Sigma Notation Questions

Sigma Notation & Sequences - Past Edexcel Exam

Questions

1. The sequence of positive numbers u1 , u2 , u3 ,..., is given by

un+1 = (un − 3)2 , u1 = 1

(a) Find u2 , u3 and u4 . [3]

(b) Write down the value of u20 [1]

Question 2 - Jan 2006

2. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

a1 = 3,
an+1 = 3an − 5, n≥1

(a) Find the value of a2 and the value of a3 . [2]

5
P
(b) Calculate the value of ar . [3]
r=1

Question 4 - May 2006

3. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

a1 = k,
an+1 = 3an + 5, n≥1

where k is a positive integer.

(a) Write down an expression for a2 in terms of k. [1]

(b) Show that a3 = 9k + 20. [2]
P4
(c) i. Find ar in terms of k.
r=1
4
P
ii. Show that ar is divisible by 10. [4]
r=1

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 Sigma Notation Questions

Question 8 - May 2007

4. A sequence is given by

x1 = 1,
xn+1 = xn (p + xn ),

where p is a constant (p 6= 0).

(a) Find x2 in terms of p. [1]

(b) Show that x3 = 1 + 3p + 2p2 . [2]

Given that x3 = 1,
(c) find the value of p, [3]
(d) write down the value of x2008 . [2]

Question 7 - Jan 2008

5. A sequence x1 , x2 , x3 ,..., is defined by

x1 = 1,
xn+1 = axn − 3, n≥1

where a is a constant.

(a) Find an expression for x2 in terms of a. [1]

(b) Show that x3 = a2 − 3a − 3. [2]

Given that x3 = 7,
(c) find the possible values of a. [3]

Question 5 - June 2008

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 Sigma Notation Questions

6. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

a1 = k,
an+1 = 2an − 7, n≥1

where k is a constant.

(a) Write down an expression for a2 in terms of k. [1]

(b) Show that a3 = 4k − 21. [2]
4
P
Given that ar = 43,
r=1

(c) find the value of k. [4]

Question 7 - June 2009

7. A sequence of positive numbers is defined by

p
an+1 = a2n + 3, n ≥ 1,
a1 = 2.

(a) Find a2 and a3 , leaving your answers in surd form. [2]

(b) Show that a5 = 4. [2]

Question 5 - May 2010

8. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

a1 = 2,
an+1 = 3an − c, n≥1

where c is a constant.

(a) Find an expression for a2 in terms of c. [1]

3
P
Given that ai = 0,
i=1

(b) find the value of c. [4]

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 Sigma Notation Questions

Question 4 - Jan 2011

9. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

a1 = k,
an+1 = 5an + 3, n≥1

where k is a positive integer.

(a) Write down an expression for a2 in terms of k. [1]

(b) Show that a3 = 25k + 18. [2]
P4
(c) i. Find ar in terms of k, in its simplest form.
r=1
4
P
ii. Show that ar is divisible by 6. [4]
r=1

Question 5 - May 2011

10. A sequence x1 , x2 , x3 ,..., is defined by

x1 = 1,
xn+1 = axn + 5, n≥1

where a is a constant.

(a) Write down an expression for x2 in terms of a. [1]

(b) Show that x3 = a2 + 5a + 5. [2]

Given that x3 = 41,

(c) find the possible values of a. [3]

Question 4 - Jan 2012

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 Sigma Notation Questions

11. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

a1 = 3,
an+1 = 2an − c, n≥1

where c is a constant.

(a) Write down an expression, in terms of c, for a2 . [1]

(b) Show that a3 = 12 − 3c. [2]
P4
Given that i=1 ai ≥ 23,
(c) find the range of values of c. [4]

Question 5 - May 2012

12. A sequence u1 , u2 , u3 ,..., satisfies

un+1 = 2un − 1, n≥1

Given that u2 = 9,

(a) find the value of u3 and the value of u4 , [2]

4
P
(b) evaluate ur . [3]
r=1

Question 4 - Jan 2013

13. A sequence a1 , a2 , a3 , ... is defined by

a1 = 4,
an+1 = k(an + 2), n≥1

where k is a constant.

(a) Find an expression for a2 in terms of k. [1]

3
P
Given that ai = 2,
i=1

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 Sigma Notation Questions

(b) find the two possible values of k. [6]

Question 4 - Jun 2013

14. A sequence of numbers a1 , a2 , a3 ,..., is defined by

an+1 = 5an − 3, n≥1

Given that a2 = 7,

(a) find the value of a1 . [2]

P4
(b) Find the value of ar . [3]
r=1

Question 5 - Jun 2014

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 Sigma Notation Questions

Solutions

1. (a) u2 = 4, u3 = 1, u4 = 4
(b) u20 = 4

2. (a) a2 = 4, a3 = 7
(b) 73

3. (a) u2 = 3k + 5
(b) -
(c) i. 40k + 90
ii. -

4. (a) x2 = p + 1
(b) -
(c) p = − 32
(d) x2008 = − 12

5. (a) x2 = a − 3
(b) -
(c) a = 5, a = −2

6. (a) a2 = 2k − 7
(b) -
(c) k = 8
√ √
7. (a) a2 = 7, a3 = 10
(b) -

8. (a) a2 = 6 − c
26
(b) c = 5

9. (a) a2 = 5k + 3
(b) -
(c) 156k + 114
(d) -

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 Sigma Notation Questions

10. (a) x2 = a + 5
(b) -
(c) a = 4, a = −9

11. (a) a2 = 6 − c
(b) -
(c) c ≤ 2

12. (a) u3 = 17, u4 = 33

(b) 64

13. (a) a2 = 6k
(b) k = −1, k = − 13

14. (a) a1 = 2
(b) 198

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