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Sequences and Series appeared 55 times across 3 years — 6.4% of Mathematics. This question is from Arithmetic Progression Properties.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 17 24 14 55

Let Tᵣ be the rth term of an A.P. If for some m, Tm = (1)/(25), T₂₅ = (1)/(20) and 20Σr = 1²⁵ Tᵣ = 13 then 5mΣr = m2m Tᵣ is equal to:

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

Standard Arithmetic Progression summation template:

Sₙ = (n)/(2)[2a + (n-1)d]
Core Logic

Given structural constraints:

T₂₅ = a + 24d = (1)/(20) 20 · (25)/(2)[a + (1)/(20)] = 13 a = (1)/(500)
Step 1: Finding Parameters and Indices

Substituting a = (1)/(500) back into a + 24d = (1)/(20) gives d = (1)/(500).

Using the formula for Tm:

Tm = a + (m-1)d = (1)/(500) + (m-1)/(500) = (1)/(25) m = 20
Step 2: Computing the Target Segment Sum

For m = 20, the target expression becomes:

5(20) Σr=20⁴⁰ Tᵣ = 100 · (21)/(2) [T₂₀ + T₄₀]

Evaluating the values gives exactly 126.

Pattern Recognition

When a = d, the expressions simplify directly to basic multiples of the index position (Tₙ = n · d), cutting down calculation time.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series

More Sequences and Series Previous-Year Questions — Page 4

Q20 jee_main_2026_28_january_evening Geometric Series with Constants
63²⁶ + 10 · 13²⁵ + 10 · 23²⁴ + 10 · 2²3²³ + … + 10 · 2²⁴3 is equal to
  • A. 2²⁵
  • B. 2²⁶
  • C. 3²⁵
  • D. 3²⁶

Solution

Core Logic

Let the given sum be S. Exclude the first term and identify the progression in the remaining terms:

S = 63²⁶ + 103²⁵ [ 1 + (2 · 3)/(3) + (2² · 3²)/(3²) ]

Wait, rewrite the terms carefully: Term 2: 10 · 13²⁵ Term 3: 10 · 23²⁴ = 103²⁵ · (2 · 3) Term 4: 10 · 2²3²³ = 103²⁵ · (2² · 3²) = 103²⁵ · (6²) Term n: 10 · 2²⁴3¹ = 103²⁵ · 2²⁴ · 3²⁴ = 103²⁵ · (6)²⁴

Execution

The bracketed terms form a geometric progression with common ratio r = 6, and total terms = 25.

S = 63²⁶ + 103²⁵ [ 1 + 6 + 6² + … + 6²⁴ ]

Sum of G.P. = 6²⁵ - 16 - 1 = 6²⁵ - 15.

Substitute this back:

S = 63²⁶ + 103²⁵ [ 6²⁵ - 15 ] S = 23²⁵ + 23²⁵ (6²⁵ - 1) S = 23²⁵ + 2 ( 6²⁵3²⁵ ) - 23²⁵ S = 2 · 2²⁵ = 2²⁶
Pattern Recognition

Factoring out the lowest common denominator scaling factor transforms chaotic-looking polynomial denominators into a straightforward integer geometric series block.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequence and Series

Q21 jee_main_2026_28_january_evening Method of Differences
If Σr=1²⁵( rr⁴+r²+1)=(p)/(q), where p and q are positive integers such that gcd(p, q) = 1, then p + q is equal to
Numerical Answer. Answer: 976 to 976

Solution

Related Formula
r⁴ + r² + 1 = (r² - r + 1)(r² + r + 1)
Core Logic

Factor the denominator: (r)/(r⁴ + r² + 1) = (r)/((r² - r + 1)(r² + r + 1)) Decompose using partial fractions (Method of Differences):

= (1)/(2) [ (1)/(r² - r + 1) - (1)/(r² + r + 1) ]
Execution

Let the sum be S.

S = (1)/(2) Σr=1²⁵ ( (1)/(r² - r + 1) - (1)/(r² + r + 1) )

Expand the sum to observe telescoping cancellation: r=1: ((1)/(1) - (1)/(3)) r=2: ((1)/(3) - (1)/(7)) r=3: ((1)/(7) - (1)/(13)) ... r=25: ((1)/(601) - (1)/(651))

Summing all terms leaves only the first and last parts:

S = (1)/(2) [ 1 - (1)/(651) ] = (1)/(2) [ (650)/(651) ] = (325)/(651)

Since gcd(325, 651) = 1, we have p = 325 and q = 651. p + q = 325 + 651 = 976.

Pattern Recognition

The expression r⁴ + r² + 1 is the canonical telescoping denominator. Instantly split it into difference of squares (r²+1)² - r² to unleash the cancellation chain.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequence and Series

Q53 jee_main_2025_02_april_evening Arithmetic Progression
The number of terms of an A.P. is even; the sum of all the odd terms is 24, the sum of all the even terms is 30 and the last term exceeds the first by (21)/(2). Then the number of terms which are integers in the A.P. is :
  • A. 4
  • B. 10
  • C. 6
  • D. 8

Solution

Related Formula
Sum of an A.P.: Sk = (k)/(2) ( 2a + (k-1)d ) General term of an A.P.: ak = a₁ + (k-1)d
Core Logic

Let the A.P. have n terms (where n is even). The terms are divided into n/2 odd-indexed terms and n/2 even-indexed terms.

Step 1: Set up the even and odd sums

Sum of even terms:

a₂ + a₄ + + aₙ = 30 --- (1)

Sum of odd terms:

a₁ + a₃ + + aₙ₋₁ = 24 --- (2)

Subtracting equation (2) from (1):

(a₂ - a₁) + (a₄ - a₃) + + (aₙ - aₙ₋₁) = 30 - 24 = 6

Since there are n/2 such pairs, and the difference of adjacent terms is the common difference d:

(n)/(2) d = 6 n d = 12 --- (3)
Step 2: Solve for n and d

We are given that the last term exceeds the first by (21)/(2):

aₙ - a₁ = (n-1)d = (21)/(2)

n d - d = 10.5

Substitute nd = 12 from (3):

12 - d = 10.5 d = 1.5 = (3)/(2)

Using this in (3):

n ((3)/(2)) = 12 n = 8
Step 3: Solve for the first term

The sum of the odd terms is:

Sodd = (4)/(2) [ 2a₁ + (4-1)(2d) ] = 24 2 [ 2a₁ + 3(3) ] = 24 2a₁ + 9 = 12 a₁ = 1.5 = (3)/(2)

Thus, the terms are:

(3)/(2), 3, (9)/(2), 6, (15)/(2), 9, (21)/(2), 12

The terms that are integers are 3, 6, 9, 12. The total number of integer terms is 4.

Pattern Recognition

Sum of even terms minus sum of odd terms in any A.P. with an even number of terms n is always equal to (n)/(2) d. This is an extremely useful relation to remember.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series

Q72 jee_main_2025_02_april_evening Sum of Special Series
If the sum of the first 10 terms of the series (4 · 1)/(1 + 4 · 1⁴) + (4 · 2)/(1 + 4 · 2⁴) + (4 · 3)/(1 + 4 · 3⁴) + is mn, where (m, n) = 1, then m + n is equal to ____________.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 441 to 441

Solution

Related Formula
Sophie Germain's algebraic factorization: 1 + 4r⁴ = (2r² + 2r + 1)(2r² - 2r + 1) Telescoping Series representation: Tᵣ = f(r) - f(r+1)
Core Logic

This is a telescoping series sum. We expand the denominator using Sophie Germain's algebraic identity to write the general term as a difference of two consecutive rational expressions.

Step 1: Write down the general term and factor

The general term Tᵣ of the series is:

Tᵣ = (4r)/(1 + 4r⁴)

Using the factorization of 1+4r⁴:

Tᵣ = (4r)/((2r² - 2r + 1)(2r² + 2r + 1))

Notice that the numerator 4r is the exact difference of the two quadratic factors:

(2r² + 2r + 1) - (2r² - 2r + 1) = 4r
Step 2: Split the fraction into telescoping terms

Rewrite the general term Tᵣ:

Tᵣ = ((2r² + 2r + 1) - (2r² - 2r + 1))/((2r² - 2r + 1)(2r² + 2r + 1)) Tᵣ = (1)/(2r² - 2r + 1) - (1)/(2r² + 2r + 1) = f(r) - f(r+1)
Step 3: Expand the sum and solve

Sum the first 10 terms:

  • For r = 1: T₁ = (1)/(1) - (1)/(5)
  • For r = 2: T₂ = (1)/(5) - (1)/(13)
  • ...
  • For r = 10: T₁₀ = (1)/(181) - (1)/(221)
  • All intermediate terms cancel out:

S₁₀ = 1 - (1)/(221) = (220)/(221) = (m)/(n)

Since 220 and 221 are coprime (their greatest common divisor is 1):

m = 220 and n = 221 m + n = 220 + 221 = 441
Pattern Recognition

Sophie Germain identity: The expansion 4r⁴ + 1 = (2r² - 2r + 1)(2r² + 2r + 1) is highly common in telescoping series. Spotting this factorization collapses the sum instantly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series

Q jee_main_2025_02_april_morning Arithmetic Progression Summation
Let a₁, a₂, a₃, … be in an A.P. such that Σk=1¹² a2k-1 = -(72)/(5) a₁, a₁ ≠ 0. If Σk=1ⁿ ak = 0, then n is:
  • A. 11
  • B. 10
  • C. 18
  • D. 17

Solution

Related Formula

Sum of an Arithmetic Progression:

Sm = (m)/(2)[2a₁ + (m-1)d]
Core Logic

Express the odd terms summation in terms of a₁ and d, establish their linear dependency, and then solve for n where total sum vanishes.

Step 1: Simplify the Given Summation

The summation represents the sum of 12 terms: a₁ + a₃ + a₅ + + a₂₃. This is an A.P. with initial term a₁ and common difference 2d.

(12)/(2)[2a₁ + 11(2d)] = -(72)/(5)a₁ 6[2a₁ + 22d] = -(72)/(5)a₁ 12a₁ + 132d = -(72)/(5)a₁
Step 2: Relate initial term to common difference

Multiply through by 5 to eliminate the fraction:

60a₁ + 660d = -72a₁ 132a₁ + 660d = 0 a₁ = -5d
Step 3: Solve for n

Set the general sum of n terms to 0:

(n)/(2)[2a₁ + (n-1)d] = 0 2a₁ + (n-1)d = 0

Substitute a₁ = -5d:

2(-5d) + (n-1)d = 0 -10d + nd - d = 0 nd = 11d

Since a₁ ≠ 0, d ≠ 0, which yields:

n = 11

Pattern Recognition

The condition a₁ = -5d means the sequence starts positive/negative and counts down symmetrically. A sum of n terms equals zero when the middle term or balanced pairs completely wipe each other out, pointing directly to n = 2(5) + 1 = 11.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series

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