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Sequence - Arithmetic Sequences

For COMPETITION
Number of Total Problems: 6.
FOR PRINT ::: (Book)

Problem Num : 1
From : NCTM
Type: None
Section:Sequence 
Theme:None
Adjustment# :
Difficulty: 1

Category Arithmetic Sequences
Analysis

Solution/Answer


Problem Num : 2
From : AMC10B
Type:
Section:Sequence 
Theme:
Adjustment# : 0
Difficulty: 1
'

Suppose that {a_n} is an arithmetic sequence with a_1+a_2+cdots+a_{100}=100 	ext{ and } a_{101}+a_{102}+cdots+a_{200}=200. What is the value of a_2 - a_1 ?

mathrm{(A)  } 0.0001qquad mathrm{(B)  } 0.001qquad mathrm{(C)  } 0.01qquad mathrm{(D)  } 0.1qquad mathrm{(E)  }...

'
Category Arithmetic Sequences
Analysis

Solution/Answer

Adding the two given equations together gives

a_1+a_2+...+a_{200}=300.

Now, let the common difference be d. Notice that a_2-a_1=d, so we merely need to find d to get the answer. The formula for an arithmetic sum is

frac{n}{2}(2a_1+d(n-1)),

where a_1 is the first term, n is the number of terms, and d is the common difference. Now we use this formula to find a closed form for the first given equation and the sum of the given equations. For the first equation, we have n=100. Therefore, we have

50(2a_1+99d)=100,

or

2a_1+99d=2. *(1)

For the sum of the equations (shown at the beginning of the solution) we have n=200, so

100(2a_1+199d)=300

or

2a_1+199d=3 *(2)

Now we have a system of equations in terms of a_1 and d. Subtracting (1) from (2) eliminates a_1, yielding 100d=1, and d=a_2-a_1=frac{1}{100}=.01, oxed{	ext{C}}.

Answer:



Problem Num : 3
From : AMC10B
Type:
Section:Sequence 
Theme:
Adjustment# : 0
Difficulty: 1
'

The first four terms in an arithmetic sequence are x+y,x-y ,xy , and frac{x}{y}, in that order. What is the fifth term?

	extbf{(A)} -frac{15}{8}qquad	extbf{(B)} -frac{6}{5}qquad	extbf{(C)} 0qquad	extbf{(D)} frac{27}{20}qquad	extb...


'
Category Arithmetic Sequences
Analysis

Solution/Answer

The difference between consecutive terms is (x-y)-(x+y)=-2y. Therefore we can also express the third and fourth terms as x-3y and x-5y. Then we can set them equal to xy and frac{x}{y} because they are the same thing.

egin{align*}xy&=x-3y\xy-x&=-3y\x(y-1)&=-3y\x&=frac{-3y}{y-1}end{align*}

Substitute into our other equation.

egin{align*}frac{x}{y}&=x-5y\frac{-3}{y-1}&=frac{-3y}{y-1}-5y\-3&=-3y-5y(y-1)\0&=5y^2-2y-3\0&=(5...

But y cannot be 1 because then every term would be equal to x. Therefore y=-frac35. Substituting the value for y into any of the equations, we get x=-frac98. Finally,

frac{x}{y}-2y=frac{9cdot 5}{8cdot 3}+frac{6}{5}=oxed{	extbf{(E)} frac{123}{40}}

Answer:



Problem Num : 4
From : AMC10B
Type:
Section:Sequence 
Theme:
Adjustment# : 0
Difficulty: 1
'

A grocer makes a display of cans in which the top row has one can and each lower row has two more cans than the row above it. If the display contains 100 cans, how many rows does it contain?

(mathrm {A}) 5 qquad (mathrm {B}) 8 qquad (mathrm {C}) 9 qquad (mathrm {D}) 10 qquad (mathrm {E}) 11

'
Category Arithmetic Sequences
Analysis

Solution/Answer

The sum of the first n odd numbers is n^2. As in our case n^2=100, we have n=oxed{10}Longrightarrowmathrm{(D)}.

Answer:



Problem Num : 5
From : NCTM
Type: None
Section:Sequence 
Theme:None
Adjustment# : 0
Difficulty: 2

Category Arithmetic Sequences
Analysis

Solution/Answer


Problem Num : 6
From : NCTM
Type: notSure
Section:Sequence 
Theme:None
Adjustment# : 0
Difficulty: 2

Category Arithmetic Sequences
Analysis

Solution/Answer


Array ( [0] => 5961 [1] => 7979 [2] => 8003 [3] => 8014 [4] => 3715 [5] => 2797 ) 6