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Sequences and Series appeared 55 times across 3 years — 6.4% of Mathematics. This question is from Recurrence Relations and Summation.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 17 24 14 55

Let < aₙ > be a sequence such that a₀ = 0, a₁ = (1)/(2) and 2an + 2 = 5an + 1 - 3aₙ, n = 0, 1, 2, 3,. Then Σk = 1¹⁰⁰ ak is equal to:

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

Characteristic equation method for standard second-order linear homogeneous recurrence updates:

2x² - 5x + 3 = 0
Core Logic

Solving the characteristic equation gives roots x = 1 and x = (3)/(2). The general solution takes the form:

aₙ = A(1)ⁿ + B((3)/(2))ⁿ
Step 1: Evaluating Sequence Parameters

Using boundary conditions: For n = 0 A + B = 0 For n = 1 A + (3)/(2)B = (1)/(2)

Solving this simple linear system gives B = 1 and A = -1. Thus, the explicit sequence formula is:

aₙ = -1 + ((3)/(2))ⁿ
Step 2: Summing the Target Range
Σk = 1¹⁰⁰ ak = Σk = 1¹⁰⁰ (-1) + Σk = 1¹⁰⁰ ((3)/(2))^k = -100 + (3)/(2)[((3)/(2))¹⁰⁰ - 1](3)/(2) - 1 = -100 + 3[((3)/(2))¹⁰⁰ - 1] = 3a₁₀₀ - 100
Pattern Recognition

Characteristic roots directly decouple second-order linear loop progressions into basic combinations of clean geometric progressions.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series

More Sequences and Series Previous-Year Questions — Page 10

Q6 jee_main_2024_27_jan_morning Arithmetic Progression
The number of common terms in the progressions 4, 9, 14, 19, up to 25th term and 3, 6, 9, 12, up to 37th term is :
  • A. 9
  • B. 5
  • C. 7
  • D. 8

Solution

Related Formula
Tₙ = a + (n-1)d Dcommon = LCM(d₁, d₂)
Core Logic

First Progression (S₁): 4, 9, 14, 19, Common difference d₁ = 5. Last term (T₂₅) = 4 + (25-1)5 = 4 + 120 = 124.

Second Progression (S₂): 3, 6, 9, 12, Common difference d₂ = 3. Last term (T₃₇) = 3 + (37-1)3 = 3 + 108 = 111.

Step 1: Forming the Common AP

By inspecting the sequences, the first common term (acommon) is 9. The common difference of the new series is the LCM of the original differences:

Dcommon = LCM(5, 3) = 15

Thus, the common terms form a new AP: 9, 24, 39, 54,

Step 2: Bounding the Sequence

The last term of the common AP must be less than or equal to the smallest maximum limit of the two series. Here, (124, 111) = 111. So, the n-th term of the common sequence is bounded by 111:

9 + (n-1)15 ≤ 111

15(n-1) ≤ 102

(n-1) ≤ (102)/(15) = 6.8

n ≤ 7.8 Since n must be an integer, n = 7.

Pattern Recognition

The common terms of two APs always form a new AP. Its common difference is the LCM of the original differences. Find the first common term manually, then cap the n-th term inequality with the smallest end-boundary of the original sets.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series

Q25 jee_main_2024_27_jan_morning Arithmetico-Geometric Progression
If 8 = 3 + (1)/(4)(3+p) + (1)/(4²)(3+2p) + (1)/(4³)(3+3p) + ∞, then the value of p is:
Numerical Answer. Answer: 9 to 9

Solution

Related Formula
S∞ = (a)/(1-r) + (dr)/((1-r)²)

(Sum of an infinite Arithmetico-Geometric Progression, where a is the first AP term, d is common difference, and r is geometric ratio).

Core Logic

The series given is an AGP. However, let's look at it explicitly. Let S = 8.

8 = 3 + (3+p)/(4) + (3+2p)/(4²) +

Multiply the entire equation by the geometric ratio (1/4):

(8)/(4) = (3)/(4) + (3+p)/(4²) + (3+2p)/(4³) +
Step 1: Shift and Subtract

Subtract the shifted series from the original series:

8 - (8)/(4) = 3 + ((3+p)/(4) - (3)/(4)) + ((3+2p)/(4²) - (3+p)/(4²)) + 8 - 2 = 3 + (p)/(4) + (p)/(4²) + (p)/(4³) + 6 = 3 + (p)/(4) ( 1 + (1)/(4) + (1)/(4²) + )
Step 2: Summing the pure Infinite GP

The term in parentheses is an infinite geometric series with a=1 and r=1/4. Sum = (1)/(1 - 1/4) = (1)/(3/4) = (4)/(3)

Step 3: Final Output Evaluation

Substitute this sum back:

6 = 3 + (p)/(4) × (4)/(3) 6 - 3 = (p)/(3) 3 = (p)/(3) ⇒ p = 9
Pattern Recognition

The shift-and-subtract technique natively nullifies the arithmetic growth leaving behind a uniform geometric progression. Using the AGP direct formula S = a/(1-r) + dr/(1-r)² works perfectly here as well.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series

Q1 jee_main_2024_29_jan_morning Geometric Progression
If in a G.P. of 64 terms, the sum of all the terms is 7 times the sum of the odd terms of the G.P, then the common ratio of the G.P. is equal to
  • A. 7
  • B. 4
  • C. 5
  • D. 6

Solution

Related Formula
Sₙ = (a(1 - rⁿ))/(1 - r)

where Sₙ is the sum of n terms, a is the first term, and r is the common ratio.

Core Logic

Let the terms of the G.P. be a, ar, ar², ar³, , ar⁶³.

The sum of all 64 terms is given by:

Sall = a + ar + ar² + + ar⁶³ = a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r

The odd terms are a, ar², ar⁴, , ar⁶². This forms another G.P. with 32 terms and a common ratio of r². The sum of the odd terms is:

Sodd = a + ar² + ar⁴ + + ar⁶² = a(1 - (r²)³²)1 - r² = a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r²
Step 1: Equate and Solve for r

We are given that Sall = 7 · Sodd. Substituting our formulas:

a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r = 7 · a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r²

Assuming a ≠ 0 and r ≠ 1, we can cancel the common terms a(1 - r⁶⁴) from both sides:

(1)/(1 - r) = (7)/(1 - r²)

Since 1 - r² = (1 - r)(1 + r), we have:

(1)/(1 - r) = (7)/((1 - r)(1 + r))

1 + r = 7

r = 6

Pattern Recognition

Shortcut: In any G.P. with an even number of terms, the ratio of the total sum to the sum of the odd-positioned terms is exactly 1 + r. Thus, 1 + r = 7 ⇒ r = 6 immediately.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series

Q2 jee_main_2024_29_jan_morning Arithmetic Progression
In an A.P., the sixth term a₆=2. If the product a₁ a₄ a₅ is the greatest, then the common difference of the A.P., is equal to
  • A. (3)/(2)
  • B. (8)/(5)
  • C. (2)/(3)
  • D. (5)/(8)

Solution

Related Formula
aₙ = a + (n-1)d

For finding extrema of a polynomial function f(x), we set its derivative f'(x) = 0.

Core Logic

Given the 6th term of the A.P. is a₆ = 2.

a + 5d = 2 ⇒ a = 2 - 5d

We need to maximize the product P = a₁ a₄ a₅.

P = a(a + 3d)(a + 4d)

Substituting a = 2 - 5d into the expression for P:

P = (2 - 5d)(2 - 5d + 3d)(2 - 5d + 4d) P = (2 - 5d)(2 - 2d)(2 - d)
Step 1: Expand and Differentiate

Let's expand P as a function of d, f(d):

f(d) = (2 - 5d)(4 - 6d + 2d²) f(d) = 8 - 12d + 4d² - 20d + 30d² - 10d³ f(d) = -10d³ + 34d² - 32d + 8

To find the maximum, we differentiate f(d) with respect to d and equate to zero:

f'(d) = -30d² + 68d - 32 = 0 15d² - 34d + 16 = 0

Factoring the quadratic:

15d² - 24d - 10d + 16 = 0 3d(5d - 8) - 2(5d - 8) = 0 (5d - 8)(3d - 2) = 0

This gives critical points d = (8)/(5) and d = (2)/(3).

Step 2: Check for Maximum

We check the second derivative to confirm a maximum:

f''(d) = -60d + 68

At d = (8)/(5):

f''((8)/(5)) = -60((8)/(5)) + 68 = -96 + 68 = -28 lt 0 (Maximum)

At d = (2)/(3):

f''((2)/(3)) = -60((2)/(3)) + 68 = -40 + 68 = 28 gt 0 (Minimum)

Therefore, the greatest product occurs at d = (8)/(5).

Pattern Recognition

When asked to maximize a product of A.P. terms with a known constant term, express all terms strictly in d, build the cubic, and use standard calculus f'(x)=0 checking roots against the 2nd derivative test (Wavy Curve method works beautifully here).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series Class 12 Mathematics: Application of Derivatives

Q6 jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Geometric Progression
Let a and b be two distinct positive real numbers. Let 11th term of a GP, whose first term is a and third term is b , is equal to pth term of another GP, whose first term is a and fifth term is b . Then p is equal to
  • A. 20
  • B. 25
  • C. 21
  • D. 24

Solution

Related Formula
nth term of a GP: Tₙ = a rⁿ⁻¹
Core Logic

For the first Geometric Progression (GP): First term t₁ = a Third term t₃ = b = a r₁² ⇒ r₁² = (b)/(a) The 11th term is:

t₁₁ = a r₁¹⁰ = a (r₁²)⁵ = a ((b)/(a))⁵

For the second Geometric Progression (GP): First term T₁ = a Fifth term T₅ = a r₂⁴ = b ⇒ r₂⁴ = (b)/(a) ⇒ r₂ = ((b)/(a))1/4

Step 1: Equating the Terms

The pth term of the second GP is:

Tₚ = a r₂p-1 = a (((b)/(a))1/4)p-1 = a ((b)/(a))(p-1)/(4)

Given that t₁₁ = Tₚ:

a ((b)/(a))⁵ = a ((b)/(a))(p-1)/(4)
Step 2: Solving for p

Since a and b are distinct positive real numbers, (b)/(a) ≠ 1. Therefore, we can equate the exponents:

5 = (p - 1)/(4) 20 = p - 1 ⇒ p = 21
Pattern Recognition

Express the common ratios strictly in terms of powers of (b/a) to bypass isolated radical tracking.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series

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