2023 H2 Mathematics Paper 1 Question 5

Sigma Notation

Answers

ln⁡(n+1n)−ln⁡2. \ln \left( \frac{n+1}{n} \right) - \ln 2.
−ln⁡2. - \ln 2.
ln⁡189200. \ln \frac{189}{200}.

Full solutions

(a)

∑r=2nln⁡((r−1)(r+1)r2)=∑r=2n(ln⁡(r−1)−2ln⁡r+ln⁡(r+1))=ln⁡1−2ln⁡2+ln⁡3+ln⁡2−2ln⁡3+ln⁡4+ln⁡3−2ln⁡4+ln⁡5+⋯+ln⁡(n−3)−2ln⁡(n−2)+ln⁡(n−1)+ln⁡(n−2)−2ln⁡(n−1)+ln⁡n+ln⁡(n−1)−2ln⁡n+ln⁡(n+1)=−ln⁡2−ln⁡n+ln⁡(n+1)=ln⁡(n+1n)−ln⁡2  ■\begin{align*} & \sum_{r=2}^n \ln \left( \frac{(r-1)(r+1)}{r^2} \right) \\ & = \sum_{r=2}^n \left( \ln (r-1) - 2 \ln r + \ln (r+1) \right) \\ & = \def\arraystretch{1.5} \begin{array}{lclclc} & \ln 1 &-& 2 \ln 2 &+& \cancel{\ln 3} \\ + & \ln 2 &-& \cancel{2 \ln 3} &+& \cancel{\ln 4} \\ + & \cancel{\ln 3} &-& \cancel{2 \ln 4} &+& \cancel{\ln 5} \\ + & \cdots & & & & \\ + & \cancel{\ln (n-3)} &-& 2 \cancel{\ln (n-2)} &+& \cancel{\ln (n-1)} \\ + & \cancel{\ln (n-2)} &-& 2 \cancel{\ln (n-1)} &+& \ln n \\ + & \cancel{\ln (n-1)} &-& 2 \ln n &+& \ln (n+1) \\ \end{array} \\ & = - \ln 2 - \ln n + \ln (n+1) \\ & = \ln \left( \frac{n+1}{n} \right) - \ln 2 \; \blacksquare \end{align*}

(b)

ln⁡(n+1n)−ln⁡2=ln⁡(1+1n)−ln⁡2\begin{align*} & \ln \left( \frac{n+1}{n} \right) - \ln 2 \\ & = \ln \left( 1 + \frac{1}{n} \right) - \ln 2 \end{align*}

As n→∞,n \to \infty, 1n→0\frac{1}{n} \to 0 so ln⁡(1+1n)−ln⁡2→−ln⁡2\ln \left( 1 + \frac{1}{n} \right) - \ln 2 \to - \ln 2 which is finite.

Hence the infinite series converges and the sum to infinity is −ln⁡2  ■- \ln 2 \; \blacksquare

(c)

∑r=1020ln⁡((r−1)(r+1)r2)=∑r=220ln⁡((r−1)(r+1)r2)−∑r=29ln⁡((r−1)(r+1)r2)=ln⁡(20+120)−ln⁡2−(ln⁡(9+120)−ln⁡2)=ln⁡(2120÷109)=ln⁡189200  ■\begin{align*} & \sum_{r=10}^{20} \ln \left( \frac{(r-1)(r+1)}{r^2} \right) \\ & = \sum_{r=2}^{20} \ln \left( \frac{(r-1)(r+1)}{r^2} \right) - \sum_{r=2}^{9} \ln \left( \frac{(r-1)(r+1)}{r^2} \right) \\ & = \ln \left( \frac{20+1}{20}\right) - \ln 2 - \left( \ln \left( \frac{9+1}{20} \right) - \ln 2 \right) \\ & = \ln \left( \frac{21}{20} \div \frac{10}{9} \right) \\ & = \ln \frac{189}{200} \; \blacksquare \end{align*}

Question Commentary

Method of differences is the way to go for this question where we apply our logarithm rules to get the differences. Subsequently we have the common follow-up concepts of convergence, sum to infinity, and modifying the limits of a sum.