Date | May 2015 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 15M.1.sl.TZ2.9 |
Level | SL only | Paper | 1 | Time zone | TZ2 |
Command term | Write down | Question number | 9 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Only one of the following four sequences is arithmetic and only one of them is geometric.
an=1, 2, 3, 5, …
bn=1, 32, 94, 278, …
cn=1, 12, 13, 14, …
dn=1, 0.95, 0.90, 0.85, …
State which sequence is
(i) arithmetic;
(ii) geometric.
For another geometric sequence en=−6, −3, −32, −34, …
write down the common ratio;
For another geometric sequence en=−6, −3, −32, −34, …
find the exact value of the tenth term. Give your answer as a fraction.
Markscheme
(i) dnOR1, 0.95, 0.90, 0.85, … (A1) (C1)
(ii) bnOR1, 32, 94, 278, … (A1) (C1)
12OR0.5 (A1) (C1)
Note: Accept ‘divide by 2’ for (A1).
−6(12)10−1 (M1)(A1)(ft)
Notes: Award (M1) for substitution in the GP nth term formula, (A1)(ft) for their correct substitution.
Follow through from their common ratio in part (b)(i).
OR
(−6, −3, −32, −34,)−38, −316, −332, −364, −3128 (M1)(A1)(ft)
Notes: Award (M1) for terms 5 and 6 correct (using their ratio).
Award (A1)(ft) for terms 7, 8 and 9 correct (using their ratio).
−3256(−6512) (A1)(ft) (C3)