Edexcel C1 2012 January — Question 4

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleC1 (Core Mathematics 1)
Year2012
SessionJanuary
TopicArithmetic Sequences and Series

4. A sequence \(x _ { 1 } , x _ { 2 } , x _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is defined by $$\begin{aligned} x _ { 1 } & = 1
x _ { n + 1 } & = a x _ { n } + 5 , \quad n \geqslant 1 \end{aligned}$$ where \(a\) is a constant.
  1. Write down an expression for \(x _ { 2 }\) in terms of \(a\).
  2. Show that \(x _ { 3 } = a ^ { 2 } + 5 a + 5\) Given that \(x _ { 3 } = 41\)
  3. find the possible values of \(a\).