Edexcel P2 2020 October — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleP2 (Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2020
SessionOctober
TopicGeometric Sequences and Series

8. A geometric series has first term \(a\) and common ratio \(r\).
  1. Prove that the sum of the first \(n\) terms of this series is given by $$S _ { n } = \frac { a \left( 1 - r ^ { n } \right) } { 1 - r }$$ The second term of a geometric series is - 320 and the fifth term is \(\frac { 512 } { 25 }\)
  2. Find the value of the common ratio.
  3. Hence find the sum of the first 13 terms of the series, giving your answer to 2 decimal places.