The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 120 and the common difference is -7 i) for what value of k is the kth term first negative ii) for what value of n is the sum of the first n terms first negative how the hell do I answer these? Please help!
The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 120 and the common difference is -7 i) for what value of k is the kth term first negative ii) for what value of n is the sum of the first n terms first negative how the hell do I answer these? Please help!
for i) use the formula for nth term,
Un=a+(n−1)d
use n = k, and rearrange the equation to find k when Uk is less than 0, in other words let Uk=0 and find the value of k. round up as k is an integer.
for ii) use the sum of n terms formula,
Sn=21n(2a+(n−1)d)
Its the same thing, find the value of n when Sn is less than 0. This will be a quadratic so you ignore the answer that gives the negative value
use n = k, and rearrange the equation to find k when Uk is less than 0, in other words let Uk=0 and find the value of k. round up as k is an integer.
for ii) use the sum of n terms formula,
Sn=21n(2a+(n−1)d)
Its the same thing, find the value of n when Sn is less than 0. This will be a quadratic so you ignore the answer that gives the negative value
Ok, I understand the first part now, thanks a million, but still unsure about how to do the last part...
Ok, I understand the first part now, thanks a million, but still unsure about how to do the last part...
The one with the sum formula? Ok so you know the formula and you know Sn is negative.
So you make Sn=0 and simplify to get
0=n(247−7n)
n=0 or 247−7n=0
Now n can't be 0 because that means that the sum of all terms up to 0th term is 0. You don't have a 0th term. So the answer will be the other one. And obviously you would round up because n is an integer.