Year 12 IB Mathematics AASL Preparation Program

Topic 1: Number and Algebra

Sequences and Series:

Terminology
An example of a Sequence:

An example of a Series:

There are 2 types of sequences:

ARITHMETIC
Common Difference: _________________ (the difference between consecutive terms is constant)

General Form Sum of n terms (finite series) is given by:

n n
Sn  2u1  (n  1)d  or Sn  u1  un 
u1 , u1  d , u1  2d , u1  3d ,........u1  (n  1)d 2 2

nth term is given by the rule un  u1  (n  1)d

GEOMETRIC
Common Ratio ______________________ (the ratio between consecutive terms is constant)

General Form Sum of n terms (finite series) is given by:

u1 , u1  r 1 , u1  r 2 , u1  r 3 ,........u1  r ( n 1) u1 (r n  1) u (1  r n )
Sn  , r  1 OR S n  1 ,r 1
r 1 1 r
nth term is given by the rule u n  u1  r ( n 1)
Sum of Sum to infinity

u1
S  , r 1
1 r

1
Example

An arithmetic sequence has fifth term 35 and eighth term 57.5. Find the sum of the first twenty terms.

This is a very straightforward question! Don’t over- complicate it! Finish it off……

t5 = u1 + 4d = 35 using the un formula

t8 = u1 + 7d = 57.5

Using the Sn formula

Example

a) How many terms are there in the sequence: 6, 11, 16, …….731? b) Hence find the sum of the series.

Example
The first term of a geometric sequence is 12 and the sum to infinity is 9. Find the ratio of the terms.

2
You need to be able to recognise the different types of sequences in a variety of application questions.

Compound Interest and Population Growth – examples of geometric sequences where the common ratio is
the multiplying factor.

Multiplying Factors - these are used in Geometric Sequences only.

Remember…..

An increase of 5% gives a multiplying factor of 105% which is the same as r = 1.05

A decrease of 5% gives a multiplying factor of 95% which is the same as r = 0.95

Example

On 1/1/2000, I invested $ 1500 into an account that paid 3% interest, compounded annually. How much
would my investment be worth at the end of 2008?

This is an example of a Geometric Sequence where the common ratio is the multiplying factor found in the
Compound Interest Formula.

A = P(1 + r/100)n
= 1500(1 + )9 (Note power of 9 since it is 9 years to end of 2008)
= 1500 (1.03)9
= $1957.16

Example
On my 16th birthday, Aunty Flo deposited $400 in a bank account in my name, earning 5% interest pa,
compounded quarterly, to remain untouched until I am 41 years old. How much money will be in my
account on my 41st birthday?

3
Sigma Notation

Arithmetic

u1 + u2 + u3 + u4 +…………..+ un can be written more compactly using Sigma Notation.

We write:

This means the sum of all numbers of the form ui, where i = 1, 2, 3, ……..up to n.

Geometric

u1 + u1r + u2r2 + u1r3 +…………..+ un

 n
1
Evaluate   
n 3  2 

Exponentials and Logarithms

Errors made by students with this topic

 Errors in basic algebra!

 Not showing working!
 Not knowing the rules!
 Poor reasoning!
 Not checking solutions!
 Errors in calculator use!

Exponents (prior learning – not in formula booklet)

4
 Logarithms
A logarithm is the inverse of an index
If 𝒂𝒙 = 𝒚 then x is the logarithm of y when the base is a. We write this as 𝒙 = 𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝒂 𝒚

You must know how to interchange from index form to logarithmic

form

Change of base rule

log3 ( x  1)  log 9 (13  2 x)

5
Examples:

Solve: 16 − 5 × 8 = 0

ln(𝑥) = 5 3 ln(𝑥) + 2 = 0 𝑒 = 11 25𝑒 = 750

6
Quadratic Equations:
Quadratic Functions Can you……..
 Factorise expressions
 Solve quadratic equations, using the null factor theorem or the quadratic formula
 Find and use the discriminant to the determine number or type of solutions
 Complete the square to write a quadratic expression in turning point form
 Sketch a parabola using x-intercepts and symmetry or turning point form
 Solve quadratic inequations using a graph
 Solve linear and quadratic equations simultaneously

7
Binomial Expansion

(a + b)n = nC0 an b0 + nC1an-1b1 + nC2an-2b2 + ...+ nCn a0 bn

(a - b)n = nC0 an b0 - nC1an-1b1 + nC2an-2b2 - ... + nCn a0 bn

Do you remember that……

 with (a - b) n = every second term is subtracted

 (2x – 3) 5 will have 6 terms

 The coefficient of x can be found from the formula or from Pascal’s Triangle.

Example

Find the coefficient of x5 in the expansion of (3x – 2)8.

In the expansion of ( x  k ) , where k  R , find k when the coefficient of the x5 term is 63.
7