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Date November 2016 Marks available 2 Reference code 16N.1.SL.TZ0.T_10
Level Standard Level Paper Paper 1 (with calculator from previous syllabus) Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Find Question number T_10 Adapted from N/A

Question

A hydraulic hammer drives a metal post vertically into the ground by striking the top of the post. The distance that the post is driven into the ground, by the n th strike of the hammer, is d n .

The distances d 1 ,   d 2 ,   d 3   ,   d n  form a geometric sequence.

The distance that the post is driven into the ground by the first strike of the hammer, d 1 , is 64 cm.

The distance that the post is driven into the ground by the second strike of the hammer, d 2 , is 48 cm.

Find the value of the common ratio for this sequence.

[2]
a.

Find the distance that the post is driven into the ground by the eighth strike of the hammer.

[2]
b.

Find the total depth that the post has been driven into the ground after 10 strikes of the hammer.

[2]
c.

Markscheme

* This question is from an exam for a previous syllabus, and may contain minor differences in marking or structure.

48 = 64 r    (M1)

 

Note:     Award (M1) for correct substitution into geometric sequence formula.

 

= 0.75 ( 3 4 ,   48 64 )    (A1)     (C2)

[2 marks]

a.

64 × ( 0.75 ) 7    (M1)

 

Note:     Award (M1) for correct substitution into geometric sequence formula or list of eight values using their r . Follow through from part (a), only if answer is positive.

 

= 8.54   ( cm )   ( 8.54296  cm )      (A1)(ft)     (C2)

 

[2 marks]

b.

depth = 64 ( 1 ( 0.75 ) 10 ) 1 0.75    (M1)

 

Note:     Award (M1) for correct substitution into geometric series formula. Follow through from part (a), only if answer is positive.

 

= 242 ( cm )   ( 241.583 )    (A1)(ft)     (C2)

[2 marks]

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Topic 1—Number and algebra » SL 1.3—Geometric sequences and series
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Topic 1—Number and algebra

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