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maths a level mei core 2 sequences and series question URGENT 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!
Reply 1
Original post by imaan567
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+(n1)d U_n = a + (n-1)d

use n = k, and rearrange the equation to find k when Uk U_k is less than 0, in other words let Uk=0 U_k = 0 and find the value of k. round up as k is an integer.

for ii) use the sum of n terms formula,

Sn=12n(2a+(n1)d) S_n = \frac{1}{2}n(2a + (n-1)d)

Its the same thing, find the value of n when Sn S_n is less than 0. This will be a quadratic so you ignore the answer that gives the negative value
Reply 2
Original post by asinghj
for i) use the formula for nth term,

Un=a+(n1)d U_n = a + (n-1)d

use n = k, and rearrange the equation to find k when Uk U_k is less than 0, in other words let Uk=0 U_k = 0 and find the value of k. round up as k is an integer.

for ii) use the sum of n terms formula,

Sn=12n(2a+(n1)d) S_n = \frac{1}{2}n(2a + (n-1)d)

Its the same thing, find the value of n when Sn S_n 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...
Reply 3
Original post by imaan567
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 S_n is negative.

So you make Sn=0 S_n = 0 and simplify to get

0=n(2477n) 0 = n(247 - 7n)

n=0 n=0 or 2477n=0 247 - 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.
(edited 7 years ago)

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