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junker
3 + 3 + 3 + 2 × 3^2 + 2 × 3^3 + 2 × 3^4 + 2 × 3^5 + 2 × 3^6 + 2 × 3^7 =

• 3^7
• 3^8
• 3^14
• 3^28
• 3^30

Cant remember where I had found this question (was in my revision notes), whats an elegant way to solve this?

Anyone found a good approach for this one?
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3 + 3 + 3 + 2 × 3^2 + 2 × 3^3 + 2 × 3^4 + 2 × 3^5 + 2 × 3^6 + 2 × 3^7 =

A. 3^7
B. 3^8
C. 3^14
D. 3^28
E. 3^30

We have the sum of 9 terms. Now, if all terms were equal to the largest term 2*3^7 we would have: sum=9*(2*3^7)=2*3^9=~3^10, so the actual sum is less than 3^10 and more than 3^7 (option A) as the last term is already more than that. So the answer is clearly B.

Answer: B.

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