OCR MEI FP1 2009 January — Question 7 7 marks

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleFP1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2009
SessionJanuary
Marks7
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicProof by induction
TypeProve summation with exponentials
DifficultyStandard +0.3 This is a straightforward proof by induction with a geometric series. The pattern is clear (multiply by 3), the algebra is simple (factoring out 3^n), and it follows the standard induction template without requiring creative insight. Slightly above average difficulty only because it's Further Maths and requires formal proof structure.
Spec4.01a Mathematical induction: construct proofs

7 Prove by induction that \(12 + 36 + 108 + \ldots + 4 \times 3 ^ { n } = 6 \left( 3 ^ { n } - 1 \right)\) for all positive integers \(n\).

Question 7:
AnswerMarks Guidance
When \(n=1\), \(6(3^n-1)=12\), so true for \(n=1\)B1
Assume true for \(n=k\): \(12+36+108+\ldots+(4\times3^k)=6(3^k-1)\)E1 Assume true for \(k\)
\(\Rightarrow 12+36+108+\ldots+(4\times3^{k+1})=6(3^k-1)+(4\times3^{k+1})\)M1 Add correct next term to both sides
\(=6\left[(3^k-1)+\frac{2}{3}\times3^{k+1}\right]\)M1 Attempt to factorise with a factor 6
\(=6\left[3^k-1+2\times3^k\right]=6(3^{k+1}-1)\)A1 c.a.o. with correct simplification
Therefore if true for \(n=k\), true for \(n=k+1\)E1 Dependent on A1 and first E1
Since true for \(n=1\), true for \(n=1,2,3\ldots\)E1 [7] Dependent on B1 and second E1
# Question 7:

When $n=1$, $6(3^n-1)=12$, so true for $n=1$ | B1 |
Assume true for $n=k$: $12+36+108+\ldots+(4\times3^k)=6(3^k-1)$ | E1 | Assume true for $k$
$\Rightarrow 12+36+108+\ldots+(4\times3^{k+1})=6(3^k-1)+(4\times3^{k+1})$ | M1 | Add correct next term to both sides
$=6\left[(3^k-1)+\frac{2}{3}\times3^{k+1}\right]$ | M1 | Attempt to factorise with a factor 6
$=6\left[3^k-1+2\times3^k\right]=6(3^{k+1}-1)$ | A1 | c.a.o. with correct simplification
Therefore if true for $n=k$, true for $n=k+1$ | E1 | Dependent on A1 and first E1
Since true for $n=1$, true for $n=1,2,3\ldots$ | E1 [7] | Dependent on B1 and second E1

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7 Prove by induction that $12 + 36 + 108 + \ldots + 4 \times 3 ^ { n } = 6 \left( 3 ^ { n } - 1 \right)$ for all positive integers $n$.

\hfill \mbox{\textit{OCR MEI FP1 2009 Q7 [7]}}