A sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, ...$ is defined by
a_1 = k,
a_{n+1} = 5a_n + 3, n \geq 1,
where $k$ is a positive integer - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 7 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 7
A sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, ...$ is defined by
a_1 = k,
a_{n+1} = 5a_n + 3, n \geq 1,
where $k$ is a positive integer.
(a) Write down an expression for $a_2$ in t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, ...$ is defined by
a_1 = k,
a_{n+1} = 5a_n + 3, n \geq 1,
where $k$ is a positive integer - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Pure - Question 7 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Write down an expression for $a_2$ in terms of $k$.
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Answer
a2=5k+3
Step 2
Show that $a_3 = 25k + 18$.
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Answer
To find a3, we use the expression for a2:
a3=5a2+3=5(5k+3)+3.
Expanding this, we have:
a3=25k+15+3=25k+18.
Step 3
Find \( \sum_{n=1}^{4} a_n \) in terms of $k$, in its simplest form.
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Answer
We first find each term:
a1=k
a2=5k+3
a3=25k+18
For a4:
a4=5a3+3=5(25k+18)+3=125k+90+3=125k+93.
Now we can compute the sum:
Show that \( \sum_{n=1}^{4} a_n \) is divisible by 6.
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Answer
We have
∑n=14an=156k+114.
Factoring this:
156k+114=6(26k+19).
Thus, ( \sum_{n=1}^{4} a_n ) is divisible by 6 since it can be expressed as 6 times an integer.