Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 14:18 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 14:18
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
jrymbei
Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Last visit: 30 Mar 2016
Posts: 26
Own Kudos:
154
 [8]
Given Kudos: 20
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
mau5
User avatar
Verbal Forum Moderator
Joined: 10 Oct 2012
Last visit: 31 Dec 2024
Posts: 478
Own Kudos:
3,386
 [6]
Given Kudos: 141
Posts: 478
Kudos: 3,386
 [6]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
jrymbei
Joined: 22 Sep 2011
Last visit: 30 Mar 2016
Posts: 26
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
saurabhprashar
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
Last visit: 01 May 2015
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 77
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Nonprofit
GMAT 1: 640 Q48 V29
GMAT 2: 660 Q45 V35
GPA: 3.5
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
GMAT 2: 660 Q45 V35
Posts: 12
Kudos: 81
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jrymbei
Find the sum of the first 15 terms of the series whose nth term is (4n+1).

A. 485
B. 495
C. 505
D. 630


Note - I am clueless about this question.

Formula used: Sum of n terms = Average (First and Last term) * Number of terms.

First term : n=1, (4*1+1) = 5
Last term : n=15, (4*15 + 1) = 61

Sum = (5+61)/2 * 15 = 495. Answer B.
avatar
sisorayi01
Joined: 01 Feb 2015
Last visit: 02 Dec 2019
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 7
Kudos: 1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Its probably obvious.. but can someone explain why the formula for a arithmetic series is used here ... Sum of series n = (n/2)(A1 - An) ... as opposed to the formula for a geometric series ... Sum of series n = [A1*(1-r^n)]/(1-r) where r is the common ratio and n is the nth term.

I understand the solution but am confused by the formula thinking that An=4n+1 is a geometric sequence given that you have to multiply by 4 to get the next term in the sequence. Appreciate your reply!!

THANKS!
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,785
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,785
Kudos: 810,852
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sisorayi01
Its probably obvious.. but can someone explain why the formula for a arithmetic series is used here ... Sum of series n = (n/2)(A1 - An) ... as opposed to the formula for a geometric series ... Sum of series n = [A1*(1-r^n)]/(1-r) where r is the common ratio and n is the nth term.

I understand the solution but am confused by the formula thinking that An=4n+1 is a geometric sequence given that you have to multiply by 4 to get the next term in the sequence. Appreciate your reply!!

THANKS!

The sequence is define by \(a_n=4n+1\), thus:

\(a_1=4*1+1=5\);
\(a_2=4*2+1=9\);
\(a_3=4*3+1=13\);
\(a_4=4*4+1=17\);
...

As you can see the sequence we have (5, 9, 13, 17, ...) is an arithmetic progression, not geometric.
avatar
shreyast
Joined: 17 Feb 2015
Last visit: 03 Nov 2015
Posts: 23
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
GPA: 3
Products:
Posts: 23
Kudos: 114
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sisorayi01
Its probably obvious.. but can someone explain why the formula for a arithmetic series is used here ... Sum of series n = (n/2)(A1 - An) ... as opposed to the formula for a geometric series ... Sum of series n = [A1*(1-r^n)]/(1-r) where r is the common ratio and n is the nth term.

I understand the solution but am confused by the formula thinking that An=4n+1 is a geometric sequence given that you have to multiply by 4 to get the next term in the sequence. Appreciate your reply!!

THANKS!

Adding to what Bunuel just posted, a geometric series would look like following
An = 4^n
And the series would look something like 4, 16, 64, 256, 1024, ...
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,962
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,962
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109785 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts