2007 AMC 12B Problem 15

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 15 of the 2007 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2007 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:geometric sequence

Difficulty rating: 1580

15.

The geometric series a+ar+ar2+a+ar+ar^2+\cdots has a sum of 7,7, and the terms involving odd powers of rr have a sum of 3.3. What is a+r?a+r?

43\dfrac{4}{3}

127\dfrac{12}{7}

32\dfrac{3}{2}

73\dfrac{7}{3}

52\dfrac{5}{2}

Solution:

The odd-power terms are ar+ar3+=r(a+ar2+),ar+ar^3+\cdots=r(a+ar^2+\cdots), that is, rr times the even-power terms. The even-power terms sum to 73=4.7-3=4.

So 3=4r,3=4r, giving r=34.r=\tfrac34. Then a=7(1r)=74,a=7(1-r)=\tfrac74, and a+r=74+34=52. a+r=\dfrac74+\dfrac34=\dfrac52.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

Problem 15 in Other Years