Algebra II : Mathematical Relationships and Basic Graphs

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Geometric Sequences

Find the 26th term of the sequence \(\displaystyle 1,771,561, \enspace -1,449,459, \enspace 1,185,921, \enspace -970,299, ...\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.268\)

\(\displaystyle -3.268\)

\(\displaystyle -11,738.206\)

\(\displaystyle 9,603.987\)

\(\displaystyle 11,738.206\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -11,738.206\)

Explanation:

First we need to find the common ratio, which we can do by dividing the second term by the first:

\(\displaystyle -1,449,459 \div 1,771,561 = 0.\overline{81}\)

The first term is \(\displaystyle 1,771, 561 (-0.\overline{81} ) ^ 0\), the second term is \(\displaystyle 1,771, 561 (-0.\overline{81})^ 1\), so the 26th term is \(\displaystyle 1,771, 561 (-0.\overline{81})^{ 25} = -11,738.206\)

Example Question #11 : Mathematical Relationships And Basic Graphs

Find the common ratio for this geometric series:

\(\displaystyle 1,7,49,343,2401\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle 343\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 49\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Explanation:

Find the common ratio for this geometric series:

\(\displaystyle 1,7,49,343,2401\)

The common ratio of a geometric series can be found by dividing any term by the term before it. More generally:

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{N_t}{N_{t-1}}\)

So, do try the following:

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{343}{49}=7\)

So our common ratio is 7

Example Question #13 : Geometric Sequences

Find the next term in this geometric series:

\(\displaystyle 1,7,49,343,2401\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 16807\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 16814\)

\(\displaystyle 343\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 16807\)

Explanation:

Find the next term in this geometric series:

\(\displaystyle 1,7,49,343,2401\)

to find the next term, we must first find the common ratio.

The common ratio of a geometric series can be found by dividing any term by the term before it. More generally:

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{N_t}{N_{t-1}}\)

So, do try the following:

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{343}{49}=7\)

So our common ratio is 7

Next, find the next term in the series by multiplying our last term by 7

\(\displaystyle N_{t+1}=2401*7=16807\)

Making our next term 16807

Example Question #14 : Summations And Sequences

What is \(\displaystyle a\) if \(\displaystyle S_2 = \frac{2}{3}\) and \(\displaystyle r=\frac{1}{6}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{8}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{7}\)

Explanation:

Use the geometric series summation formula.

\(\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^{n}a_i=a(\frac{1-r^n}{1-r})\)

Substitute \(\displaystyle S_2 = \frac{2}{3}\) into \(\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^{n}a_i\), and replace the \(\displaystyle r\) and \(\displaystyle n\) terms.  The value of \(\displaystyle n\) is two.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}=a(\frac{1-(\frac{1}{6})^2}{1-\frac{1}{6}})\)

Simplify the terms on the right and solve for \(\displaystyle a\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}=a(\frac{1-\frac{1}{36}}{1-\frac{1}{6}})\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}=a(\frac{\frac{35}{36}}{ \frac{5}{6}} )\)

Rewrite the complex fraction using a division sign.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}=a(\frac{35}{36} \div \frac{5}{6})\)

Change the sign from division to a multiplication sign and switch the second term.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}=a(\frac{35}{36} \times \frac{6}{5})\)

Simplify the terms inside the parentheses.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}=a(\frac{7}{6})\)

Isolate the variable by multiplying six-seventh on both sides.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\cdot \frac{6}{7}=a(\frac{7}{6}) \cdot \frac{6}{7}\)

Simplify both sides.

\(\displaystyle a=\frac{4}{7}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{4}{7}\)

Example Question #14 : Geometric Sequences

What is the next term given the following terms?  \(\displaystyle [\frac{1}{3},\frac{4}{3}, \frac{16}{3},...]\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{64}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{20}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 64\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{64}{3}\)

Explanation:

Divide the second term with the first term, and the third term with the second term.

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{3}\div\frac{1}{3} = \frac{4}{3}\times \frac{3}{1} = 4\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{3}\div\frac{4}{3}=\frac{16}{3}\times\frac{3}{4}=4\)

The common ratio of this geometric sequence is four.

Multiply the third term by four.

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{3}\times 4 = \frac{64}{3}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{64}{3}\)

Example Question #15 : Geometric Sequences

Determine the 10th term if the first term is \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\) and the common ratio is \(\displaystyle \frac{2}{5}\).  Answer in scientific notation.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1.776\times 10^{-9}\)

\(\displaystyle 8.338\times 10^{-4}\)

\(\displaystyle 3.495\times 10^{-5}\)

\(\displaystyle 8.738\times 10^{-5}\)

\(\displaystyle 4.127\times 10^{-7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8.738\times 10^{-5}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the n-th term for a geometric sequence.

\(\displaystyle a_n = a_1\cdot r^{n-1}\)

Substitute the known values into the equation.

\(\displaystyle a_{10} = (\frac{1}{3})\cdot (\frac{2}{5})^{10-1}= \frac{512}{5859375}\)

This fraction is equivalent to:  \(\displaystyle 8.738\times 10^{-5}\)

The 19th term is:  \(\displaystyle 8.738\times 10^{-5}\)

Example Question #16 : Geometric Sequences

Determine the sum:  \(\displaystyle 10+1+\frac{1}{10}+...+\frac{1}{10,000}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11,111}{9,999}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{111,111}{10,000}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{111,111}{20,000}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{10,000}{999}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{100}{9}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{111,111}{10,000}\)

Explanation:

Write the sum formula for a geometric series.

\(\displaystyle \textup{Sum} = \frac{a_1(1-r^n)}{1-r}\)

\(\displaystyle a_1 =\textup{ first term} = 10\)

\(\displaystyle r=\textup{common ratio} = \frac{1}{10}\)

Identify the number of terms that exist.

\(\displaystyle [10,1,\frac{1}{10},\frac{1}{100},\frac{1}{1,000},\frac{1}{10,000}]\)

There are six existing terms:  \(\displaystyle n=6\)

Substitute the terms into the formula.

\(\displaystyle \textup{Sum} = \frac{a_1(1-r^n)}{1-r} = \frac{10(1-(\frac{1}{10})^6)}{1-\frac{1}{10}} = \frac{10-\frac{1}{100,000}}{\frac{10}{10}-\frac{1}{10}}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{\frac{1,000,000}{100,000}-\frac{1}{100,000}}{\frac{10}{10}-\frac{1}{10}} = \frac{\frac{999,999}{100,000}}{\frac{9}{10}}\)

Simplify the complex fraction.

\(\displaystyle \frac{999,999}{100,000} \div \frac{9}{10} = \frac{999,999}{100,000} \times \frac{10}{9} = \frac{111,111}{10,000}\)

The sum is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{111,111}{10,000}\)

Example Question #17 : Geometric Sequences

If the first term of a geometric sequence is 4, and the common ratio is \(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\), what is the fifth term?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \textup{The answer is not given.}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{844}{81}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{64}{81}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{964}{81}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{325}{27}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{64}{81}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula for the n-th term of the geometric sequence.

\(\displaystyle a_n = a_1r^{n-1}\)

Substitute the first term and common ratio.

The equation is:  \(\displaystyle a_n = 4(\frac{2}{3})^{n-1}\)

To find the fifth term, substitute \(\displaystyle n=5\).

\(\displaystyle a_5 = 4(\frac{2}{3})^{5-1} = 4(\frac{2}{3})^4 =4(\frac{2}{3})(\frac{2}{3})(\frac{2}{3})(\frac{2}{3})= 4(\frac{16}{81})\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{64}{81}\)

Example Question #12 : Summations And Sequences

Given the sequence \(\displaystyle [3,9,27,...]\), what is the 7th term?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2187\)

\(\displaystyle 6561\)

\(\displaystyle 2178\)

\(\displaystyle 729\)

\(\displaystyle 6651\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2187\)

Explanation:

The formula for geometric sequences is defined by:  

\(\displaystyle ar^{n-1}\)

The term \(\displaystyle a\) represents the first term, while \(\displaystyle r\) is the common ratio.  The term \(\displaystyle n\) represents the terms.

Substitute the known values.

\(\displaystyle 3(3)^{n-1}\)

To determine the seventh term, simply substitute \(\displaystyle n=7\) into the expression.

\(\displaystyle 3(3)^{7-1}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle 2187\)

Example Question #12 : Geometric Sequences

A geometric sequence begins as follows:

\(\displaystyle a_{1} = 6\)

\(\displaystyle a_{2} = 18\)

Which of the following gives the definition of its \(\displaystyle n\)th term?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 6 \cdot 3^{ n }\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 6 \cdot 2^{ n }\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 6^{ n }\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{ n }\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 3 \cdot 2^{ n }\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{ n }\)

Explanation:

The \(\displaystyle n\)th term of a geometric sequence is 

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = a_{1} r ^{n-1}\)

where \(\displaystyle a_{1}\) is its initial term and \(\displaystyle r\) is the common ratio between the terms. 

\(\displaystyle a_{1} = 6\)

\(\displaystyle r= \frac{a_{2}}{a_{1}} = \frac{18}{6} = 3\)

Substituting, the expression becomes 

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 6 \cdot 3 ^{n-1}\)

By factoring and remultiplying, this becomes

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 3 ^{n-1}\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{1} \cdot 3 ^{n-1}\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{1+n-1}\)

\(\displaystyle a_{n} = 2 \cdot 3^{ n }\)

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