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A quadratic sequence has the following properties: The second difference is 10 - NSC Mathematics - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 1

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A quadratic sequence has the following properties: The second difference is 10. The first two terms are equal, i.e. $T_1 = T_2$. $T_1 + T_2 + T_3 = 28$. 3.1 Show t... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A quadratic sequence has the following properties: The second difference is 10 - NSC Mathematics - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 1

Step 1

Show that the general term of the sequence is $T_n = 5n^2 - 15n + 16$.

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Answer

To show that the general term of the sequence is expressed as the quadratic equation Tn=5n215n+16T_n = 5n^2 - 15n + 16, we need to use the properties of the quadratic sequence provided.

  1. Second Difference: The second difference of a quadratic sequence is constant. According to the question, the second difference is 10. Therefore, we know that the leading coefficient aa of the quadratic Tn=an2+bn+cT_n = an^2 + bn + c must satisfy:

ightarrow a = 5$$

  1. Equal Terms: For the first two terms to be equal, we have: T1=T2T_1 = T_2 Substituting in the form: 5(1)2+b(1)+c=5(2)2+b(2)+c5(1)^2 + b(1) + c = 5(2)^2 + b(2) + c This simplifies to:

ightarrow b = -15$$

  1. Sum of Terms: Now, substituting T1T_1, T2T_2, and T3T_3: T1+T2+T3=(5(1)215(1)+16)+(5(2)215(2)+16)+(5(3)215(3)+16)T_1 + T_2 + T_3 = (5(1)^2 - 15(1) + 16) + (5(2)^2 - 15(2) + 16) + (5(3)^2 - 15(3) + 16) This results in: [515+16]+[2030+16]+[4545+16] =6+6+16 =28[5 - 15 + 16] + [20 - 30 + 16] + [45 - 45 + 16]\ = 6 + 6 + 16\ = 28 Thus confirming that the expression for TnT_n is correct:
    Tn=5n215n+16.T_n = 5n^2 - 15n + 16.

Step 2

Is 216 a term in this sequence? Justify your answer with the necessary calculations.

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Answer

To determine if 216 is a term in the sequence, we need to set up the equation:

Tn=5n215n+16=216T_n = 5n^2 - 15n + 16 = 216

  1. Rearranging gives us:

ightarrow 5n^2 - 15n - 200 = 0$$

  1. Dividing by 5 simplifies this to: n23n40=0n^2 - 3n - 40 = 0

  2. Now we can factor this quadratic equation: (n8)(n+5)=0(n - 8)(n + 5) = 0 Thus, we have: n=8n = 8 (only the positive integer solutions are valid as we are looking for term positions)

  3. As n=8n = 8 is a positive integer, we conclude that: T8=5(8)215(8)+16=216T_8 = 5(8)^2 - 15(8) + 16 = 216 Therefore, 216 is indeed a term in this sequence.

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