Section B problems
These problems look like longer problems. They usually have more text than those in section A.
As you attempt these problems try to identify what the problem is trying to get you to think about. Each one has a
reason for being there. Once you have solved each one think “what did I learn from that problem?”
B1
For a real number 𝑥 we denote by ⌊𝑥⌋ the largest integer less than or equal to 𝑥.
7𝑛−1
A sequence is defined by 𝑡𝑛 = ⌊ 3
⌋ for 𝑛 ≥ 1
Find
50
∑ 𝑡𝑛
𝑟=1
B2
Given that
1 1 1 𝜋2
1+ + + + ⋯ =
2 2 32 42 6
and
1 1 1 𝜋2
1+ + + + ⋯ =
3 2 52 72 8
Find the sum of the infinite series
1 1 1 1
1− 2
+ 2 − 2 + ⋯ + (−1)𝑛−1 2 + ⋯
2 3 4 𝑛
1
B3
Write down, 1.52 , 2.52 and 3.52
For a real number 𝑥 we denote by ⌊𝑥⌋ the largest integer less than or equal to 𝑥.
1
A sequence 𝑇 is defined by 𝑡𝑛 = ⌊𝑛 + √𝑛 + ⌋.
2
Work out the first 7 terms of the sequence. What do you notice?
1
Another sequence 𝑈 is defined by 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑛 + √𝑛 + 2.
Write down an expression for 𝑢𝑛+1 .
The sequence 𝑇 can be redefined as 𝑡𝑛 = ⌊𝑢𝑛 ⌋
Given that the sequence 𝑇 omits certain integer values, show that for an integer 𝐼 to be omitted it must satisfy the
1 1
inequality 𝑛 + √𝑛 + 2 < 𝐼 ≤ 𝑛 + √𝑛 + 1 + 2
Show that this inequality can be rearranged to the form 𝑎 < (𝐼 − 𝑛)2 − 𝐼 ≤ 𝑏 where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ and are values to
be found.
Find the value of (𝐼 − 𝑛)2 − 𝐼 and explain why the sequence 𝑇 omits the values it does.
Find the value of
20
∑ 𝑡𝑛
𝑟=1
2
B4
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥.
We will, for example, write 𝑓𝑔 to denote the function "perform g then perform f" so that
𝑓𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) = 2𝑥 + 1
If 𝑖 ≥ 0 is an integer we will, for example, write 𝑓 𝑖 to denote the function which performs 𝑓 𝑖 times, so that
𝑓 𝑖 (𝑥) = ⏟
𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 … 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 𝑖
𝑖 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
(i) Show that 𝑓 2 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑔𝑓(𝑥).
(ii) Note that 𝑔𝑓 2 𝑔(𝑥) = 4𝑥 + 4.
Find all the other ways of combining f and g that result in the function 4𝑥 + 4.
(iii) Let 𝑖, 𝑗, 𝑘 ≥ 0 be integers. Determine the function
𝑓 𝑖 𝑔𝑓 𝑗 𝑔𝑓 𝑘 (𝑥).
(iv) Let 𝑚 ≥ 0 be an integer. How many different ways of combining the functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are there that
result in the function 4𝑥 + 4𝑚?
(MAT 2012 Q2)
B5
(i) Let 𝑘 ≠ ±1. The function 𝑓(𝑡) satisfies the identity
𝑓(𝑡) − 𝑘𝑓(1 − 𝑡) = 𝑡
for all values of 𝑡. By replacing 𝑡 with 1 − 𝑡 , determine 𝑓(𝑡).
(ii) Consider the new identity
𝑓(𝑡) − 𝑓(1 − 𝑡) = 𝑔(𝑡). (∗)
a) Show that no function 𝑓(𝑡) satisfies (∗) when 𝑔(𝑡) = 𝑡.
b) What condition must the function 𝑔(𝑡) satisfy for there to be a solution 𝑓(𝑡) to (∗)?
c) Find a solution 𝑓(𝑡) to (∗) when 𝑔(𝑡) = (2𝑡 − 1)3 .
(MAT 2013 Q2)
3
B6
The function 𝑓(𝑥) is defined in the following way
1
For 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
1
For 2 < 𝑥 ≤ 1, 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 𝑥
For all other values of 𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥) is undefined.
The function 𝐹(𝑥) is defined so that
∞
𝐹(𝑥) = ∑ 𝑓(𝑥 𝑛 )
𝑛=1
1
a) Find 𝐹 ( 2)
√
1
b) Find 𝐹 (2−3 )
1
c) Find 𝐹 (2−5 )
d) For which value of 𝑥 does 𝐹(𝑥) = 100?
