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Nov 2019 p11 q4
890
A runner who is training for a long-distance race plans to run increasing distances each day for 21 days. She will run x km on day 1, and on each subsequent day she will increase the distance by 10% of the previous day's distance. On day 21 she will run 20 km.
(i) Find the distance she must run on day 1 in order to achieve this. Give your answer in km correct to 1 decimal place.
(ii) Find the total distance she runs over the 21 days.
Solution
(i) The distances form a geometric sequence with the first term as x and a common ratio of 1.1. The distance on day 21 is given by:
\(x(1.1)^{20} = 20\)
Solving for \(x\):
\(x = \frac{20}{(1.1)^{20}} \approx 3.0\)
Thus, the distance on day 1 is 3.0 km.
(ii) The total distance run over 21 days is the sum of a geometric series: