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June 2007 p1 q7
811
The second term of a geometric progression is 3 and the sum to infinity is 12.
(i) Find the first term of the progression.
An arithmetic progression has the same first and second terms as the geometric progression.
(ii) Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the arithmetic progression.
Solution
(i) Let the first term of the geometric progression be \(a\) and the common ratio be \(r\). The second term is given by \(ar = 3\). The sum to infinity of a geometric progression is given by \(\frac{a}{1-r} = 12\).
We have the equations:
\(ar = 3\)
\(\frac{a}{1-r} = 12\)
From \(ar = 3\), we can express \(r\) as \(r = \frac{3}{a}\).
Substitute \(r = \frac{3}{a}\) into \(\frac{a}{1-r} = 12\):
\(\frac{a}{1-\frac{3}{a}} = 12\)
\(\frac{a^2}{a-3} = 12\)
\(a^2 = 12(a-3)\)
\(a^2 = 12a - 36\)
\(a^2 - 12a + 36 = 0\)
Solving this quadratic equation, we find \(a = 6\).
(ii) For the arithmetic progression, the first term \(a = 6\) and the second term is 3, so the common difference \(d = 3 - 6 = -3\).
The sum of the first 20 terms of an arithmetic progression is given by: