Arithmetic and Geometric Progression (AP-GP) Revision

Key Points/Formulas to remember:

1) AP
 General term:
 Sum of the first n terms

2) GP
 General term:
 Sum of the first n terms:
 Sum to infinity and its condition:

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1 (a) A geometric progression G has first term 3 and common ratio . Using an algebraic
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method, find the least value of n so that the sum to n terms of G is less than
its sum to infinity by at most 0.3.

(b) An arithmetic progression has first term a and common difference 2 . The sum of the first n
terms is equal to the sum of the next 2n terms. Express a in terms of n.

1
2. On the first day of each year, $P is deposited into an account that pays x% interest per year
compounded yearly. Sn denotes the total amount in the account at the end of n years.
Given that no withdrawals are made,
(i) write down expressions for S1 and S 2 in terms of P and x,

 100   
n
x 
(ii) show that Sn  P   1 1    1 .
 x   100  

A deposit of $1000 is made on the first day of each year into an account that pays 4% interest
per year. Determine the minimum number of years for the amount in the account to exceed
$38000. Give your answer to the nearest year.

2
3 The positive even integers, starting at 2, are grouped into sets containing 1, 2, 4, 8, … integers,
as indicated below, so that the number of integers in each set after the first is twice the number
of integers in the previous set.

{2}, {4, 6}, {8, 10, 12, 14}, {16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30}, …

(i) Write down expressions, in terms of r, for

(a) the number of integers in the rth set,
(b) the first integer in the rth set,
(c) the last integer in the rth set.

(ii) The sum of all integers in the 50th set is denoted by T. Show that T may be expressed
as T  248 (3  250  2) .

(iii) Find Sn in terms of n, where Sn is the sum of all the terms from the first set to the nth
set.

(iv) Hence, find the least value of n such that Sn > 100 000.

3
4. (a) Show that the nth term of the series 2 + 22 + 222 + 2222 +… can be expressed as
2 n
(10  1) , and hence find the sum of the first N terms of the series.
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(b) Express the recurring decimal 3.42121212121…21 as a fraction.

4
5 A man starts a savings plan by saving $1000 on the first day of Jan 2014 and 10% less than the
last deposit on the first day of every following month. The bank pays an interest of 0.1% on the
available balance on the last day of each month.

900900   900 n1 

(a) Show that he has 1.001n (1000)  (1.001)n1 1  
  1001  
dollars in his account on
101  
the last day of nth month.
(b) Hence, find the amount he has on the last day of 2014 (correct your answer to 2 decimal
places).
(c) If he was to continue this savings plan well into 2015 and beyond, on the last day of which
month will his account first exceed $8000?
(d) However, he decides to discontinue this savings plan in 2015 and withdraws $100 on the first
day of each month from the account until there is nothing left in it. When will he make his last
withdrawal and how much will the last withdrawal be?

5
6 An arithmetic progression of positive terms is such that twice the sum of the first nine terms is
equal to the sum of the next nine terms. Let Tn denote the nth term of the arithmetic progression.

Given that T1, 20, T16 forms a geometric progression, find the first term and the
common difference of the arithmetic progression. [2009/JJC/II/1]

[Solution]
Let the first term of the AP be a and common difference be d.

2  T1  T2  ...  T9   T10  T11  ...  T18

 9 a  a  8d   9 a  9a  a  17 d
2
 2   
 2

2  2 a  8d   2 a  26 d
a  5d

20 T16
Also, 
T1 20
20 a  15d

a 20
20 20 d

5d 20
d 4
2

d 2 or d = −2 (rejected since a > 0)

Hence, a  10

6
7 The seventh, third and first term of an arithmetic progression with non-zero common difference
are the first three terms of a geometric progression respectively. Prove that the geometric
progression is convergent.
The seventh term of the arithmetic progression is 3. Find the smallest value of n such that the
sum of the first n terms in the arithmetic progression exceeds the sum of the first n terms in the
geometric progression by at least 100.
[2009/AJC/II/2]
[Solution]
Let T7, T3 and T1 be the seventh, third and first term respectively of an arithmetic series with
first term a and common difference d.

T7  a  6d , T3  a  2d , T1  a
a  2d a

a  6d a  2d
a  a  6d    a  2d 
2

a 2  6ad  a 2  4ad  4d 2
4d 2  2ad  0
2d (2d  a)  0
a
Since d  0  d 
2
T a a 1
Common ratio r  1   
T3 a  2d a  a 2
Since −1 < r < 1, the geometric progression is convergent.

T7  a  6d  3
a 3 3
Since d   a  3a  3  a  and d 
2 4 8
 1  n

3 1    
n  3  3    2  
 2     n  1       100
2  4  8  1
1
2
n9 3   1  n

  n   6 1      100  0
28 8    2  

Using GC, n  23  Least n = 23.

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8 An infinite geometric series has first term a 1 and second term a 2  3a  2 . Given that all the
terms of the series are positive, find the range of values of a for which the series converges.
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Given that a  , find the least value of n for which the sum of the first n terms of the series
4
exceeds 6.999. [2009/MJC/II/2]

[Solution]
For sum to infinity to exist and all terms positive, 0  r  1
a 2  3a  2
 0 1
a 1
(a  1)(a  2)
 0 1
a 1
 0  a  2  1 since a −1  0
 2a3

11 11 3
Given a  .  r  2
4 4 4
7  3 
n

1    
4   4  
 6.999
3
1
4
n
 3  6.999
1   
4 7
n
3 6.999
   1
4 7
ln(1.4286 10 4 )
n
3
ln
4
n  30.776

 least n  31

8
9 The series { x n } is a geometric progression such that x5 x16  e . The series { y n } is such that
yn  ln xn .
20
(a) Show that y
n 1
n  10 .

(b) Show that { y n } follows an arithmetic progression.

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10 (a) From a ribbon, pieces of decreasing lengths are cut. The lengths of the pieces cut follow an
arithmetic progression with the 6th piece and the 26th piece cut being of lengths 19 cm and
15 cm respectively.

(i) Find the length of the first piece cut and the common difference of the arithmetic
progression. [3]
(ii) Assuming that the ribbon is sufficiently long, find the number of such pieces that can be
cut from the ribbon and also the least possible length of the ribbon. [3]
[2009/RJC/Promo/3]
(b) A chemist is experimenting on a new type of anti-bacterial spray. In a container of 5 108
bacteria, this spray is activated every 40 minutes from the start of the experiment. Each spray
instantly kills 90% of the bacteria present at that time.
The number of bacteria multiplies by 2 times every 20 minutes from the start of the
experiment. (You may assume that whenever the spray is activated, the bacteria multiplies
first before it gets killed.)
(i) Calculate the number of bacteria left immediately after 40 minutes, i.e. immediately after
the first spray has been activated. [2]
(ii) By considering the number of bacteria left immediately after every 40 minutes, find the
number of bacteria left immediately after 240 minutes. [2]
(iii)State, with justification, whether the spray is effective in controlling the bacterial growth
after a long period of time. [2]
[2009/DHS/Promo/13(b) modified]
[Solution]
(a) (i) Let the length of the 1st piece be a cm and common difference be d cm.
a 5d 19 --- (1)
a 25d 15 --- (2)
Solving (1) and (2), a 20 and d 0.2
st
Therefore the length of the 1 piece is 20 cm and the common difference is -0.2 cm.

(ii) Let the no. of pieces that can be cut be n.

20 (n 1)( 0.2) 0
n 101
Therefore the no. of pieces that can be cut is 100.

The least possible length of the ribbon

100
[2(20) (100 1)( 0.2)]
2
1010 cm

(b)(i) At the 40-minute, bacteria has multiplied by 2  2 = 4 times.

Number of bacteria left  5 108  4  0.1
= 5108  0.4
= 2108
(ii) Since immediately after every 40 minutes, the bacteria is 0.4 times the previous
number, number of bacteria left immediately after 240 minutes (i.e.6  40 minutes) is
5  108  0.46 = 2 048 000

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 (iii) Number of bacteria left immediately after (40n) minutes is 5  108  0.4n
As n  , 0.4n  0 and so the number of bacteria left will reduce to zero after a long
period of time.

11 Sim Siong Finance Limited charges a flat interest fee of $65 per month on a loan amount of
$30000. The first month’s interest is charged from the moment the loan is approved. Thereafter,
interest is added at the beginning of each month.

Chee Yean takes up a loan of $30 000 from this company at the beginning of a month. He is
offered two schemes of repayment via monthly instalments, both of which start repayment from
the first month of loan.

Scheme X: He can choose the amount to pay for the first instalment. Instalment for each
subsequent month is increased by 3% of the previous month’s instalment.

Scheme Y: The instalment starts at $200 for the first month, and is increased by $30 for each
subsequent month.

(a) If Chee Yean chooses Scheme X, determine the minimum amount, correct to the nearest dollar,
which he has to pay for the first instalment so that he can fully repay the loan and interests
charged in exactly 48 months.

(b) If Chee Yean chooses Scheme Y, determine the least number of months that will be needed
to fully repay the loan and interests charged, giving your answer correct to the nearest whole
number.
[2009/NJC/CT/1]
[Solution]
(a) The instalment plan is a GP with common ratio r  1.03 .

Let a be the amount of the first instalment.

Total amount that he needs to pay  $30000  $(65  48)  $33120

Therefore,

a 1.03  1
48
  33120  a  317.22 .
1.03  1

Min a = $318 (nearest dollar)

(b) The instalment plan is an AP with common difference d  30 and first term = 200.

Let n be the number of months that is needed to pay off the loan.

Total amount that he needs to pay  $30000  $65n  $  30000  65n 

n
 2  200    n  1 30    30000  65n
2
200n  15n 2  15n  65n  30000
15n 2  120n  30000  0
n 2  8n  2000  0

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Consider n2  8n  2000  0 , we get n = −48.90 or 40.90 .

From the graph, n  48.90 (rej.) or n  40.90 −48.90 40.90

Least number of months = 41

12 At the beginning of Jan 2001, Mr. Tan joined ABC Company with a starting monthly salary of
$2500. Thereafter, Mr. Tan receives an annual increment of $200 every year. This means that
Mr. Tan drew a monthly salary of $2700 from Jan 2002 to Dec 2002, $2900 from Jan 2003 to
Dec 2003 and so on.

(i) Show that the total salary that Mr. Tan will receive in the nth year he worked in the
company is $(27600+2400n).

(ii) In which year and month will Mr. Tan first receive a total salary of at least $1 000 000,
starting from Jan 2001?
[2009/RVHS/MY/3 modified]
[Solution]
(i) Monthly salary in nth year
 2500  200(n  1)
 2300  200n.

Total salary in nth year

 12(2300  200n)
 27600  2400n.

(ii) Total salary received from Jan 2001 to Dec 200N

N
is $  (27600  2400n)
n 1

N
Let  (27600  2400n)  1 000 000
n 1

Using GC, his total salary exceeds $1000 000 by Dec 2020

Total salary by Dec 2019 = $980 400

Monthly salary in the year 2020 = $6300
1000000  980400
No. of months in 2010 =  3.11
6300
Thus Mr Tan will first receive a total salary of at least $1 000 000
in April 2010.

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13 In the figure below, a square is inscribed in a circle, a smaller circle is inscribed in the square
and the process goes on indefinitely. Given that the radius of the largest circle is r, find the sum
of the areas of all the circles in terms of r.

[Solution]

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