PATTERNS, FUR1 2012 VCAA 3-4 MC

Use the following information to answer Parts 1 and 2.

As part of a savings plan, Stacey saved $500 the first month and successively increased the amount that she saved each month by $50. That is, in the second month she saved $550, in the third month she saved $600, and so on.

Part 1

The amount Stacey will save in the 20th month is

A. `$1450`

B. `$1500`

C. `$1650`

D. `$1950`

E. `$3050`

Part 2

The total amount Stacey will save in four years is

A. `$13\ 400`

B. `$37\ 200`

C. `$58\ 800`

D. `$80\ 400`

E. `$81\ 600`

Show Answers Only

`text (Part 1:)\ A`

`text (Part 2:)\ D`

Show Worked Solution

`text (Part 1)`

`text (Sequence is 500, 550, 600,…)`

`text (AP where)\ \ a`	`= 500, and`
`d`	`= text (550 – 500 = 50)`

`T_n`	`= a + (n – 1) d`
`T_20`	`= 500 + (20 – 1)50`
	`= 1450`

`rArr A`

`text (Part 2)`

`n`	`= 4 xx 12 = 48`
`S_n`	`= n/2 [2a + (n-1)d]`
`S_4`	`= 48/2 [2 xx 500 + (48-1)50]`
	`= 24 [1000 + 2350]`
	`= 80\ 400`

`rArr D`