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The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is 2047. [#permalink]
Gnpth wrote:
The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is 2047. Find the common ratio.

(1) The first and last terms of the series are 1 and 1024 respectively.

(2) Last but one term of the series is 512.




Summation of n terms of a G.P = sum = a\((\frac{ 1- r^n}{1-r})\)

Where a is the first term and n is the number of terms whose sum is being taken and r is the common ratio.



2047 = \(1 (\frac{ 1- r^n}{1-r})\)

Also nth term of a G.P.= \(ar^{(n-1)}\) where a is the first term and r is the common ratio.
So last term ( nth term) = 1024 = \(ar^{(n-1)}\)
We know a (first term) is 1
\(1024=r^{(n-1)}\)
\(2^{10}\) = 1024 here n-1= 10 so n=11
\(4^5\) = 1024 here n-1= 5 so n=6
\(32^2\) = 1024 here n-1= 2 so n=3

Out of these only n=11 will give sum of 2047 hence r= 2 is the required common ratio.

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Re: The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is 2047. [#permalink]
BrentGMATPrepNow wrote:
Gnpth wrote:
The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is 2047. Find the common ratio.

(1) The first and last terms of the series are 1 and 1024 respectively.

(2) Last but one term of the series is 512.


In case there are people reading this question and worrying that they haven't learned about geometric progressions and common ratios, you need not worry. The GMAT does not expect you to be familiar with these terms. Likewise, you don't need to know the formula for the sum of a geometric series/sequence/progression.

Cheers,
Brent


Thank you Brent for Clarification!
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The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is 2047. [#permalink]
To solve this problem we just need to know the formula that defines the nth term in a G.P :
An= A1 R^(n-1)
Given an=1024 and a1=1
=> 1024= 1 x R^(n-1)
=> 1024= R^(n-1)
=> for a given sum of the sequence we can find R. Hence Statement one is sufficient.
Statement two merely tells us the second last element in the sequence is 512. Without knowing the last element we cannot conclude on what the common ratio might be
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The sum of the terms of a geometric progression is 2047. [#permalink]
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