Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2007 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 15"
(→‎Solution 1)
 
(4 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
==Problem 15==
+
==Problem==
 
The geometric series <math>a+ar+ar^2\ldots</math> has a sum of <math>7</math>, and the terms involving odd powers of <math>r</math> have a sum of <math>3</math>. What is <math>a+r</math>?
 
The geometric series <math>a+ar+ar^2\ldots</math> has a sum of <math>7</math>, and the terms involving odd powers of <math>r</math> have a sum of <math>3</math>. What is <math>a+r</math>?
  
 
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{4}{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{12}{7}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{3}{2}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{7}{3}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{5}{2} </math>
 
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{4}{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{12}{7}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{3}{2}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{7}{3}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{5}{2} </math>
  
−
==Solution==
+
==Solution 1==
−
===Solution 1===
 
 
The sum of an infinite geometric series is given by <math>\frac{a}{1-r}</math> where <math>a</math> is the first term and <math>r</math> is the common ratio.
 
The sum of an infinite geometric series is given by <math>\frac{a}{1-r}</math> where <math>a</math> is the first term and <math>r</math> is the common ratio.
  
Line 12: Line 11:
 
The series with odd powers of <math>r</math> is given as <cmath>ar + ar^3 + ar^5 ...</cmath>
 
The series with odd powers of <math>r</math> is given as <cmath>ar + ar^3 + ar^5 ...</cmath>
  
−
It's sum can be given by <math>\frac{ar}{1-r^2} = 3</math>
+
Its sum can be given by <math>\frac{ar}{1-r^2} = 3</math>
  
 
Doing a little algebra
 
Doing a little algebra
Line 26: Line 25:
 
<math>a = 7(1-r) = \frac{7}{4}</math>
 
<math>a = 7(1-r) = \frac{7}{4}</math>
  
−
<math>a + r = \frac{5}{2} \Rightarrow \mathrm{(E)}</math>
+
<math>a + r =\boxed{ \frac{5}{2}} \Rightarrow \mathrm{(E)}</math>
  
−
===Solution 2===
+
==Solution 2==
 
The given series can be decomposed as follows: <math>(a + ar + ar^2 + \ldots) = (a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \ldots) + (ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + \ldots)</math>
 
The given series can be decomposed as follows: <math>(a + ar + ar^2 + \ldots) = (a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \ldots) + (ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + \ldots)</math>
  
 
Clearly <math>(a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \ldots) = (ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + \ldots)/r = 3/r</math>. We obtain that <math>7 = 3/r + 3</math>, hence <math>r = \frac{3}{4}</math>.
 
Clearly <math>(a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \ldots) = (ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + \ldots)/r = 3/r</math>. We obtain that <math>7 = 3/r + 3</math>, hence <math>r = \frac{3}{4}</math>.
  
−
Then from <math>7 = (a + ar + ar^2 + \ldots) = \frac{a}{1-r}</math> we get <math>a=\frac{7}{4}</math>, and thus <math>a + r = \frac{5}{2}</math>.
+
Then from <math>7 = (a + ar + ar^2 + \ldots) = \frac{a}{1-r}</math> we get <math>a=\frac{7}{4}</math>, and thus <math>a + r = \boxed{\frac{5}{2}}</math>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2007|ab=B|num-b=14|num-a=16}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2007|ab=B|num-b=14|num-a=16}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 14:41, 27 July 2021

Problem

The geometric series $a+ar+ar^2\ldots$ has a sum of $7$, and the terms involving odd powers of $r$ have a sum of $3$. What is $a+r$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{4}{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{12}{7}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{3}{2}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{7}{3}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{5}{2}$

Solution 1

The sum of an infinite geometric series is given by $\frac{a}{1-r}$ where $a$ is the first term and $r$ is the common ratio.

In this series, $\frac{a}{1-r} = 7$

The series with odd powers of $r$ is given as \[ar + ar^3 + ar^5 ...\]

Its sum can be given by $\frac{ar}{1-r^2} = 3$

Doing a little algebra

$ar = 3(1-r)(1+r)$

$ar = 3\left(\frac{a}{7}\right)(1+r)$

$\frac{7}{3}r = 1 + r$

$r = \frac{3}{4}$

$a = 7(1-r) = \frac{7}{4}$

$a + r =\boxed{ \frac{5}{2}} \Rightarrow \mathrm{(E)}$

Solution 2

The given series can be decomposed as follows: $(a + ar + ar^2 + \ldots) = (a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \ldots) + (ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + \ldots)$

Clearly $(a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \ldots) = (ar + ar^3 + ar^5 + \ldots)/r = 3/r$. We obtain that $7 = 3/r + 3$, hence $r = \frac{3}{4}$.

Then from $7 = (a + ar + ar^2 + \ldots) = \frac{a}{1-r}$ we get $a=\frac{7}{4}$, and thus $a + r = \boxed{\frac{5}{2}}$.

See Also

2007 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 14 		Followed by
Problem 16
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2007_AMC_12B_Problems/Problem_15&oldid=159208"