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Date November 2016 Marks available 5 Reference code 16N.2.hl.TZ0.12
Level HL only Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Determine Question number 12 Adapted from N/A

Question

On the day of her birth, 1st January 1998, Mary’s grandparents invested \(\$ x\) in a savings account. They continued to deposit \(\$ x\) on the first day of each month thereafter.

The account paid a fixed rate of 0.4% interest per month. The interest was calculated on the last day of each month and added to the account.

Let \(\$ {A_n}\) be the amount in Mary’s account on the last day of the \(n{\text{th}}\) month, immediately after the interest had been added.

Find an expression for \({A_1}\) and show that \({A_2} = {1.004^2}x + 1.004x\).

[2]
a.

(i)     Write down a similar expression for \({A_3}\) and \({A_4}\).

(ii)     Hence show that the amount in Mary’s account the day before she turned 10 years old is given by \(251({1.004^{120}} - 1)x\).

[6]
b.

Write down an expression for \({A_n}\) in terms of \(x\) on the day before Mary turned 18 years old showing clearly the value of \(n\).

[1]
c.

Mary’s grandparents wished for the amount in her account to be at least \(\$ 20\,000\) the day before she was 18. Determine the minimum value of the monthly deposit \(\$ x\) required to achieve this. Give your answer correct to the nearest dollar.

[4]
d.

As soon as Mary was 18 she decided to invest \(\$ 15\,000\) of this money in an account of the same type earning 0.4% interest per month. She withdraws \(\$ 1000\) every year on her birthday to buy herself a present. Determine how long it will take until there is no money in the account.

[5]
e.

Markscheme

\({A_1} = 1.004x\)    A1

\({A_2} = 1.004(1.004x + x)\)    A1

\( = {1.004^2}x + 1.004x\)    AG

 

Note: Accept an argument in words for example, first deposit has been in for two months and second deposit has been in for one month.

 

[2 marks]

a.

(i)     \({A_3} = 1.004({1.004^2}x + 1.004x + x) = {1.004^3}x + {1.004^2}x + 1.004x\)     (M1)A1

\({A_4} = {1.004^4}x + {1.004^3}x + {1.004^2}x + 1.004x\)    A1

(ii)     \({A_{120}} = ({1.004^{120}} + {1.004^{119}} +  \ldots  + 1.004)x\)     (A1)

\( = \frac{{{{1.004}^{120}} - 1}}{{1.004 - 1}} \times 1.004x\)    M1A1

\( = 251({1.004^{120}} - 1)x\)    AG

[6 marks]

b.

\({A_{216}} = 251({1.004^{216}} - 1)x{\text{ }}\left( { = x\sum\limits_{t = 1}^{216} {{{1.004}^t}} } \right)\)    A1

[1 mark]

c.

\(251({1.004^{216}} - 1)x = 20\,000 \Rightarrow x = 58.22 \ldots \)    (A1)(M1)(A1)

 

Note: Award (A1) for \(251({1.004^{216}} - 1)x > 20\,000\), (M1) for attempting to solve and (A1) for \(x > 58.22 \ldots \).

 

\(x = 59\)    A1

 

Note: Accept \(x = 58\). Accept \(x \geqslant 59\).

 

[4 marks]

d.

\(r = {1.004^{12}}{\text{ }}( = 1.049 \ldots )\)    (M1)

\(15\,000{r^n} - 1000\frac{{{r^n} - 1}}{{r - 1}} = 0 \Rightarrow n = 27.8 \ldots \)    (A1)(M1)(A1)

 

Note: Award (A1) for the equation (with their value of \(r\)), (M1) for attempting to solve for \(n\) and (A1) for \(n = 27.8 \ldots \)

 

\(n = 28\)    A1

 

Note: Accept \(n = 27\).

 

[5 marks]

e.

Examiners report

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Syllabus sections

Topic 1 - Core: Algebra » 1.1 » Arithmetic sequences and series; sum of finite arithmetic series; geometric sequences and series; sum of finite and infinite geometric series.
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