Algebra II : Summations and Sequences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Mathematical Relationships And Basic Graphs

Evaluate:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is equal to the sum of the expressions formed by substituting 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, in turn, for  in the expression . This is simply the sum of the reciprocals of these 5 integers, which is equal to 

Example Question #141 : Mathematical Relationships And Basic Graphs

A sequence begins as follows:

Which statement is true?

Possible Answers:

The sequence may be arithmetic.

All of these

None of these

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

The sequence may be geometric.

Correct answer:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

Explanation:

An arithmetic sequence is one in which each term is generated by adding the same number - the common difference - to the previous term. As can be seen here, the difference between each term and the previous term varies from term to term:

The first difference: 

The second difference:  

The sequence cannot be arithmetic.

A geometric sequence is one in which each term is generated by multiplying the previous term by the same number - the common ratio. As can be seen here, the ratio of each term to the previous one varies from term to term:

The first ratio: 

The second ratio: 

The sequence cannot be geometric.

Example Question #11 : Other Sequences And Series

A sequence begins as follows:

Which statement is true?

Possible Answers:

The sequence may be geometric.

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

None of these

The sequence may be arithmetic.

All of these

Correct answer:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

Explanation:

An arithmetic sequence is one in which each term is generated by adding the same number - the common difference - to the previous term. As can be seen here, the difference between each term and the previous term varies from term to term:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic.

A geometric sequence is one in which each term is generated by multiplying the previous term by the same number - the common ratio. As can be seen here, the ratio of each term to the previous one varies from term to term:

The sequence cannot be geometric.

Example Question #18 : Other Sequences And Series

A sequence begins as follows:

Which statement is true?

Possible Answers:

The sequence may be geometric.

The sequence may be arithmetic.

None of these

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

All of these

Correct answer:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

Explanation:

An arithmetic sequence is one in which each term is generated by adding the same number - the common difference - to the previous term. As can be seen here, the difference between each term and the previous term varies from term to term:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic.

A geometric sequence is one in which each term is generated by multiplying the previous term by the same number - the common ratio. As can be seen here, the ratio of each term to the previous one also varies from term to term:

The sequence cannot be geometric.

Example Question #2801 : Algebra Ii

A sequence begins as follows:

Which statement is true?

Possible Answers:

The sequence may be geometric.

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

None of these

The sequence may be arithmetic.

The sequence may be arithmetic and geometric.

Correct answer:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic or geometric.

Explanation:

An arithmetic sequence is one in which each term is generated by adding the same number - the common difference - to the previous term. As can be seen here, the differences between each term and the previous term is not constant from term to term:

The sequence cannot be arithmetic.

A geometric sequence is one in which each term is generated by multiplying the previous term by the same number - the common ratio. As can be seen here, the ratios of each term to the previous one is not constant from term to term:

The sequence cannot be geometric.

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