Question 0417

Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions (APs, GPs)
2017 Paper 2 Question 2 Variant

Question

An arithmetic progression has first term 6.{6.} The sum of the first 19{19} terms of the progression is 384.{384.}
(i)
Find the common difference.
[2]
A geometric progression has first term 6{6} and common ratio r.{r.} The sum of the first 19{19} terms of the progression is 384.{384.}
(ii)
Show that r1964r+63=0.{r^{19} - 64 r + 63=0.}
Show that the common ratio cannot be 1{1} even though r=1{r=1} is a root of this equation. Find the possible values of the common ratio.
[4]
(iii)
It is given that the common ratio of the geometric progression is positive, and that the nth{n\textrm{th}} term of this geometric progression is more than 200{200} times the nth{n\textrm{th}} term of the arithmetic progression.
Write down an inequality, and hence find the smallest possible value of n.{n.}
[3]

Answer