Edexcel A Level Mathematics: Sequences and series
Section 3: Geometric sequences and series
Exercise level 2
1. The numbers 5 x + 1 , 4 x − 4 and 3x − 5 form three consecutive terms of a geometric
sequence.
(a) Find the two possible values of x.
(b) Find the common ratio corresponding to each possible value of x.
2. The infinite recurring decimal 0.45 = 0.454545... can be written as the infinite
geometric series 0.45 + 0.0045 + 0.000045 + ...
(a) Write down the first term and the common ratio of this geometric series.
(b) Find the sum to infinity of the series and hence express 0.45 as an exact fraction in
its lowest terms.
3. Using the same method as in Question 2, express the recurring decimal 0.407 as an
exact fraction in its lowest terms.
4. Aisha works for the same company for 10 years. Her starting salary is £18000, and
each year she receives a pay rise of 4%.
(a) How much does Aisha earn in the 10th year?
(b) How much has she earned in total over the 10 year period?
5. A ball is dropped from a height of 2 metres. After each bounce it rebounds to a height
0.8 times the height that it reached after the last bounce.
(a) After how many bounces does the ball first rebound to less than 10 cm from the
ground?
(b) Find the total distance travelled by the ball before it comes to rest.
(c) After how many bounces has the ball travelled more than 99% of the total distance
it travels before coming to rest?
6. A series is S = 1 − 12 + 14 − 18 + ..........
(a) Find the sum to infinity of the series.
Edexcel A Level Maths: Sequences and series 3 © MEI 22/03/24
Exercise level 2 page 1 of 2 integralmaths.org
(b) Express the terms in the odd numbered positions of the series S as a geometric
sequence, and find its sum to infinity.
(c) Express the terms in the even numbered positions of the series S as a geometric
sequence, and find its sum to infinity.
(d) Show that your solutions in parts (b) and (c) confirm your answer in (a).
Edexcel A Level Maths: Sequences and series 3 © MEI 22/03/24
Exercise level 2 page 2 of 2 integralmaths.org
