For all positive integers n, the nth term in sequence S_n is defined

Question

For all positive integers n, the nth term in sequence  S_n  is defined as follows:

S_n = (n!)^{-1}

The sum of the first six terms of  S_n  is

(A) between 0 and ½
(B) between ½ and 1
(C) between 1 and 1½
(D) between 1½ and 2
(E) greater than 2

Kudos for a correct  solution .

noTh1ng · Accepted Answer

The sequence for the first six terms is: 1, 1/2, 1/6, 1/24, 1/120, 1/720

You can immediately rule out answer A, B and C as 1 + 1/2 alone will yield a result greater than 1,5.

Now the proceeding terms will get smaller and smaller and will not be 0,5 if summed, therefore the total sum has to be somewhere between 1,5 and 2. D

Bunuel · Answer

MANHATTAN GMAT OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

First, list out the first few terms of  S_n  to get a feeling for the sequence.

S_1 = (1!)^{-1} = \frac{1}{1!} = \frac{1}{1} = 1 
 S_2 = (2!)^{-1} = \frac{1}{2!} = \frac{1}{2}

The sum of just the first two terms, by the way, is 1½. Glancing ahead at the answers, we should already be able to rule out A, B, and C at this point. The terms never go negative, so the only question is whether the sum of the first six terms takes us above 2 or not.

The sum of the first six terms can be written this way:

Sum = 1/1! + 1/2! + 1/3! + 1/4! + 1/5! + 1/6! 
 = 1 + 1/2 + 1/6 + 1/24 + 1/120 + 1/720

Given how quickly the fractions shrink, we might guess at this point that the sum does not go above 2. However, we can make sure of this guess. Leaving out the first two terms (the 1 and the ½), we can just figure out the sum of the last four terms:

1/6 + 1/24 + 1/120 + 1/720 
 = 1/6(1 + 1/4 + 1/20 + 1/120) 
 = 1/6(120/120 + 30/120 + 6/120 + 1/120) 
 = 1/6(157/120) 
 = 157/720 ,

which is definitely less than 1/2. (If it were above 1/2, then the sum of the first six terms would be greater than 2.)

Thus, the sum of the first six terms is between 1½ and 2.

The correct answer is D.

kunal555 · Answer

The sum of sequencee of first 6 terms of  S_n  will be

1+  \frac{1}{2!}  +  \frac{1}{3!}  +  \frac{1}{4!}  +  \frac{1}{5!}  +  \frac{1}{6!}

We do not actually need to solve for the sum.

The first two terms are 1 and 1/2. So the sum should be definitely greater than 1½ . 
For the sum to be greater than or equal to 2, the sum of next fractions should be at least 1/2.
Now the succeeding fractions are less than 1/2, hence irrespective of the fraction, the sum will be less than 1/2.
So, sum of the sequence will be greater than 1½ but not more than 2.

Answer:- D

sahil7389 · Answer

from the sequence equation we can see first 6 terms to be  1+ \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{24} + \frac{1}{120} +\frac{1}{720} 
So from 1st two numbers we have sum 1.5 and adding other four will be give more than 1.5 so A, B , C gone.
From D and E we can easily select D as from last four terms we have  \frac{1}{6} (1+ \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{20} +\frac{1}{120})  which is less than .5. Hence D

anudeep133 · Answer

Solution :  Multiply and divide the sum by 6!
1/720(720+360+120+30+6+1)==> clearly b/n 1.5-2

Option D

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

S(1) = 1

S(2) = 1/2

S(3) = 1/6

S(4) = 1/24

S(5) = 1/120

S(6) = 1/720

Adding together the first 3 terms, we have 6/6 + 3/6 + 1/6 = 10/6 = 5/3 = 1 2/3.

Since 1/24 + 1/120 + 1/720 = 30/720 + 6/720 + 1/720 = 37/720 < 1/3, we see that the sum of the first six terms is between 1.5 and 2.

Answer: D

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For all positive integers n, the nth term in sequence S_n is defined

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