QUESTION 8 8.1 \( x ; 4 ; y \) form an arithmetic sequence while \( x ; \sqrt{15} ; y \) form a geometric sequence. Calculate \( x \) and \( y \). 8.2 Consider an arithmetic series: \( S_{n}=n^{2}+3 n \) : 8.2.1 Calculate the second term of this series. 8.2.2 The first two terms of this sequence form a geometric sequence. Calculate the sum of the first 6 terms of this geometric sequence.
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To solve the first part, we know \( x ; 4 ; y \) as an arithmetic sequence implies that \( 4 - x = y - 4 \). Solving this gives us \( y = 8 - x \). For the geometric sequence \( x ; \sqrt{15} ; y \), we have \( \sqrt{15}^2 = xy \). Substituting \( y \) gives us \( 15 = x(8 - x) \), leading to the quadratic equation \( x^2 - 8x + 15 = 0 \). Solving this yields \( x = 3 \) or \( x = 5 \), giving corresponding \( y \) values of \( 5 \) and \( 3 \). Now, for the arithmetic series \( S_n = n^2 + 3n \), the first term \( S_1 = 1^2 + 3(1) = 4 \) and the second term \( S_2 = 2^2 + 3(2) = 10 \). The first two terms being \( 4 \) and \( 10 \) form a geometric sequence, where the common ratio \( r \) is \( \frac{10}{4} = 2.5 \). The sum of the first 6 terms of this geometric sequence is calculated as \( S_6 = a \frac{(r^n - 1)}{(r - 1)} \), where \( a = 4 \), \( r = 2.5 \), and \( n = 6 \). Hence, \( S_6 = 4 \cdot \frac{(2.5^6 - 1)}{(2.5 - 1)} \). In the realm of mathematics, arithmetic and geometric sequences often show up in various real-world scenarios. For example, understanding these sequences can help in predicting costs, growth trends, or even the spread of information in social networks. Imagine planning a party and calculating how many more guests you will invite each round or predicting how a viral video grows in popularity—these sequences have you covered! Mathematics itself is a treasure trove of patterns and sequences that can make seemingly complex problems manageable. When learning about sequences, one common mistake is to confuse the formulas or not apply the correct sequence definitions. Hence, when dealing with both arithmetic and geometric sequences, it’s crucial to identify which one applies and follow through with the right formulas to avoid mix-ups and ensure your calculations yield the correct results!