1959 AHSME Problems/Problem 39

Problem 37

Let S be the sum of the first nine terms of the sequence $x+a, x^2+2a, x^3+3a, \cdots.$ Then S equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{50a+x+x^8}{x+1} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 50a-\frac{x+x^{10}}{x-1}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{x^9-1}{x+1}+45a\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{x^{10}-x}{x-1}+45a\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{x^{11}-x}{x-1}+45a$

Solution

We know $x+x^2\dots+x^9=x(1+x\dots+x^8)=x\frac{x^9-1}{x-1}=\frac{x^{10}-x}{x-1}$ . The only answer with this term is $\boxed{\textbf{D}}$ .

1959 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 38	Followed by Problem 40
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 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

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

Page

Toolbox

Search

1959 AHSME Problems/Problem 39

Problem 37

Solution

See also