity of a GP.

Solve Quadratic Equation under EQUA
mode.

Evaluate .

Find the Root(s) of an Equation under
GRAPH mode.

Determine the Behaviour of a Sequence.

Checklist