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# In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term

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Senior Manager
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In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink]  27 Mar 2013, 21:53
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In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term, is found by multiplying the previous two terms. What is the difference between the 6th and 3rd terms in the sequence?

(1) The 1st term is equal to 8 times the 2nd term.
(2) The 4th term is equal to 1.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
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Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink]  27 Mar 2013, 22:40
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mun23 wrote:
In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term, is found by multiplying the previous two terms. What is the difference between the 6th and 3rd terms in the sequence?

(1) The 1st term is equal to 8 times the 2nd term.

(2) The 4th term is equal to 1.

Need explanation

From F.S 1, consider this series : 8, 1, 8, 8, 64, 64*8.

Again, consider the series 2, 1/4, 1/2, 1/8, 1/16, 1/(8*16). Clearly, the difference of the 6th and the 3rd term is different for them. Insufficient.

From F.S 2, let the series be $$a,b,ab,ab^2,a^2b^3,a^3b^5$$. Now we know that $$ab^2 = 1$$. The required difference =$$a^3b^5 - ab = ab(a^2b^4-1) = ab[(ab^2)^2 -1]$$= 0.Sufficient.

B.
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Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink]  27 Jun 2013, 22:18
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mun23 wrote:
In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term, is found by multiplying the previous two terms. What is the difference between the 6th and 3rd terms in the sequence?

(1) The 1st term is equal to 8 times the 2nd term.
(2) The 4th term is equal to 1.

The question is:
1st term = $$x$$
2nd term = $$y$$
3rd term = $$xy$$
4th term = $$(xy)*y = xy^2$$
5th term = $$(xy^2)*(xy) = x^2y^3$$
6th term = $$(x^2y^3)*(xy^2) = x^3y^5$$

Have equation: 6th term - 3rd term $$= x^3y^5 - xy = xy(x^2y^4 -1)$$

Statement 1: The 1st term is equal to 8 times the 2nd term ==> $$x = 8y$$
Replace back to equation: 6th term - 3rd term $$= 8yy((8y)^2y^4 -1) = 8y^2(64y^6 - 1)$$ ==> NOT Sufficient because we don't know y

Statement 2: The 4th term is equal to 1 ==> $$=xy^2 = 1$$.
Replace back to equation: 6th term - 3rd term $$= xy((xy^2)^2 - 1) = xy(1 - 1) = 0$$ ==> Sufficient

Hence, B is correct.

Hope it helps.
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Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink]  04 Feb 2014, 04:04
(1) First term is 8 times the second term. could be 8 and 1 or 64 and 8 or 2 and 1/4, which would all lead to different sequences, varying the differences between the 6th and the 3rd term.. IS.

(2) Since the 4th term is 1 and has to be a product of the 3rd and 2nd term, all terms are 1, so the difference will be zero. SUFF.

Hence answer B.

I guess it was a lucky pick for me, but I didn't took long time setting up equations and stuff. Went straight as I described it, took me about 40 seconds!
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Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink]  18 Feb 2014, 16:29
unceldolan wrote:
(1) First term is 8 times the second term. could be 8 and 1 or 64 and 8 or 2 and 1/4, which would all lead to different sequences, varying the differences between the 6th and the 3rd term.. IS.

(2) Since the 4th term is 1 and has to be a product of the 3rd and 2nd term, all terms are 1, so the difference will be zero. SUFF.

Hence answer B.

I guess it was a lucky pick for me, but I didn't took long time setting up equations and stuff. Went straight as I described it, took me about 40 seconds!

Why should all terms be 1? Do we have to assume that all terms are integers here? What if S2 = 1/3 and S3= 3 then S4 = (1/3)(3) = 1

Can anyone explain second statement?

Thanks a lot
Cheers
J
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Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink]  18 Feb 2014, 21:13
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jlgdr wrote:
unceldolan wrote:
(1) First term is 8 times the second term. could be 8 and 1 or 64 and 8 or 2 and 1/4, which would all lead to different sequences, varying the differences between the 6th and the 3rd term.. IS.

(2) Since the 4th term is 1 and has to be a product of the 3rd and 2nd term, all terms are 1, so the difference will be zero. SUFF.

Hence answer B.

I guess it was a lucky pick for me, but I didn't took long time setting up equations and stuff. Went straight as I described it, took me about 40 seconds!

Why should all terms be 1? Do we have to assume that all terms are integers here? What if S2 = 1/3 and S3= 3 then S4 = (1/3)(3) = 1

Can anyone explain second statement?

Thanks a lot
Cheers
J

No, you don't have to assume anything. What you say is absolutely possible though it doesn't change our answer.

"S2 = 1/3 and S3= 3 then S4 = (1/3)(3) = 1"

The sequence could be: 9, 1/3, 3, 1, 3, 3, ....
But in any case $$t_6 - t_3 = 0$$

Note why: Statement 2 tells us that $$t_4 = 1$$

$$t_1, t_2, t_3, 1,$$
what will be $$t_5$$? It will be $$t_3 * 1 = t_3$$
What will be $$t_6$$? It will be $$1*t_5 = 1*t_3 = t_3$$

So in any case the sixth term will be same as the third term. Once you have a 1 in the sequence, all following terms will be equal to the term just preceding 1.
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Manager Joined: 18 May 2014 Posts: 64 Location: United States Concentration: General Management, Other GMAT Date: 07-31-2014 GPA: 3.99 WE: Analyst (Consulting) Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 8 [1] , given: 6 Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink] 18 May 2014, 09:39 1 This post received KUDOS The answer is B... First Term to Sixth 1..-1..-1...1...-1...1 Diff b/w 6th and 3rd is -1 -(-1)=0 _______________________ 1/64...8...1/8...1...1/8....1/8...1/64... Diff b/w 1/64-1/8=-7/64 ------------------------ SVP Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Posts: 2046 Concentration: Finance GMAT 1: 770 Q0 V Followers: 26 Kudos [?]: 304 [0], given: 354 Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink] 27 May 2014, 05:33 Shouldn't be hard at all, let's see So we need to find S6 - S3 Now, S6 = (S5)(S4) So (S5)(S4) - S3? Statement 1 Clearly insufficient. We don't have much information here as given that S=8(S2) Statement 2 Now, here's where it gets interesting. We have a specific value S4=1. Now, since S4=1 we are being asked what is S5-S3? S5 = (S4)*(S3). Again since S4=1 then S5=S3. So S5-S3=0 Sufficient Answer: B Hope this helps! Cheers J Intern Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Posts: 40 Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship Schools: Anderson '18 GMAT 1: 680 Q V GPA: 3.65 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 11 [0], given: 22 Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink] 04 Aug 2014, 09:23 mun23 wrote: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term, is found by multiplying the previous two terms. What is the difference between the 6th and 3rd terms in the sequence? (1) The 1st term is equal to 8 times the 2nd term. (2) The 4th term is equal to 1. Statement 1 is clearly insufficient as it tells nothing about 4th or 5th term Statement 2 says that the 4th term is 1 Let the 3rd term be anything.... lets say the 3rd term is 'a' and the 4th term is 1 Thus 5th term would be a*1.. which is equal to a And 6th term would be again 5th term*4th term that is a*1=a Thus no matter what the 3rd term be.... if the 4th term is 1 then the 3rd and 6th term would always be equal.. thus the difference would be 0 - Sufficient. _________________ Please +1 KUDOS if my post helped you in any way Intern Joined: 14 Jul 2014 Posts: 17 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 6 Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink] 29 Dec 2014, 19:09 Could someone explain why the 3rd term is not 1 when the 4th is 1? Doesn't the 4th term have to be the product of the 2nd and the 3rd term? Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 5585 Location: Pune, India Followers: 1382 Kudos [?]: 7043 [1] , given: 182 Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term [#permalink] 29 Dec 2014, 19:35 1 This post received KUDOS Expert's post dina98 wrote: Could someone explain why the 3rd term is not 1 when the 4th is 1? Doesn't the 4th term have to be the product of the 2nd and the 3rd term? $$T_4 = T_3 * T_2 = 1$$ $$T_3$$ could be anything and $$T_2$$ would take a corresponding value. For example, $$T_3$$ could be 2 and $$T_2$$ would be 1/2. Their product would be 1. Their product needs to be 1, they both independently don't need to be 1. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term   [#permalink] 29 Dec 2014, 19:35
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# In a certain sequence, each term, starting with the 3rd term

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