Created by T.

Madas

GEOMETRIC
SERIES

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)

7, 21,63,189,567, ...

a) Find, using algebra, the value of the eighth term of the above sequence.

b) Determine the sum of the first twelve terms of the sequence.

u8 = 15309 , S12 = 1860040

Question 2 (**)

59049,19683,6561, 2187, 729, ...

For above sequence, …

a) … calculate, using algebra, the value of the tenth term.

b) … determine the sum of the first ten terms.

c) … find the sum to infinity.

u10 = 3 , S10 = 88572 , S∞ = 88573.5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**)

0.31, 0.0031, 0.000031, 0.00000031, ...

a) Calculate, using algebra, the sum of the first five terms of the above sequence.

b) Find, as an exact fraction, the sum to infinity of the series.

S5 = 0.3131313131 , S∞ = 31
99

Question 4 (**)

− 1 , − 1 , − 1 , − 1 , ...
16807 2401 343 49

a) Determine, using algebra, the value of the tenth term of the above sequence.

b) Find, to the nearest integer, the sum of the first ten terms of the above sequence.

u10 = −2401 , S10 ≈ −2801

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**)
The first and second term of a geometric series is 90 and 15 , respectively.

a) State the common ratio of the series.

b) Calculate the sum to infinity of the series.

C2I , r = 1 , S∞ = 108
6

Question 6 (**)
The third and fourth term of a geometric progression is 144 and 108 , respectively.

Find …

a) … the common ratio of the progression.

b) … the fifth term of the progression.

c) … the sum to infinity of the progression.

C2A , r = 3 , u5 = 81 , S∞ = 1024
4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (**)
Evaluate the sum

15

( ×
r=1
)
3 2r ,

showing clearly all the relevant workings.

196602

Question 8 (**+)
A geometric series has common ratio 1 .
3

a) Find the first term of the series, given that the sum of its first four terms is 36 .

b) Determine the sum to infinity of the series.

a = 24.3 , S∞ = 36.45

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (**+)
The second and the fifth term of a geometric series is 12 and 1.5 , respectively.

a) Find the first term and the common ratio of the series.

b) Calculate the sum to infinity of the series.

a = 24 , r = 0.5 , S∞ = 48

Question 10 (**+)
The fifth and the sixth term of a geometric series is 12 and −8 , respectively.

a) Find the first term and the common ratio of the series.

b) Calculate the sum to infinity of the series.

a = 60.75 , r = − 2 , S∞ = 36.45
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (**+)
The common ratio of a geometric series is twice as large as its first term.

a) Given that the sum to infinity of the series is 1, find the exact value of the first
term of the series.

b) Determine, as an exact fraction, the value of the fifth term of the series.

C2H , a = 1 , u5 = 16
3 243

Question 12 (**+)
The common ratio of a geometric series is 1 and the sum of its first three terms is 98 .
2

a) Find the first term of the series.

b) Determine the sum to infinity of the series.

a = 56 , u∞ = 112

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (**+)
The second and the fourth term of a geometric series are 3 and 1.08 , respectively.

Calculate the sum to infinity of the series, given that all the terms of the series are
positive.

S∞ = 12.5

Question 14 (**+)
Miss Velibright started working as an accountant in a large law firm in the year 2001 .

Her starting salary was £22,000 and her contract promised that she will be receiving a
pay rise of 5% every year thereafter. Miss Velibright plans to retire in 2030 .

Find to the nearest £ , …

a) …her salary in the year 2030 .

b) … her total earnings in employment for the years 2001 to 2030 , inclusive.

C2F , £90,555 , £1, 461,655

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (**+)
The k th term of a geometric progression is given by

uk = 15625 × 1.25− k .

a) Find the first three terms of the progression.

b) Find the sum to infinity of the progression.

c) Evaluate the sum

10


k =1
uk ,

giving the answer to the nearest integer.

SYN-S , u1 = 12500, u2 = 10000, u3 = 8000 , S∞ = 62500 , S10 = 55789

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (**+)
The third and the sixth term of a geometric series is 4 and 6.912 , respectively.

a) Find the exact value of the first term and the common ratio of the series.

b) Calculate, to three significant figures, the sum of the first ten terms of the series.

C2K , a = 25 , r = 6 , S10 ≈ 72.1

9 5

Question 17 (**+)
The second and the fifth term of a geometric progression is 80 and 5.12 , respectively.

a) Find the value of the first term and the common ratio of the progression.

b) Calculate, correct to two decimal places, the difference between the sum of the
first ten terms of the progression and its sum to infinity.

a = 200 , r = 2 , S∞ − S10 = 0.03

5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (**+)
All the terms of a geometric progression are positive. The second and the fourth term
of the progression is 9.6 and 6.144 , respectively.

a) Find the first term and the common ratio of the progression.

b) Calculate, correct to three significant figures, the sum of the first ten terms of
the progression.

a = 12 , r = 0.8 , S10 ≈ 53.6

Question 19 (**+)
The third and the sixth term of a geometric series is 54 and 1458 , respectively.

a) Find the first term and the common ratio of the series.

b) Determine the sum of the first ten terms of the series.

C2B , a = 6 , r = 3 , S10 = 177144

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (**+)

6 , 12 , 24 , 48, 96 , … , U .

The geometric sequence above has k terms and its last term is U .

a) Given that the sum of its terms is 1 572 858 , find the value of k .

b) Determine the value of U .

k = 18 , U = 786432

Question 21 (**+)
The first few terms of a geometric sequence are given below

16,8, 4, 2, ...

Find …

a) … the sum to infinity of the series.

b) … the exact value of the twentieth term, giving the answer as a power of 2 .

S∞ = 32 , u20 = 2−15

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (***)
A geometric series has first term 20480 and its sum to infinity is 81920 .

a) Show that the common ratio of the series is 3 .

4

b) Calculate the difference between the fifth and the sixth term of the series.

c) Determine the smallest number of terms that should be added so that their total
exceeds 80000 .

SYN-T , 1620 , 14

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (***)
The sum of the first two terms of a geometric series is 10 and the third term is 5 .

a) Find the first term and the common ratio of the series.

b) Determine the sum to infinity of the series.

a = 20 , r = −0.5 , S∞ = 40
3

Question 24 (***)
Evaluate the following sum

12

r =1
2r −1 .

4095

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 25 (***)
The maximum speed, in mph, that can be achieved in each of the five gears of a sports
car form a geometric progression.

The maximum speed obtained in first gear is 32 mph while the car can achieve a
maximum speed of 162 mph in fifth gear.

Find the maximum speed that can be achieved in third gear.

C2E , 72 mph

Question 26 (***)
The sum to infinity of a geometric progression of positive terms is 270 and the sum of
its first two terms is 240 .

Find the first term and the common ratio of the progression.

a = 180 , r = 1
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (***)
The sum to infinity of a geometric series is four times as large as its first term.

The sum of its first two terms is 2240 .

Find the sum of the first five terms of the series.

S5 = 3500

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (***)
Grandad gave Kevin £10 on his first birthday and he increased the amount by 20% on
each subsequent birthday.

a) Calculate the amount of money that Kevin received from his grandad on his
10 th birthday

Kevin received the last birthday amount of money from his grandad on his n th
birthday and on that birthday the amount he received exceeded £1000 for the first time.

b) Show clearly that

2
n> +1.
log10 (1.2 )

c) State the value of n .

C2V , £51.60 , n = 27

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (***+)
The first three terms of a geometric series are

k , 6 and 5k + 8 respectively,

where k is a constant.

a) Show that one of the possible values of k is 2 , and find the other.

b) Given that k = 2 , find the sum of the first 10 terms of the series.

k = − 18 , S10 = 59048
5

Question 30 (***+)

2 3 4
1 + (1 + x ) + (1 + x ) + (1 + x ) + (1 + x ) + ...

It is given that the above series is convergent.

Determine the range of values of x , and its sum to infinity in terms of x .

−2 < x < 0 , S∞ = − 1x

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (***+)
The first term of a geometric progression is 1200 and its sum to infinity is 1600 .

a) Find the sum of the first five terms of the progression.

The n th term of the progression is denoted by un .

b) Evaluate the sum


r =6
ur .

SYN-C , S5 = 1598.4375 , 1.5625

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 32 (***+)
The sum of the first four terms of a geometric series is 2040 and the sum to infinity of
the series is 2048 .

All the terms of the series are positive.

Find the fourth term of the series.

u4 = 24

Question 33 (***+)
The second term of an geometric progression is 2 and the common ratio is 1 2 .
2

a) Find the first term of the progression.

b) Determine the value of the tenth term.

c) Show, by detailing all steps in the calculation, that the sum to infinity of the
progression is

4+4 2 .

a = 8 , u10 = 1
8

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 34 (***+)
In a geometric series the sum of the second and fourth term is 156 .

In the same geometric series the sum of the third and the fifth term is 234 .

Find the first term and the common ratio of the series.

SYN-B , a = 32 , r = 1.5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 35 (***+)
The second term of a geometric series is 4 and its sum to infinity is 18 .

a) Show that the common ratio r of the series is a solution of the equation

9 r 2 − 9r + 2 = 0 .

b) Find the two possible values of r and the corresponding values of the first term
of the series.

The sum of the first n terms of the series is denoted by S n .

c) Given that r takes the larger of the two values found in part (b) determine the
smallest value of n for which S n exceeds 17.975 .

r = 1 , a = 12 , r = 2 , a = 6 , n = 17
3 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 36 (***+)
The first three terms of a geometric series are given below as functions of x .

x2 , ( x + 12 ) and ( 2 x − 3) .

a) Show that x is a solution of the equation

x3 − 2 x 2 − 12 x − 72 = 0 .

b) Show clearly that x = 6 is the only solution of the above equation.

c) Find the sum to infinity of the series.

C2D , S∞ = 72

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 37 (***+)
A geometric series consists of positive terms only.

The first and the second term of the series add up to 270 .

Its sum to infinity is 288 .

Determine the first term and the common ratio of the series.

a = 216 , r = 1
4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 38 (***+)
The first and the second term of a geometric series add up to 240 .

The first and the third term of the same geometric series add up to 200 .

Determine the two possible values of the sum to infinity of the series.

C2V , S∞ = 270 or 320

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 39 (***+)
The manufacturer of a certain brand of washing machine is to replace an old model
with a new model. There will be a “phase out” period for the old model and a “phase
in” period for the new model, both lasting 24 months and starting at the same time.

On the first month of the phase out period 5000 old washing machines will be
produced and each month thereafter, this figure will reduce by 20% .

a) Show that on the fifth month of the “phase out” period 2048 old washing
machines will be produced.

b) Find how many old washing machines will be produced during the “phase out”
period.

On the first month of the “phase in” period 1000 new washing machines will be
produced and each month thereafter, this figure will increase by 5% .

c) Calculate how many new washing machines will be produced on the last month
of the “phase in” period.

On the k th month of the “phase in/phase out” period, for the first time more new
washing machines will be produced than old washing machines.

d) Show that k satisfies

k −1
 21 
  > 5.
 16 

e) Use logarithms to determine the value of k .

C2Q , 24881 or 24882 , 3071 or 3072 , k = 7

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 40 (***+)
The third and fourth term of a geometric series is

( x + 1) and ( x3 + x 2 − 4 x − 4 ) ,
respectively.

a) Determine the common ratio of the series.

Give the answer as simplified quadratic expression, in terms of x .

b) Write the fourth term of the series as a product of three linear factors.

c) Given that x = 3 , find the first term of the series.

r = x 2 − 4 , u4 = ( x − 2 )( x + 2 )( x + 1) , a = 4
25

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 41 (***+)
In a certain quiz game, contestants answer questions consecutively until they get a
question wrong.

They win £10 for answering the first question correctly, £20 for answering the
second question correctly, £40 for answering the third question correctly, and so on so
that the amounts won for each successive question is a term of a geometric series.

When contestants answer a question wrong their game is over and they get to keep 1
10
of their total winnings up to that point.

Connor answers 5 questions correctly.

a) Show that Connor won £31 .

The highest prize won in this game, by a contestant called Ray, was £2,097,151 .

b) Use algebra to find the number of questions that Ray answered correctly.
Full workings, justifying every step in the calculations, must be shown in
this part of the question.

C2J , 21

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 42 (***+)
The first three terms of a geometric series are

( 2k − 2 ) , ( k + 2 ) and ( k − 2) respectively,

where k is a non zero constant.

a) Show clearly that k = 10 .

b) Find the sum to infinity of the series.

S∞ = 54

Question 43 (***+)
Four brothers shared £1800 so that their shares formed the terms of a geometric
progression.

Given that the largest share was 8 times as large as the smallest share, determine the
individual amounts each brother got.

C2L , £120, £240, £480, £960

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 44 (***+)
The second and third term of a geometric progression are 9.6 and 9.216 , respectively.

a) Show that the sum to infinity of the progression is 250 .

The sum of the first k terms of the progression is greater than 249 .

b) Show clearly that

0.96k < 0.004 .

c) Hence determine the smallest value of k .

k = 136

Question 45 (***+)
The second term of a geometric series is −12 and its sum to infinity is 16 .

3
Show clearly that the eleventh term of the series is .
128

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 46 (***+)
The third and the sixth term of a geometric progression is 27 and 8 , respectively.

Show clearly that

r =6
ur = 24 ,

where ur is the r th term of the progression.

proof

Question 47 (***+)
The first three terms u1 , u2 , u3 of a geometric series are a , b and c respectively.

Given that b = c 2 express u2 and u3 in terms of a .

2 1
b = a3 , c = a3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 48 (***+)
A steamboat uses 5 tonnes of coal to cover a standard journey designed for tourists.

Due to the engines becoming less efficient, the steamboat requires in each journey 2%
more coal than the previous journey.

a) Calculate, in tonnes correct to three decimal places, …

i. … the amount of coal the steamboat will use on the tenth journey.

ii. … the total amount of coal the steamboat will use in the first ten
iiii journeys.

The company that owns the steamboat has stocked up with 360 tonnes of coal and
plans to use all the coal during a single tourist season.

b) Assuming that in the first journey the steamboat used 5 tonnes of coal, and
the consumption of coal increased by 2% in each subsequent journey, show
clearly that

1.02n ≤ 2.44 ,

where n is the total number of journeys during a single tourist season.

c) Hence, or otherwise, determine the maximum number of journeys that the

steamboat can make a single tourist season.

C2C , 5.975 , 54.749 , 45

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 49 (***+)
The first, second and third term of a geometric series are

( 2k − 5 ) , k and ( k − 6) ,

respectively, where k is a non zero constant.

a) Show that k is a solution of the equation

k 2 − 17 k + 30 = 0 .

b) Given that the series converges, find its sum to infinity.

c) Given instead that series does not converge, find the sum of its first ten terms.

C2O , S∞ = 125 = 62.5 , S10 = 341

2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 50 (***+)
Three consecutive terms in geometric progression are given in sequential order as

(1 − 5 p ) , 1 and ( 4 p − 2) ,
2

where p is a constant.

Show that one possible value of p is 1 and find the other.

4

MP2-C , p = 9
20

Question 51 (***+)
The sum to infinity of a geometric series is 3 times as large as its first term and the
third term of the same series is 40 .

a) Find the value of the first term of the series.

b) Determine the exact value of the sum of the first four terms of the series.

MP2-A , a = 90 , S 4 = 650
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 52 (***+)
A geometric series, whose terms alternate in sign, has its first term denoted by a and
its common ratio denoted by r .

The sum of the first n terms of the series is denoted by S n .

It is given that

S 4 = 5S 2 .

a) Find the value of r .

b) Given further that the fifth term of the series is 36 , determine the value of a .

SYN-D , r = −2 , a = 9
4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 53 (***+)
The sum to infinity of a geometric series is 675 and its second term is 27 times larger
than its fifth term.

Find the value of the first term of the series.

C2R , a = 450

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 54 (***+)
The eighth term of a geometric progression is ten times as large as its fourth term.

The common ratio of the progression is positive.

a) Show that the common ratio of the series is approximately 1.778 .

The sum of the first eight terms of a different geometric progression is ten times as
large as the sum of its first four terms.

The common ratio of the progression r , is positive.

b) Show that r is a solution of the equation

r 8 − 10r 4 + 9 = 0 .

c) By reducing the above equation to a suitable quadratic, or otherwise, show that

r = 3.

C2N , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 55 (****)
The second and fifth term of a geometric progression are 72 and −9 respectively.

a) Find the first term and the common ratio of the progression.

b) Show that the difference between the sum to infinity and the sum of the first n
terms of the progression is given by

3 × 25 − n .

a = −144 , r = − 1
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 56 (****)
Max is revising for an exam by practicing papers.

He takes 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete the first paper and 3 hours and 15
minutes to complete the second paper.

It is assumed that the times Max takes to complete each successive paper are
consecutive terms of a geometric progression.

a) Assuming this model, show that Max will take approximately …

i. … 176 minutes to complete the sixth paper.

ii. … 35 hours to complete the first 12 papers.

Max aims to be able to complete a paper in under two hours.

b) Determine, by using logarithms, the minimum number of papers he needs to

practice in order to achieve his target according to this model.

C2U , 22

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 57 (****)
The sum to infinity of a geometric progression is four times as large as its second term.

a) Show that the common ratio of the series is 1 .

2

It is further given that the sum of the first four terms of the progression is 5760 .

b) Find the first term of the progression.

The sum of the first k terms of the progression is three less than its sum to infinity.

c) Use algebra to determine the value of k .

MP2-F , a = 3072 , k = 11

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 58 (****)
The sum of the first two terms of a geometric progression is twice as large as the sum
of its second and third term.

a) Show that the common ratio of the series is 1

2

The sum to infinity of the geometric progression is 80 .

b) Determine the exact value of the sum of the first six terms of the progression.

S6 = 315
4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 59 (****)
The fourth term and the seventh term of a geometric progression is 81 and 24 ,
respectively.

a) Determine the sum to infinity of the progression.

The tenth term of the progression is denoted by u10 .

b) Show clearly that

log 2 ( u10 ) = 6 − 2log 2 3 .

S∞ = 6561
8

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 60 (****)

= 0.321212121...
X = 0.321

By writing this decimal as the sum

X = 0.3 + 0.021 + 0.00021 + 0.0000021 + ...

53
show that X = .
165

proof

Question 61 (****)
A geometric series G , whose first term is a and common ratio is r , has a sum to
infinity of 128 .

Another geometric series G′ , with first term also a and common ratio 3r has a sum to
infinity of 384 .

Determine the exact value of the sum of the first five terms of G′ .

S5 = 2343
8

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 62 (****)
The third term of a geometric series is 4 and its sum to infinity is 27 .

a) Show that

27 r 3 − 27 r 2 + 4 = 0 ,

where r is the common ratio of the series.

b) Given that one possible value of r is − 1 find the other.

3

c) Given further that the first term of the series is 9 , find in exact form the sum of
the first five terms of the series.

r = 2 , S5 = 211
3 9

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 63 (****)
The first three terms of a geometric series are

u1 = 22 k +3 , u2 = 45−k and u3 = 2 (
2 2k +1)
.

a) Find the value of k .

b) Show that the sum of the first ten terms of the series is 65472 .

k=3
2

Question 64 (****)
The amount of £33500 is to be divided into three shares, so that the three shares form
the terms of a geometric progression.

Given that the value of the smallest share is £2000 , find the value of the largest share.

C2M , £24500

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 65 (****)
The first term of a geometric series is 24 and the sum of its first four terms is 45 .

a) Show that

8r 3 + 8r 2 + 8r − 7 = 0

where r is the common ratio of the progression.

b) Given that r = 1 is a solution of the above equation, factorize the equation into
2
a linear and a quadratic factor.

c) Show that r = 1 is the only real solution of the above equation.

2

d) Determine the sum to infinity of the progression.

( 2r − 1) ( 4r 2 + 6r + 7 ) , S∞ = 48

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 66 (****)
The first three terms of a geometric series are

( 2 x + 4 ) , ( 3 x + 2 ) and ( x 2 − 11) ,

where x is a constant.

a) Show that x is a solution of the cubic equation

2 x3 − 5 x 2 − 34 x − 48 = 0 .

b) Show that x = 6 is the only real solution of the above equation.

c) Determine the sum of the first eight terms of the geometric series.

C2Z , S8 = 325089 ≈ 317.47

1024

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 67 (****)

The figure above shows a pattern of 5 circles, touching externally, whose centres lie
on a straight line of length L units.

The radii of these circles form a geometric progression, where the radius of the smaller
circle is 3 units and that of the fifth (larger) circle is 48 units.

a) Find the common ratio of the geometric progression.

The pattern is extended by 5 more circles to 10 circles.

b) Determine the new value of L .

c) Calculate, in terms of π , the total area of the 10 circles of the new pattern.

MP2-D , r = 2 , L = 6138 , area = 3,145,725π

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 68 (****)
Showing clearly your method, determine the value of n , given that

r =1
22 r −1 = 43690 .

n=8

Question 69 (****)
The nth term of a geometric series is denoted by un .

It is further given that u1 = 1458 and u6 = 6 .

Evaluate showing clearly your method

n =7
un .


n =7
un = 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 70 (****)
The sum of the first n terms of a geometric series is denoted by S n .

The common ratio of the series, r , is greater than 1.

a) If S 4 = 5S 2 find the value of r .

b) Given further that S3 = 21 determine the value of S10 .

SYN-M , r = 2 , S10 = 3069

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 71 (****)
The first three terms of a geometric series are

u1 = q ( 4 p + 1) , u2 = q ( 2 p + 3 ) and u3 = q ( 2 p − 3) .

a) Find the possible values of p .

The sum to infinity of the series is 250 .

b) Find the value of q .

MP2-L , p = − 1 ∪ p = 6 , q = 4
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 72 (****)
The terms of a geometric progression are u1 , u2 , u3 , u4 , u5 , …

a) Given that u4 = 6 and u3 + u5 = 20 , show that

3r 2 − 10r + 3 = 0 ,

where r is the common ratio of the progression.

b) Given further that the progression has a sum to infinity determine its value.

MP2-H , S∞ = 243

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 73 (****)
Three consecutive terms of a geometric series are given in terms of a constant x .

U 3 = ( x + 5 ) , U 4 = ( 4 x − 1) and U 5 = ( 2 x + 3) .

Find the sum to infinity of the series.

SYN-G , S∞ = 243 = 6.075

40

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 74 (****)
Liquid is kept in containers, which due to evaporation and ongoing chemical reactions,
at the end of each month the volume of the liquid in these containers reduces by 10%
compared with the volume at the start of the same month.

One such container is filled up with 250 litres of liquid.

a) Show that the volume of the liquid in the container at the end of the second
month is 202.5 litres.

b) Find the volume of the liquid in the container at the end of the twelfth month.

At the start of each month a new container is filled up with 250 litres of liquid, so that
at the end of twelve months there are 12 containers with liquid.

c) Use an algebraic method to calculate the total amount of liquid in the 12

containers at the end of 12 months.

C2P , ≈ 70.6 , ≈ 1615

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 75 (****)
It is given that

r =1
ur = 128 − 27−n ,

where ur is the r th term of a geometric progression.

a) Find the sum of the first 8 terms of the progression.

b) Determine the value of u8 .

c) Find the common ratio of the progression.

8
MP2-J ,

r =1
ur = 127.5 , u8 = 0.5 , r = 0.5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 76 (****)
A certain type of plastic sheet blocks 7% of the sunlight.

It is required to block at least 95% of the sunlight by placing N of these plastic sheets
on top of each other.

Use algebra, to determine the least value of N .

SYN-U , N = 42

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 77 (****+)
A geometric has positive terms and positive common ratio r .

The difference between the first and the fourth term of a geometric progression is five
times as large as the difference between its second and its third term.

a) Show that the common ratio r of the progression is a solution of the equation

r 3 − 5r 2 + 5r − 1 = 0 .

b) Find, in exact surd form where appropriate, the solutions of the above equation.

The sum to infinity of the progression is 6+ 2.

c) Determine, in exact surd form, the first term of the progression.

SYN-E , r = 1, 2 − 3 , 2 + 3 , a = 2 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 78 (****+)

year 1 year 2 year 3

The figure above shows a flowering plant. In year 1 it produces a single stem with a
flower at the end.

In year 2 , the flower withers and in its place three more stems are produced, with each
new stem having a new flower at its end, i.e. 4 stems in total.

In year 3 , the flowers wither again and in each of their places a new stems is produced,
with each new stem having a new flower at its end, i.e. 13 stems in total.

This flowering pattern continues every year.

a) Find an expression for …

i. … the number of flowers in the n th year.

ii. … the number of stems in the n th year.

One such plant has 1093 stems.

b) Determine the number of flowers of this plant.

[continues overleaf]

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

[continued from overleaf]

A different plant of the above variety has over 750 flowers.

c) Determine the least number of stems of this plant.

n −1 3n − 1
C2G , f n = 3 , Sn = , 729 , 3280
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 79 (****+)
The sum of the first 2 terms of a geometric progression is 40 .

The sum of the first 4 terms of the same geometric progression is 130 .

Determine the two possible values of the sum of the first 5 terms of the geometric
progression.

C2X , S5 = 211 or S5 = −275

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 80 (****+)
A geometric series has first term a and common ratio r .

The ratio of the sum of the first 5 terms of the series, to the sum of the reciprocals of
the first 5 terms of the series, is 49 .

Given further that the sum of the first and third term of the series is 35 , determine the
value of a and the two possible values of r .

SYN-O , a = 28 , r = ± 1
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 81 (****+)
Anton is planning to save for a house purchase deposit over a period of 5 years.

He opens an account known as a “Homesaver” and plans to pay into this account £200
at the start of every month, and continue to do so for 5 years.

The account pays 0.5% compound interest per month, with the interest credited to the
account at the end of every month.

a) Show clearly that at the end of the third month the balance of the account will
be £606.02 .

b) Calculate the total amount in Anton’s “Homesaver” account after 5 years.

SYN-Q , £14023.78

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 82 (****+)
The second term of a geometric series is −12 and its sum to infinity is 16 .

a) Show that the first term of the series is 24 .

The sum of the first n term of the series is denoted by S n .

b) Show clearly that

S 2k = 16 − 4 2−k .

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 83 (****+)
A pension contribution scheme is scheduled as follows.

A £1250 contribution is made at the start of every year.

The total money in the scheme at the end of every year is re-invested at a constant
compound interest rate of 6% per annum.

a) Show that at the start of the third year, after the annual contribution has been
made, the amount in the pension scheme is £3979.50 .

b) Calculate the amount in the pension scheme at the start of the fortieth year,
after the annual contribution is made.

C2V , £193452.46

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 84 (****+)
The sum of the first k terms of a geometric progression is 180 .

It is further given that the sum of the first k terms of this geometric progression is
twelve less than its sum to infinity.

If the sum to infinity of the geometric progression is four times as large as its second
term, use algebra to determine the value of k .

SP-C , k = 4

Question 85 (*****)
Evaluate showing clearly your method

n =1
1 + 2n
3n
.

5
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 86 (****+)
The sum to infinity of a geometric series is 2187 .

th
The ( k − 1) and k th term of the same series are 96 and 64 , respectively.

Determine the value of


n = k +1
un ,

where un is the n th term of the series.

∞
MP2-Y ,

n = k +1
un = 128

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 87 (****+)
Liquid is kept in containers, which due to evaporation and ongoing chemical reactions,
at the end of each month the volume of the liquid in these containers reduces by 4%
compared with the volume at the start of the same month.

At the start of each month a new container is filled up with 200 litres of liquid, so that
at the end of thirty months there are 30 containers with liquid.

Calculate the total amount of liquid in the 30 containers at the end of 30 months.

MP2-W , ≈ 3389

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 88 (*****)
The r th term of a progression is given by

ur = ak r −1 ,

where a and k are non zero constants with k ≠ ±1 .

Show that

n
(
a 2k 1 − k 2n ).
(
r =1
ur × ur +1 ) =
1− k 2

C2T , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 89 (*****)
An elastic ball is dropped from a height of 20 metres, and bounces repeatedly.

The ball bounces off the ground to a height which is 1 the height from which it was
2
last dropped.

a) Show that after the n th bounce the ball reaches a height of 5 × 22−n metres.

b) Show clearly that the total distance covered by the ball up and including the
nth impact is given by

60 − 5 × 24−n .

The ball keeps bouncing off the ground in this fashion until it comes to rest.

c) Determine the total distance covered by the ball until it comes to rest.

60 metres

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 90 (*****)
The n th term of a geometric progression is denoted by un .

Find the possible values of the common ratio given that

un+ 2 = 5un+1 − 6un .

r = 2, 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 91 (*****)
The trapezium rule with n equally spaced intervals is to be used to estimate the value
of the following integral

 0
2 x dx .

Show that the value of this estimate is given by

1  2 n + 1 
1

.
2n  2 1n − 1 
 

SP-R , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 92 (*****)
It is given that 0 < r < 1 , 0 < R < 1 and r < 2 R .

It is further given that

2
∞  ∞ 
n =0
Rn = 



n =0
rn  .



Show clearly that


n
 r  2(2 − r )
  = .
 2R  3 − 2r
n =0

SPX-I , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 93 (*****)
Evaluate showing clearly your method

 n =1
3n − 2
4n+1
.

SYN-J , 7
12

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 94 (*****)
An elastic ball is dropped from a height of h metres.

The ball bounces off the ground to a height which is r times the height from which it
was dropped, where 0 < r < 1 .

The ball keeps bouncing off the ground in this fashion until it comes to rest.

Given the ball covers a total distance d show that

d −h
r= .
d +h

C2S , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 95 (*****)
The 2nd , 3rd and 4th terms of a geometric progression are cos θ , 2 sin θ and
π
3 tan θ , respectively, where 0 < θ < .
2

Show clearly that the sum of the first 6 terms of the progression is

43
12
( )
6+ 6 .

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 96 (*****)
It is given that

n  k 
Sn =
 (
k =1


 r =1
2 .
r


)

Show that

S n = 2n+ 2 − 2n − 4 .

SYN-I , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 97 (*****)
The first two terms of a geometric series are 10 and (10 − x ) .

Given that the series is convergent determine …

a) … the range of values of x .

b) … the range of the sum to infinity of the series.

SP-X , 0 < x < 20 , S∞ > 5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 98 (*****)

1 1 1 1
1+ + 2
+ + + ...
1 + x (1 + x ) (1 + x ) (1 + x )4
3

It is given that the above series is convergent.

Determine its sum to infinity in terms of x , and the range of the possible values of x .

1+ x
S∞ = , x < −2 or x > 0
x

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 99 (*****)
th
The ( k − 1) and k th term of a convergent geometric progression are 108 and 81 ,
respectively.

Determine the value of


n = k +1
un ,

where un is the n th term of the series.

∞
SYN-Y ,

n = k +1
un = 243

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 100 (*****)

The first two terms of a geometric series are 2 and x .

Given the series is convergent determine the range of the sum to infinity of the series.

S∞ > 1

Question 101 (*****)

A convergent geometric progression has positive first term and positive common ratio.

Show that the sum to infinity of the progression is at least four times as large as its
second term.

proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 102 (*****)

By showing a detailed method, sum the following series.

2 3 4 5 6 7
+ + + + + ...
1 2 4 8 16 32

SP-D , 6

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 103 (*****)

Solve the following simultaneous equations.

∞ ∞ 1 1
2
 r =0
r
[log 2 a ] =

k =1
(1 + b ) −k
and

k =1
(1 + b ) −k
−

r =0
[ log 2 a ]r =
7
5
.

You may leave the answers as indices in their simplest form, where appropriate.

SP-W , [ a, b ] =  3 , 1  =  − 4 , 2 5 
13

2 4  5 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 104 (*****)

Sum the following series of infinite terms.

1 3 7 15 31 63
+ + + + + + ...
3 9 27 81 243 729

SP-O , 3
2

Question 105 (*****)

Sum the following series of infinite terms.

1 1 2 3 5 8 13
+ + + + + + + ...
2 4 8 16 32 64 128

SP-R , 2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 106 (*****)

It is given that the following series converges to a limit L .


r
 2 x − 1
 x + 2  .
r =1

Determine with full justification the range of possible values of L .

SP-G , L > − 1
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 107 (*****)

A factory gets permission to dispose, at the start of every day, 600 kg of waste into a
stream of water.

The running stream removes 40% of the any waste present, by the end of the day.

Determine a simplified expression for the amount of waste present in the stream at the
end of the n th day.

 n


()
MP2-T , un = 900 1 − 3 
5 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 108 (*****)

Evaluate the following expression

∞ ∞


n = 0 m =0
 1 
 3m + n  .

Detailed workings must be shown.

V , SPX-O , 9
4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 109 (*****)

Evaluate the following expression

∞ n


n =0 m = 0
 1 
 2m + n  .

Detailed workings must be shown.

V , SPX-U , 8
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 110 (*****)

Show that the following equation has only one real solution.

∞
27 n = 4
r =2
(1 + n )− r .

SPX-Q , n = 1 , n ≠ − 2
3 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 111 (*****)

O
B

The figure above shows a infinite sequence of circles of decreasing radius, the radius
of the larger circle being 4 .
3

The centres of these circles lie on a straight line. The straight lines OA and OB are
tangents to every circle in the sequence, the angle AOB denoted by 2θ .

Given that the total area of these circles is 2π , determine the value of θ .

SP-I , θ = 1 π
6

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 112 (*****)

By showing a detailed method, sum the following series.

(
r =0
 r + 1) × 11r × 109− r  .
 

You may leave the answer in index form.

9
SP-U ,
(
r =0
 r + 1) × 11r × 109− r  = 1011
 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 113 (*****)

k −1 1
A family of infinite geometric series S k , has first term and common ratio ,
k! k
where k = 3, 4,5, 6,...,99,100 .

Find the value of

100
104
100!
+
k =3
 ( k − 1)( k − 2 ) − 1 Sk  .
 

SP-S , 2

Created by T. Madas