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Question 1 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 7]

Brendan is training for a long distance bike race.

In week 1 of his training he cycled 22 km. In week 2 he cycled 34 km. This pattern continues, with him cycling
an extra 12 km per week.

The distances Brendan cycled in the first 5 weeks of training is shown in the following table.
Week

co
Distance(km) 22 34 70

(a) Calculate how far he cycles in the 17th week of his training. [3]

(b) In total how far has he cycled after 17 weeks? [2]

(c) Find the mean distance per week he cycled over 17 weeks. [2]

Question 2 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The 15th term of an arithmetic sequence is 21 and the common difference is −4.

(a) Find the first term of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find the 29th term of the sequence. [2]

(c) Find the sum of the first 40 terms of the sequence. [2]

Question 3 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Only one of the following four sequences is arithmetic and only one of them is geometric.

an = 1, 5, 10, 15, … cn = 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, …

1 2 3 4 1 1
bn = , , , ,… dn = 2, 1, , ,…
2 3 4 5 2 4
(a) State which sequence is arithmetic and find the common difference of the sequence. [2]

(b) State which sequence is geometric and find the common ratio of the sequence. [2]

(c) For the geometric sequence find the exact value of the eighth term. Give your answer as a fraction. [2]
Question 4 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

An arithmetic sequence has u1 = 40, u2 = 32, u3 = 24.

(a) Find the common difference, d. [2]

(b) Find u8 . [2]

(c) Find S8 . [2]

Question 5 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Only one of the following four sequences is arithmetic and only one of them is geometric.

1 1 1 1 1 1
an = , , , ,… cn = 3, 1, , ,…
3 4 5 6 3 9
bn = 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, … dn = 1, 3, 6, 10, …

(a) State which sequence is arithmetic and find the common difference of the sequence. [2]

(b) State which sequence is geometric and find the common ratio of the sequence. [2]

(c) For the geometric sequence find the exact value of the sixth term. Give your answer as a fraction. [2]

Question 6 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

An arithmetic sequence has u1 = 12, u2 = 21, u3 = 30.

(a) Find the common difference, d. [2]

(b) Find u10 . [2]

(c) Find S10 . [2]

Question 7 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

1
A geometric sequence has u1 = 5, u2 = −1 and u3 = .
5
(a) Find the common ratio, r. [2]

(b) Find the exact value of u7 . [2]

(c) Find the exact value of S7 . [2]

Question 8 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Emily starts reading Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace on the 1st of February. The number of pages she reads each
day increases by the same number on each successive day.

(a) Calculate the number of pages Emily reads on the 14th of February. [3]

(b) Find the exact total number of pages Emily reads in the 28 days of February. [3]

Question 9 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

A geometric sequence has 20 terms, with the first four terms given below.

418.5, 279, 186, 124, …

(a) Find r, the common ratio of the sequence. Give your answer as a fraction. [1]

(b) Find u5 , the fifth term of the sequence. Give your answer as a fraction. [1]

(c) Find the smallest term in the sequence that is an integer. [2]

(d) Find S10 , the sum of the first 10 terms of the sequence. Give your answer correct to one decimal place. [2]

Question 10 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

A tennis ball bounces on the ground n times. The heights of the bounces, h1 , h2 , h3 , … , hn , form a geometric
sequence. The height that the ball bounces the first time, h1 , is 80 cm, and the second time, h2 , is 60 cm.

(a) Find the value of the common ratio for the sequence. [2]

(b) Find the height that the ball bounces the tenth time, h10 . [2]

(c) Find the total distance travelled by the ball during the first six bounces (up and down). Give your
answer correct to 2 decimal places. [2]
 Question 11 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The table shows the first four terms of three sequences: un , vn , and wn .

(a) State which sequence is

(i) arithmetic;

(ii) geometric. [2]

(b) Find the sum of the first 50 terms of the arithmetic sequence. [2]

(c) Find the exact value of the 13th term of the geometric sequence. [2]

Question 12 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The table below shows the first four terms of three sequences: un , vn , and wn .

(a) State which sequence is

(i) arithmetic;

(ii) geometric. [2]

(b) Find the exact value of the sum of the first 35 terms of the arithmetic
sequence. [2]

(c) Find the exact value of the 10th term of the geometric sequence. [2]
 Question 13 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The third term, u3 , of an arithmetic sequence is 7. The common difference of

the sequence, d, is 3.

(a) Find u1 , the first term of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find u60 , the 60th term of sequence. [2]

The first and fourth terms of this arithmetic sequence are the first two terms
of a geometric sequence.

(c) Calculate the sixth term of the geometric sequence. [2]

Question 14 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

A 3D printer builds a set of 49 Eiffel Tower Replicas in different sizes. The height of the largest tower in this
set is 64 cm. The heights of successive smaller towers are 95 % of the preceding larger tower, as shown in the
diagram below.

(a) Find the height of the smallest tower in this set. [3]

(b) Find the total height if all 49 towers were placed one on top of another. [3]
Question 15 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

In this question give all answers correct to the nearest whole number.

A population of goats on an island starts at 232. The population is expected

to increase by 15 % each year.

(a) Find the expected population size after:

(i) 10 years;

(ii) 20 years. [4]

(b) Find the number of years it will take for the population to reach 15 000. [2]

Question 16 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The fourth term, u4 , of a geometric sequence is 135. The fifth term, u5 , is 81.

(a) Find the common ratio of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find u1 , the first term of the sequence. [2]

(c) Calculate the sum of the first 20 terms of the sequence. [2]

Question 17 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

On the first day of September, 2019, Gloria planted 5 flowers in her garden. The number of flowers, which she
plants at every day of the month, forms an arithmetic sequence. The number of flowers she is going to plant in
the last day of September is 63.

(a) Find the common difference of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find the total number of flowers Gloria is going to plant in September. [2]

(c) Gloria estimated she would plant 1000 flowers in the month of September. Calculate the percentage error in Gloria's [2]
estimate.
Question 18 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The fifth term of, u5, of a geometric sequence is 125. The sixth term, u6, is 156.25
[2]
(a) Find the common ratio of the sequence.

(b) Find u1, the first term of the sequence. [2]

(c) Calculate the sum of the first 12 terms of the sequence. [2]

Question 19 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The fifth term, u5 , of a geometric sequence is 375. The sixth term, u6 , of the sequence is 75.

(a) Write down the common ratio of the sequence. [1]

(b) Find u1 . [2]

The sum of the first k terms in the sequence is 292 968.

(c) Find the value of k. [3]

Question 20 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The fifth term, u5 , of an arithmetic sequence is 5. The eighth term, u8 , of the same sequence is 14.

(a) Find d, the common difference of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find u1 , the first term of the sequence. [2]

(c) Find S100 , the sum of the first 100 terms of the sequence. [2]

Question 21 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The fifth term, u5 , of an arithmetic sequence is 25. The eleventh term, u11 , of the same sequence is 49.

(a) Find d, the common difference of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find u1 , the first term of the sequence. [2]

(c) Find S100 , the sum of the first 100 terms of the sequence. [2]
Question 22 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 15]

Towards the end of 2004, a theatre company upgraded their auditorium and installed new comfortable
ergonomic chairs for the audience.

After the redesign, there were 20 seats in the first row and each subsequent row had three more seats than the
previous row.

(a) If the auditorium had a total of 16 rows, find

(i) the total number of seats in the last row.

(ii) the total number of seats in the auditorium. [5]

The auditorium reopened for performances at the start of 2005. The average number of visitors per show
during that year was 500. In 2006, the average number of visitors per show increased by 5%.

(b) Find the average number of visitors per show in 2006. [1]

The average number of visitors per show continued to increase by 5% each year.

(c) Determine the first year in which the total number of visitors to a show exceeded the seating capacity of
the auditorium. [5]

The theatre company hosts 25 shows per year.

(d) Determine CALCULATOR

the total number of visitors that attended the auditorium from when it opened in 2005 until [4]
the end of 2011. Round your answer correct to the nearest integer.

Question 23

[Maximum mark: 15]

Charles has a New Years Resolution that he wants to be able to complete 100 pushups in one go without a
break. He sets out a training regime whereby he completes 20 pushups on the first day, then adds 5 pushups
each day thereafter.

(a) Write down the number of pushups Charles completes

(i) on the 4th training day;

(ii) on the nth training day. [3]

On the k th training day Charles completes 100 pushups for the first time.

(b) Find the value of k . [2]

(c) Calculate the total number of pushups Charles completes on the first 10 training days. [4]

Charles is also working on improving his long distance swimming in preparation for an Iron Man event in 12
weeks time. He swims a total of 10 000 metres in the first week, and plans to increase this by 10 % each week up
until the event.

(d) Find the distance Charles swims in the 6th week of training. [3]

(e) Calculate the total distance Charles swims until the event. [3]
Question 24 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The second and the third terms of a geometric sequence are u2 = 3 and u3 = 6.

(a) Find the value of r, the common ratio of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find the value of u6 . [2]

(c) Find the largest value of n for which un is less than 104 . [2]

Question 25 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 12]

The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence, Sn = u1 + u2 + u3 + ⋯ + un , is given by Sn = 2n2 + n.

(a) Write down the values of S1 and S2 . [2]

(b) Write down the values of u1 and u2 . [2]

(c) Find d, the common difference of the sequence. [1]

(d) Find u10 , the tenth term of the sequence. [2]

(e) Find the greatest value of n, for which un is less than 100. [3]

(f) Find the value of n, for which Sn is equal to 1275. [2]

Question 26 CALCULA
nTOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are about 45 000 koalas left in the wild in 2019. A year
before, in 2018, the population of koalas was estimated as 50 000. Assuming the population of koalas continues
to decrease by the same percentage each year, find:

(a) the exact population of koalas in 2022; [3]

(b) the number of years it will take for the koala population to reduce to half of its number in 2018. [3]

Question 27 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

A battalion is arranged, per row, according to an arithmetic sequence. There are 24 troops in the third row and
42 troops in the sixth row.

(a) Find the first term and the common difference of this arithmetic sequence. [3]

There are 15 rows in the battalion.

(b) Find the total number of troops in the battalion. [3]

 Question 28 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 16]

The number of seats in an auditorium follows a regular pattern where the first row has u1 seats, and the
amount increases by the same amount, d, each row. In the fifth row, there are 62 seats and in the thirteenth
row there are 86 seats.

(a) Write down an equation, in terms of u1 and d, for the amount of seats

(i) in the fifth row.

(ii) in the thirteenth row. [2]

(b) Find the value of u1 and d. [2]

(c) Calculate the total number of seats if the auditorium has 20 rows. [3]

The cost of the ticket for a musical held at the auditorium is inversely proportional to the seat's row. The price
for a seat in the first row is $120 dollars, and the price decreases 3% each row. Thus, the value of the ticket for
seats in the second row is $116.40 and $112.91 in the third one, etc.

(d) (i) Find the price of the ticket for a seat in the fifth row, rounding your answer to two decimal places.

(ii) Find the row of the seat at which the price of a ticket first falls below $70.

(iii) Find the total revenue the auditorium generates by tickets sales if 40 seats in each of the 20 rows are
sold. Give your answer rounded to the nearest dollar. [9]

Question 29 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 7]

Two college students, David and Lisa, decide to invest money they have saved from working part-time jobs.
David's investment strategy results in an increase of his investment amount by $1 000 each year. Lisa's
investment strategy results in her investment amount increasing by 5% each year.

At the start of the second year of investing, David's total investment amount is $21 000 and Lisa's is $11 655.

(a) Calculate
(i) the original amount David invested.

(ii) the original amount Lisa invested. [4]

During a certain year, n, Lisa's investment amount becomes larger than David's amount for the first time.

(b) Find the value of n. [3]

Question 30 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Peter is playing on a swing during a school lunch break. The height of the first swing was 2 m and every
subsequent swing was 84 % of the previous one. Peter's friend, Ronald, gives him a push whenever the height
falls below 1 m.

(a) Find the height of the third swing. [2]

(b) Find the number of swings before Ronald gives Peter a push.
CALCULATOR
[2]

(c) Calculate the total height of swings if Peter is left to swing until coming
to rest. [2]
Question 31

[Maximum mark: 6]

Melinda has $300 000 in a private foundation. Each year she donates 10% of the money remaining in her
private foundation to charity.

(a) Find the maximum number of years Melinda can donate to charity while keeping at least $100 000 in the
private foundation. [3]

Bill invests $400 000 in a bank account that pays a nominal interest rate of 4 %, compounded quarterly, for
ten years.

(b) Calculate the value of Bill's investment at the end of this time. Give your answer correct to the nearest
dollar. [3]

Question 32 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

The first term of an arithmetic sequence is 24 and the common difference is 16.

(a) Find the value of the 62 nd term of the sequence. [2]

The first term of a geometric sequence is 8. The 4th term of the geometric sequence is equal to the 13th term of
the arithmetic sequence given above.

(b) Write down an equation using this information. [2]

(c) Calculate the common ratio of the geometric sequence. [2]

Question 33 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 5]

A bouncy ball is dropped out of a second story classroom window, 5 m off the ground. Every time the ball hits
the ground it bounces 89 % of its previous height.

(a) Find the height the ball reaches after the 2nd bounce. [2]

(b) Find the total distance the ball has travelled when it hits the ground for the 5th time. [3]
Question 34 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 15]

A ball is dropped from the top of the Eiffel Tower, 324 metres from the ground. The ball falls a distance of 4.9
metres during the first second, 14.7 metres during the next second, 24.5 metres during the third second, and so
on. The distances that the ball falls each second form an arithmetic sequence.

(a) (i) Find d, the common difference of the sequence.

(ii) Find u5 , the fifth term of the sequence. [2]

(b) Find S6 , the sum of the first 6 terms of the sequence. [2]

(c) Find the time the ball will take to reach the ground. Give your answer in seconds correct to one decimal
place. [3]

Assuming the ball is dropped another time from a much higher height than of the Eiffel Tower,

(d) find the distance the ball travels from the start of the 10th second to the end of the 15th second. [3]

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France was opened in 1889, and 1.9 million visitors ascended it during that first
year. The number of people who visited the tower the following year (1890) was 2 million.

(e) Calculate the percentage increase in the number of visitors from 1889 to 1890. Give your answer correct to
one decimal place. [2]

(f) Use your answer to part (e) to estimate the number of visitors in 1900, assuming that the number of
visitors continues to increase at the same percentage rate. [3]

Question 35 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 13]

On September 1st, an orchard commences the process of harvesting 36 hectares of apple trees. At the end of
September 4th, there were 30 hectares remaining to be harvested, and at the end of September 8th, there were
24 hectares remaining. Assuming that the number of hectares harvested each day is constant, the total number
of hectares remaining to be harvested can be described by an arithmetic sequence.

(a) Find the number of hectares of apple trees that are harvested each day. [3]

(b) Determine the number of hectares remaining to be harvested at the end of September 1st. [1]

(c) Determine the date on which the harvest will be complete. [2]

In 2021 the orchard sold their apple crop for $220 000. It is expected that the selling price will then increase by
3.2% annually for the next 7 years.

(d) Determine the amount of money the orchard will earn for their crop in 2026. Round your answer to the
nearest dollar. [3]
8
(e) (i)
Find the value of ∑ (220 000 × 1.032n−1 ). Round your answer to the nearest integer.
n=1

(ii) Describe, in context, what the value in part (e) (i) represents. [3]

(f) Comment on whether it is appropriate to model this situation in terms of a geometric sequence. [1]
Question 36 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 14]

Georgia is on vacation in Costa Rica. She is in a hot air balloon over a lush jungle in Muelle.

When she leans forward to see the treetops, she accidentally drops her purse. The purse falls down a distance of
4 metres during the first second, 12 metres during the next second, 20 metres during the third second and
continues in this way. The distances that the purse falls during each second forms an arithmetic sequence.

(a) (i) Write down the common difference, d, of this arithmetic sequence.

(ii) Write down the distance the purse falls during the fourth second. [2]

(b) Calculate the distance the purse falls during the 13th second. [2]

(c) Calculate the total distance the purse falls in the first 13 seconds. [2]

Georgia drops the purse from a height of 1250 metres above the ground.

(d) Calculate the time, to the nearest second, the purse will take to reach
the ground. [3]

Georgia visits a national park in Muelle. It is opened at the start of 2019 and in the first year there were 20 000
visitors. The number of people who visit the national park is expected to increase by 8% each year.

(e) Calculate the number of people expected to visit the national park in 2020. [2]

(f) Calculate the total number of people expected to visit the national park by the end of 2028. [3]

Question 37 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Let un = 4n + 1, for n ∈ Z+ .

(a) (i) Using sigma notation, write down an expression for u1 + u2 + u3 + ⋯ + u20 .

(ii) Find the value of the sum from part (a) (i). [4]

A geometric sequence is defined by vn = 9 × 4n−1 , for n ∈ Z+ .

(b) 5 [2]
Find the value of the sum of the geometric series ∑ vk .
k=1

Question 38 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Landmarks are placed along the road from London to Edinburgh and the distance between each landmark is
16.1 km. The first milestone placed on the road is 124.7 km from London, and the last milestone is near
Edinburgh. The length of the road from London to Edinburgh is 667.1 km.

(a) Find the distance between the fifth milestone and London. [3]

(b) Determine how many milestones there are along the road. [3]
Question 39 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 7]

Elon is challenged to a speed climb at a local mountain. He has to reach a height of 400 metres above the
ground within four hours.

Elon knows he can climb 150 metres in the first hour. Due to increasing tiredness, each hour he can only climb
75% of the height climbed in the previous hour.

(a) Verify that Elon reaches his target height of 400 metres in four hours. [2]

The mountain has a height of 650 metres. Elon decides to attempt to climb to the summit.

(b) Determine whether he can reach the summit of the mountain if he continues climbing, given his increasing
tiredness. Justify your answer. [2]

On a different day, Elon climbs with energy snacks, which help to reduce his tiredness as he climbs. On this
day, Elon again climbs 150 metres in the first hour, but then k% of the height he climbed in the previous hour,
where k > 75.

(c) Calculate the minimum value of k, given that on this day Elon is able to reach the summit. Give your
answer as a percentage, to the nearest whole number. [3]

Question 40 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

Let un = 5n − 1, for n ∈ Z+ .

(a) (i) Using sigma notation, write down an expression for u1 + u2 + u3 + ⋯ + u10 .

(ii) Find the value of the sum from part (a) (i). [4]

A geometric sequence is defined by vn = 5 × 2n−1 , for n ∈ Z+ .

6
(b) [2]
Find the value of the sum of the geometric series ∑ vk .
k=1
Question 43 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 7]

The half-life, T , in years, of a radioactive isotope can be modelled by the function

ln 0.5
T (k) = , 0 < k < 100,
ln (1 − 100k
)

where k is the decay rate, in percent, per year of the isotope.

(a) The decay rate of Hydrogen-3 is 5.5 % per year. Find its half-life. [2]

The half-life of Uranium-232 (U-232) is 68.9 years. A sample containing 250 grams of U-232 is obtained and
stored as a side product of a nuclear fuel cycle.

(b) Find the decay rate per year of U-232. [2]

(c) Find the amount of U-232 left in the sample after:

(i) 68.9 years;

(ii) 100 years. [3]

Question 44 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 7]

The half-life, T , in days, of a radioactive isotope can be modelled by the function

ln 0.5
T (k) = , 0 < k < 100,
ln (1 − 100k
)

where k is the decay rate, in percent, per day of the isotope.

(a) The decay rate of Gold-196 is 6.2 % per day. Find its half-life. [2]

The half-life of Phosphorus-32 (P-32) is 14.3 days. A sample containing 120 grams of P-32 is produced and
stored in a biochemistry laboratory.

(b) Find the decay rate per day of P-32. [2]

(c) Find the amount of P-32 left in the sample after:

(i) 14.3 days;

(ii) 50 days. [3]

 Question 45 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 15]

Consider the sequence u1 , u2 , u3 , … , un , … where

u1 = 860, u2 = 980, u3 = 1100, u4 = 1220.

The sequence continues in the same manner.

(a) Find the value of u50 . [3]

(b) Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the sequence. [3]

Now consider the sequence v1 , v2 , v3 , … , vn , … where

v1 = 2, v2 = 4, v3 = 8, v4 = 16.

This sequence continues in the same manner.

(c) Find the exact value of v13 . [3]

(d) Find the sum of the first 10 terms of this sequence. [3]

k is the smallest value of n for which vn is greater than un .

(e) Calculate the value of k . [3]

Question 46 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 19]

On Wednesday Eddy goes to a velodrome to train. He cycles the first lap of the track in 25 seconds. Each lap
Eddy cycles takes him 1.6 seconds longer than the previous lap.

(a) Find the time, in seconds, Eddy takes to cycle his tenth lap. [3]

Eddy cycles his last lap in 55.4 seconds.

(b) Find how many laps he has cycled on Wednesday. [3]

(c) Find the total time, in minutes, cycled by Eddy on Wednesday. [4]

On Friday Eddy brings his friend Mario to train. They both cycled the first lap of the track in 25 seconds. Each
lap Mario cycles takes him 1.05 times as long as his previous lap.

(d) Find the time, in seconds, Mario takes to cycle his fifth lap. [3]

(e) Find the total time, in minutes, Mario takes to cycle his first ten laps. [3]

Each lap Eddy cycles again takes him 1.6 seconds longer that his previous lap.
After a certain number of laps Eddy takes less time per lap than Mario.

(f) Find the number of the lap when this happens. [3]
Question 47 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 15]

Sarah has started a 12 week training program to improve her cycling. She plans to cycle 100 kilometres in the
first week and, in each subsequent week, cycle 15 kilometres further than she did the week before.

(a) Calculate the distance she will cycle during the eighth week. [3]

(b) Calculate the total distance she will have cycled by the end of the training program. [2]

Sarah's coach tells her she should have cycled 2500 kilometres by the end of the training program, so Sarah
decides to increase her cycling distances. She still plans to cycle 100 kilometres in the first week, but in each
subsequent week, she will cycle k kilometres more than she did the week before.

(c) Calculate the minimum integer value of k required for Sarah to reach the target of 2500 kilometres in 12
weeks. [3]

As part of her training, each week Sarah performs a one kilometre time trial, in which she aims to cycle one
kilometre as fast as she can. Sarah's time decreases by 2% each week. In the first week, her time is exactly 110
seconds.

(d) Calculate Sarah's time in the 12th week. [3]

Sarah's goal is to cycle one kilometre in less than 85 seconds by the end of the training program. To do this, she
needs to decrease her time by at least m% per week from her time of 110 seconds in week one.

(e) Find the minimum value of m so that Sarah reaches her goal. [4]
 Question 48 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 7]

Jenni is conducting an experiment with a spring and has attached a mass so that it will oscillate up and down.

She is measuring the y -coordinate of the centre of the mass.

At the start of the experiment the mass is at rest with its centre being at the point (0, 0).

She gives the mass a nudge upwards in the positive y -direction. She makes her first measurement of (0, 37.5)
when the centre of the mass is at the first maximum point (n = 1). The units of the y -coordinate are in
millimetres.

The mass then moves downwards passing the x-axis and reaching its first minimum point (n = 2). Jenni makes
her second measurement of the y -coordinate of the centre of a the mass as (0, a).

The mass then moves up past the x-axis to the next maximum point (n = 3) and Jenni makes her third
measurement of (0, 24).

The diagram below shows how the mass moves up and down until Jenni makes her 3rd measurement.

Jenni notices that the y -coordinates of the three measurements 37.5, a, 24 form a geometric sequence.

(a) Find a. [2]

The spring continues to oscillate up and down with Jenni measuring the y -coordinate in the same way as
described.

The results continue to form a geometric sequence.

(b) Find the 6th term in the sequence. Give your answer to 3 decimal places. [2]

(c) Show that the total distance travelled in the y -direction by the mass when the 6th measurement is made is
264.408 mm. [3]

Question 49 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

A bouncy ball is dropped out of a second story classroom window, 5 m off the ground. Every time the ball hits
the ground it bounces 89 % of its previous height.

(a) Find the height the ball reaches after the 11th bounce. [3]

(b) Find the total distance travelled by the ball until it comes to rest. [3]
Question 50 CALCULATOR

[Maximum mark: 6]

A bouncy ball is dropped from a height of 2 metres onto a concrete floor. After hitting the floor, the ball
rebounds back up to 80 % of it's previous height, and this pattern continues on repeatedly, until coming to rest.

(a) Show that the total distance travelled by the ball until coming to rest can be expressed by

2 + 4(0.8) + 4(0.8)2 + 4(0.8)3 + ⋯ [2]

(b) Find an expression for the total distance travelled by the ball, in terms of the number of bounces, n. [2]

(c) Find the total distance travelled by the ball. [2]