Sequences and Series
CBSE · Class 11 · Applied Mathematics
NCERT Solutions for Sequences and Series — CBSE Class 11 Applied Mathematics.
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Check Your Progress 1 — Multiple Choice Questions
1If for a sequence , then the common difference is:
(a) (b) 2 (c) (d) 3Show solution
Concept: The term of a sequence is .
Working:
Since every term equals 2 (a constant), the common difference .
Answer: (b) 2
2The number of integers from 100 to 500 that are divisible by 5 are:
(a) 80 (b) 81 (c) 75 (d) none of theseShow solution
Concept: These form an A.P.: with , , .
Working:
Answer: (b) 81
3The number of two digit numbers divisible by 6 are:
(a) 24 (b) 14 (c) 15 (d) 20Show solution
Concept: These form an A.P.: with , , .
Working:
Answer: (c) 15
4If the fourth term of an A.P. is 4, then the sum of its 7 terms is:
(a) 28 (b) 26 (c) 32 (d) none of theseShow solution
Concept: For an A.P., . Also, the middle term of a 7-term A.P. is , and .
Working:
Answer: (a) 28
5Which of the following terms are NOT a term of the A.P. ?
(a) (b) (c) (d) Show solution
Concept: .
For a number to be a term: must be a positive integer.
Checking each option:
- (a) : — not an integer, so is NOT a term.
- (b) : — integer, so it IS a term.
- (c) : — integer, so it IS a term.
- (d) : — integer, so it IS a term.
Answer: (a)
Check Your Progress 1 — Short Answer Type Questions
6If each term in a given A.P. is doubled, then is the new sequence obtained an A.P.? If yes, then find its common difference.Show solution
New sequence (each term doubled):
Check for A.P.:
Difference between consecutive terms:
The difference is constant .
Conclusion: Yes, the new sequence is an A.P. with common difference (twice the common difference of the original A.P.).
7Find the middle term in the A.P. .Show solution
Step 1: Find number of terms.
Step 2: Find middle terms.
Since (even), there are two middle terms: and .
Answer: The middle terms are and .
8In an A.P., if , then find .Show solution
Let first term , common difference .
Now find :
*(Note: The answer key states ; the question asks for .)*
9Find the sum of integers from 100 to 500 that are divisible by 2 and 3.Show solution
A.P.: with , , .
Step 1: Find .
Step 2: Find sum.
10Find the sum of 20 terms of the A.P. whose term is .Show solution
First term:
Common difference:
Sum of 20 terms:
Check Your Progress 1 — Long Answer Type Questions
11Insert arithmetic means between 1 and 31 such that the ratio of the mean and the mean is . Find the value of and the resulting A.P.Show solution
Total terms , first term , last term .
Common difference:
The arithmetic mean:
Given ratio:
Substitute :
Multiply numerator and denominator by :
Common difference:
Resulting A.P.:
Answer: ; the A.P. is with .
12Find the sum of the following series:
(a) to 100 terms
(b) to 19 terms
(c) to 1000 termsShow solution
, ,
(b) to 19 terms
, ,
(c) to 1000 terms
, ,
13If the sum of terms of an A.P. is 72, find the number of terms given that the first term of the sequence is 17 and common difference is .Show solution
Formula:
Verification:
- ✓
- ✓
Answer: or .
14If the sum of first terms of an A.P. is equal to the sum of the first terms, then prove that the sum of the first terms is zero.Show solution
To prove:
Proof:
Since , divide by :
Now compute :
From (1):
Hence proved.
15Find the first negative term in the given A.P.: Show solution
,
General term:
For first negative term: a_n < 0
\frac{99 - 4n}{5} < 0
99 - 4n < 0
n > \frac{99}{4} = 24.75
So the first negative term is at .
Answer: The first negative term is the term .
16If , and terms of an A.P. are , , respectively, then prove that .Show solution
Compute differences:
LHS:
Hence proved.
17Find the middle terms in the A.P. whose last term is 95.Show solution
Step 1: Find .
Step 2: Middle term.
Since (odd), there is one middle term: .
Answer: The middle term is the term .
18In an A.P., if term is and term is , then prove that the sum of first terms is , where .Show solution
Step 1: Find and .
Subtracting (2) from (1):
From (1):
Step 2: Sum of terms.
Hence proved.
19The sum of terms of two A.P.s are in the ratio . Find the ratio of their terms.Show solution
Concept: The ratio of terms equals the ratio of sums when .
For the term, put :
Answer: The ratio of their terms is .
20On a certain day in a hospital, during covid crisis, the patients in the OPD were 1000. Due to efforts of the doctors and health care warriors and precautions taken by general public, numbers declined by 50 per day. As per the decline in the number of patients, do you think that there would be a day with no patients in the OPD? If yes, which day would it be from the day when there were 1000 patients?Show solution
For zero patients:
Answer: Yes, on the 21st day from the day when there were 1000 patients, there would be no COVID patients in the OPD.
Check Your Progress 2
1(i)Find the indicated term in the Geometric Progression: , 5th term.Show solution
1(ii)Find the 4th term and nth term of the G.P.: Show solution
4th term:
nth term:
Answer: ;
2(i)Which term of the sequence is 5120?Show solution
Answer: 5120 is the 11th term.
2(ii)Which term of the sequence is 128?Show solution
Answer: 128 is the 13th term.
2(iii)Which term of the sequence is ?Show solution
Answer: is the 9th term.
3(i)Find the sum to 6 terms of the G.P.: Show solution
Rationalise:
Answer:
3(ii)Find the sum to 20 terms of the G.P.: Show solution
Answer:
4Evaluate .Show solution
Alternatively expressed: .
Answer:
5The sum of the first two terms of a G.P. is 36 and the product of the first term and the third term is 9 times the second term. Find the sum of first 8 terms.Show solution
Let first term , common ratio .
Condition 2:
Condition 1:
Sum of 8 terms:
Answer:
6Find the sum to terms of the sequence: Show solution
Answer:
7The sum of first three terms of a G.P. is and their product is 1. Find the common ratio and the terms.Show solution
Product:
Sum:
Terms:
- If : terms are
- If : terms are
Answer: or ; terms are (or in reverse order).
8Find four numbers forming a G.P. in which the third term is greater than the first term by 9, and the second term is greater than the 4th by 18.Show solution
Condition 1:
Condition 2:
Divide (2) by (1):
From (1):
Four terms:
Answer: The four numbers are .
9Insert 6 geometric means between 27 and .Show solution
So: , ,
Six G.M.s:
Answer: The 6 geometric means are .
10If the AM of two unequal positive real numbers and (a > b) is twice as much as their GM, show that .Show solution
Let . Then:
Let :
Since a > b, k > 1, so .
Also:
More directly: (rationalising: and , so ✓).
11If are in G.P., show that:
(i) are in G.P.
(ii) are in G.P.Show solution
(i) Let , , .
Since the ratio is constant, are in G.P.
(ii) From (i), are in G.P., so .
This means are in G.P.
12Let be the sum, the product and the sum of reciprocals of terms of a G.P. Prove that .Show solution
Now compute :
Hence proved.
13What will Rs. 5000 amount to in 10 years after it is deposited in a bank which pays annual interest of 8% compounded annually?Show solution
Formula:
Answer: Rs.
14If the first and the term of a G.P. are and respectively, and if is the product of terms, prove that .Show solution
Product of terms:
Now:
15A certain type of bacteria doubles its population every 20 minutes. Assuming no bacteria die, how many bacteria will be there after 3 hours if there are 1 million bacteria at present?Show solution
Number of 20-minute intervals in 3 hours:
Population after 3 hours:
Answer: There will be 512 million bacteria after 3 hours.
16One side of an equilateral triangle is 24 cm. The midpoints of its sides are joined to form another triangle whose midpoints are joined to form yet another triangle and so on. This process continues indefinitely. Find the sum of the perimeters of all the triangles.Show solution
Each successive triangle has side of the previous triangle's side.
Perimeters: , ,
This is an infinite G.P. with , .
Answer: Sum of perimeters of all triangles cm.
17After striking a floor, a certain ball rebounds th of the height from which it has fallen. If the ball is dropped from a height of 240 cm, find the total distance the ball travels before coming to rest.Show solution
Total distance:
- Falls 240 cm.
- Rebounds cm, then falls 192 cm.
- And so on.
Answer: Total distance cm m.
18An object decelerates such that it travels 60 m during the first second, 20 m during the second and m during the third second. Determine the total distance the object travels before coming to rest.Show solution
Common ratio:
Total distance (infinite G.P., |r| < 1):
Answer: Total distance m.
19Suppose a person mails a letter to five of his friends. He asks each one of them to mail it further to five additional friends with instruction that they move the chain further. Assuming the chain is not broken and no person receives the mail more than once, determine the amount spent on postage when the 8th set of letters is mailed, if cost of postage of each letter is 50 paisa.Show solution
Number of letters in the set:
8th set: letters.
Amount spent:
Answer: Amount spent on postage when the 8th set is mailed Rs. 1,95,312.50 (approximately Rs. 1,95,312.50; the answer key states Rs. 2,44,140.60 which corresponds to total postage for all 8 sets).
*Total postage for all 8 sets:*
Answer (total for all 8 sets): Rs. .
20Due to reduced taxes an individual has an extra Rs. 30,000 in spendable income. If we assume that an individual spends 70% of this on consumer goods and the producers of these goods in turn spend 70% on consumer goods and this process continues indefinitely. What is the total amount spent on consumer goods?Show solution
First spending: Rs. 21,000
This is an infinite G.P.: ,
Answer: Total amount spent on consumer goods Rs. 70,000.
21A machine depreciates in value by one-fifth each year. If the machine is now worth Rs. 51,000, how much will it be worth 3 years from now?Show solution
Value after 3 years:
Answer: The machine will be worth Rs. 26,112 after 3 years.
22The sum of an infinite G.P. is 3 and the sum of the squares of its terms is also 3. Then its first term and common ratio are:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Show solution
From the two equations:
Substitute in :
Answer: (iii)
23An antique's present worth is Rs. 9000. If its value appreciates at the rate of 10% per year, its worth 3 years from now is:
(i) Rs. 6561 (ii) Rs. 10,890 (iii) Rs. 11,979 (iv) Rs. 12,000Show solution
Answer: (iii) Rs. 11,979
24Venessa invests Rs. 5000 in a bond that pays 6% interest compounded semi-annually. The value of the bond in rupees after 5 years is:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Show solution
Semi-annual rate
Number of periods
Answer: (iv)
Practice Questions — Multiple Choice Questions
1Find the sum of the G.P.: to terms.
(a) (b) (c) (d) Show solution
Answer: (a)
2If the first term of a GP is 5 and common ratio is , then which term is 3125?
(a) (b) (c) (d) Show solution
Answer: (c)
3Which number should be added to the numbers 3, 8, 13 to make the resulting numbers a G.P.?
(a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) Show solution
This gives a contradiction, so let us re-examine. The correct approach: for G.P., :
This is inconsistent for any . However, checking option (d) : — not G.P. Checking : — not G.P.
Let us try : — ratio not constant.
Actually, checking the answer key which gives : , , . Ratios: , . Not G.P.
Let us try: perhaps the question means the number is added only to one of them. If is added to 3 only: . Then , — not integer.
If is added to 8 only: . Then , — not integer.
The most likely intended interpretation: add to get in G.P. The equation gives no solution, but among the options, checking : (not G.P.); : (not G.P.).
Perhaps the question means: which number when added to each gives a G.P. with ratio check . This simplifies to , which is impossible. The question may have a typo. Based on the answer key, the answer is (d) .
Answer: (d) *(as per answer key)*
4If the third term of a G.P. is 6, then the product of its first 5 terms is:
(a) (b) (c) (d) Show solution
Product of first 5 terms:
Answer: (b)
5If , and are in A.P. as well as in G.P., then which of the following is true?
(a) (b) (c) (d) Show solution
In G.P.:
From A.P.: . From G.P.: .
So and are roots of .
Thus .
Answer: (c)
Practice Questions — Problems
1Your friend has invested in a 'Grow Your Money Scheme' that promises to return Rs. 11,000 after a year if you invest Rs. 1,000 at the rate of 10% compounded annually. Would you be willing to invest in this scheme? Explain.Show solution
Correct calculation using compound interest:
Analysis: The correct return after 1 year at 10% compounded annually on Rs. 1,000 is only Rs. 1,100, not Rs. 11,000.
The scheme's claim of Rs. 11,000 is mathematically incorrect and appears to be fraudulent. The agent's calculation is wrong — to get Rs. 11,000 from Rs. 1,000 in 1 year, the rate would need to be 1000%, which is unrealistic.
Conclusion: No, one should not invest in this scheme. The promised return of Rs. 11,000 is not mathematically possible at 10% interest in 1 year. This is likely a fraudulent scheme.
2Write the first four terms of a geometric series for which and .Show solution
Trying : , .
First four terms:
Answer: The first four terms are .
3Using Geometric series, write in fraction.Show solution
This is an infinite G.P. with and .
Answer:
4In a mock test, Rohan and Shweta solved: Find the 10th term of the Geometric series
(a) Who is correct? Explain your reasoning.
(b) Can you guess the correct answer without solving? If yes, what argument would you use?Show solution
Correct solution:
(a) Without seeing the images, the correct answer is . Whoever among Rohan and Shweta got is correct. The common error is using instead of , or computing instead of .
(b) Since r = \dfrac{1}{3} < 1, the terms are decreasing. The 10th term must be a very small positive fraction, much less than 1. So any answer greater than 1 can be immediately rejected without calculation.
5On the first day, a music video of Arijit Singh posted online got 120 views in Delhi. The number of viewership increases by 5% per day. How many total views did the video get over the course of the first 29 days? Express your answer in exponential form.Show solution
Answer: Total views
6Harry traced his family back for 15 generations starting with his parents. How many ancestors did he have in total?Show solution
- Generation 1 (parents):
- Generation 2 (grandparents):
-
- Generation 15:
Total ancestors:
Answer: Harry had 65,534 ancestors in total over 15 generations.
7You and your sibling decide to ask for a raise in pocket money. Your Dad gives both of you a choice: Rs. 1000 at once, or Rs. 2 on day one, Rs. 4 on day two, doubling each day for 12 days. You opted for Rs. 1000 at once; your brother opted for the doubling scheme. Which one made a better decision and why?Show solution
Comparison:
- You received: Rs. 1,000
- Your brother received: Rs. 8,190
Conclusion: Your brother made a better decision. The doubling scheme yields Rs. 8,190 over 12 days, which is far more than Rs. 1,000.
8If such that , and are in G.P. and , and are unequal positive integers, then show that .Show solution
So , , .
Since are in G.P.:
Since (as are unequal):
9A person sends a fake news on WhatsApp to 4 of his friends on Monday. Each of those friends forwards it to 4 of their friends on Tuesday, and so on for a week. Find how many people have received the fake news on WhatsApp till then?Show solution
Number of people receiving on each day:
- Monday:
- Tuesday:
- Wednesday:
-
- Sunday:
Total recipients:
Answer: A total of 21,844 people received the fake news.
10Three positive numbers form an increasing G.P. If the middle term of the series is doubled, then the new numbers are in A.P. Find the common ratio of the G.P.Show solution
After doubling the middle term: are in A.P.
Since r > 1 (increasing G.P.): .
Answer: Common ratio .
11Priyanka invested Rs. 1300 in an account that pays 4% interest compounded annually. Assuming no deposits or withdrawals are made, find how much money she would have in the account 6 years after her initial investment.Show solution
Answer: Priyanka would have approximately Rs. Rs. 1644.90 after 6 years.
12A financial analyst is analyzing a company. A dividend of Rs. 500 has just been paid. Dividends will grow by 20% per year for the next 3 years, followed by annual growth of 10% per year for 2 years.
(a) Complete the table for Years 1–5.
(b) Calculate the total dividend for the next five years.Show solution
(a) Table:
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|------|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | | | | | |
(b) Total dividend:
Answer: Total dividend over 5 years Rs. 4,179.84.
13(a) Rs. 1,000 is invested for three years at 6% per annum compounded semi-annually. Calculate the total return after three years.
(b) What would the answer be if the interest was compounded annually?
(c) What can you infer about the frequency of compounding and the size of the total return?Show solution
, , years, .
(b) Annual compounding:
(c) Inference:
Semi-annual compounding gives a higher return (Rs. 1194.05) than annual compounding (Rs. 1191.02). The more frequently interest is compounded, the greater the total return, because interest is earned on interest more often.
14From the graph, what conclusion can be drawn regarding the frequency of compounding? (Graph not visible in OCR)Show solution
Conclusion: As the frequency of compounding increases (from annual → semi-annual → quarterly → monthly → daily → continuously), the total return (future value) increases. However, the rate of increase diminishes as compounding becomes more frequent — the returns approach the continuously compounded value as an upper bound. Thus, higher frequency of compounding leads to higher returns, but with diminishing marginal gains.
15A small country emits 130,100 kilotons of carbon dioxide per year. In the first year it will keep emissions at 130,000 kilotons and emissions will decrease 3.1% in each of the next two years. How many kilotons of carbon dioxide would the country emit over the course of the 3-year period?Show solution
- Year 1: 130,000 kilotons
- Year 2: kilotons
- Year 3: kilotons
Total over 3 years:
Answer: The country would emit approximately 378,035 kilotons of carbon dioxide over the 3-year period.
17A stock begins to pay dividends with the first dividend, one year from now, expected to be Rs. 100. Each year the dividend is 10% larger than the previous year's dividend. In what year will the dividend paid be larger than Rs. 1000? (Use concept of logarithm)Show solution
100 \times (1.10)^{n-1} > 1000
(1.10)^{n-1} > 10
Taking logarithm:
(n-1)\log(1.10) > \log(10)
(n-1) > \frac{1}{\log(1.10)} = \frac{1}{0.04139} \approx 24.16
n > 25.16
So .
Verification: a_{26} = 100 \times (1.1)^{25} \approx 100 \times 10.835 = 1083.5 > 1000 ✓
Answer: The dividend will be larger than Rs. 1000 in the 26th year.
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