IB Style Questions – ‘Number and Algebra'

Sequences and Series

Question Score Out of Comment

1 6

2 6

3 6

4 6

5 6

6 6

7 6

8 16

9 17

10 1

Total ……

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Question 1
Consider the arithmetic sequence 75, 67, 59, ...

(a) Write down the common difference. (1)

(b) Determine the 15th term. (2)

(c) The sum of the first k terms is 322. Find k. (3)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 2
Consider the geometric sequence -4, -12, -36, ...

(a) Find the common ratio. (1)

(b) Determine the value of the first term to be less than -1 000. (3)

(c) Determine the sum of the first 10 terms. (2)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 3
An arithmetic sequence has a third term of 22 and a ninth term of 40.

(a) Find

(i) the common difference

(ii) the first term (2)

(b) uk is the first term to exceed 100. Determine

(i) the value of k.

(ii) the difference between this term and the 20th term. (4)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 4
A geometric sequence has a third term of 24 and a sixth term of -192.

(a) Show that the common ratio is -2. (2)

(b) Find the value of the 12th term. (2)

(c) The sum of the first n terms is 65538. Determine the value of n. (2)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 5
A photographer arranges students for a graduation photograph according to an arithmetic
sequence. There are 9 students in the first row and the sum of the first two rows is 22.

(a) Write down the number of students in the second row. (1)

(b) Determine the number of students in the fourth row. (2)

There are 85 students in the graduating class.

(c) Determine the number of rows of students. (3)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 6
Round all answers to the nearest Euro (EUR).

A gym has increased its annual membership fees every year according to a geometric
sequence.
Year Fees
(EUR)
2014 800
2015 840
2016 882
2017
2018

(a) Determine the common ratio for the increased membership. (2)

(b) Assuming the gym continues to increase its fees at the same rate, find the annual
membership cost in
(i) 2017

(ii) 2018 (2)

Kristina has been loyal member of this gym since 2010.

(c) Find the cost of her membership in 2010. (2)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ____________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 7
Rachel takes out a loan at her local bank to pay for a new keyboard. She repays the loan
according to the following plan: 150 USD in the first month, 145 USD in the second month,
140 (USD) in the third month, until the loan is paid off.

(a) Does this plan follow an arithmetic or a geometric sequence? Explain how you know.
(2)

(b) Determine how long it will take to pay off this loan. (2)

(c) Determine the value of the original loan. (2)

Write answers here

Working……

(a) ______________________________________________________________

(b) ____________________

(c) ____________________

(6 marks)

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Question 8
Express all answers to this question to the nearest whole number.

Riverside High School opened its doors with 250 students in 2010 and has increased its
enrollment by 10% each year since then.

(a) Write down the increase in enrollment in the second year. (1)

(b) Determine the number of students at Riverside in its sixth year. (2)

(c) Assuming that the school continues to grow at the same rate, show that the school's
enrollment will be 648 students to the nearest whole number in 2020. (2)

The cost of attending Riverside in 2010 was 20 000 CND. Tuition rates have increased at a
rate of 4% per year.

(d) Determine the tuition in the school's third year. (2)

(e) Calculate the total tuition paid by all students in 2020. (3)

Riverside borrows 17 million CND in 2015 for new construction to accommodate the growing
student body. They must repay the bank according to the following schedule: 300 000 CND
in the first year, 400 000 CND in the second year, 500 000 in the third year, and so on for 20
years.

(f) Determine the re-payment in the third year after the loan is taken out. (2)

(g) Calculate the amount of interest paid to the bank by the end of the 20-year loan. (4)

(16 marks)

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 Question 9
An arithmetic sequence Sn has a fourth term of 97 and a tenth term of 145.

(a) Define un . (3)

(b) k is the first€term to exceed 200. Determine the value of k . (2)

€ sum of the first n terms is 2980.
The
€ €
(c) Show that 4n 2 +169 − 2980 = 0 . (3)
€
(d) Hence or otherwise, determine the value of n . (2)
€
A geometric sequence Rn has a first term of 5000 and a fourth term of 625.
€
1
(e) Show that the common ratio is . (2)
2
€
(f) Find the value of the 11th term. (2)

(g) Find the first value of €q for which Sq > Rq (3)

€ € €

(17 marks)

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Question 10
On her 17th birthday, Malin is given a choice for her allowance:

Choice A: 25 Swiss Franks (CHF) a week until she turns 18.

Choice B: 80 CHF the first month, 85 CHF the second month, 90 CHF the third month, etc.,
with the same increase for all 12 months.

Choice C: An initial gift of 1000 CHF with a payment of 25 CHF each of the 12 months.

Choice D: An initial deposit of 1200 CHF into an account that pays 10% interest p.a.,
compounded monthly.

(a) Write down the total value Malin will receive by the 9th week, if she selects choice A. (1)

(b) Determine the value she will receive in the last month, if she selects choice B. (2)

(c) Show that choices A and C pay the same amount over the course of the year. (3)

(d) Determine which choice pays more, choice B or D? (4)

(e) Find the difference between the highest paying and the lowest paying option. (2)

Malin proposes another choice to her parents. She proposes that they pay her 5 CHF in the
first month and double their payment each month until she turns 18.

(f) If her parents go with this option, determine how much will they pay her in the fourth
month. (2)

(g) Explain whether her parents likely to select this option or not. Use numerical values to
justify your answer. (3)

(17 marks)

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