A specialized industrial centrifuge extracts a mineral from a solution such that the mass extracted each hour forms a geometric series. The theoretical maximum mass that can be extracted over an infinite time period is 150 grams. In the first hour, the centrifuge extracts aaa grams, where a>80a > 80a>80. In the second hour, it extracts 36 grams.
Determine the value of the first term, aaa, and the common ratio, rrr, of the series.
Show that the mass extracted in the nnnth hour, MnM_nMn, can be written as Mn=2n⋅325n−2M_n = \frac{2^n \cdot 3^2}{5^{n-2}}Mn=5n−22n⋅32
Hence show that log2Mn=n(1−log25)+(2log23+2log25)\log_2 M_n = n(1 - \log_2 5) + (2 \log_2 3 + 2 \log_2 5)log2Mn=n(1−log25)+(2log23+2log25)
Practise Edexcel A Level Maths 3.5 Sum to Infinity with exam-style questions for A Level Maths. 18 questions, matched to the Edexcel A Level Maths (9MA0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.