Simple recurrence evaluation

A question is this type if and only if it defines a simple first-order recurrence relation u(n+1) = f(u(n)) with explicit formula and asks to find specific terms or sum the sequence, without requiring solving for closed form or analyzing convergence.

14 questions · Moderate -0.1

1.04e Sequences: nth term and recurrence relations
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Edexcel P2 2019 June Q1
4 marks Easy -1.3
  1. A sequence \(a _ { 1 } , a _ { 2 } , a _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is defined by
$$\begin{aligned} a _ { n + 1 } & = 4 - a _ { n } \\ a _ { 1 } & = 3 \end{aligned}$$ Find the value of
    1. \(a _ { 2 }\)
    2. \(a _ { 107 }\)
  1. \(\sum _ { n = 1 } ^ { 200 } \left( 2 a _ { n } - 1 \right)\)
Edexcel P2 2023 October Q2
5 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. A sequence \(u _ { 1 } , u _ { 2 } , u _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is defined by
$$\begin{gathered} u _ { 1 } = 3 \\ u _ { n + 1 } = 2 - \frac { 4 } { u _ { n } } \end{gathered}$$
  1. Find the value of \(u _ { 2 }\), the value of \(u _ { 3 }\) and the value of \(u _ { 4 }\)
  2. Find the value of $$\sum _ { r = 1 } ^ { 100 } u _ { r }$$
Edexcel Paper 2 2018 June Q4
7 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. (i) Show that \(\sum _ { r = 1 } ^ { 16 } \left( 3 + 5 r + 2 ^ { r } \right) = 131798\) (ii) A sequence \(u _ { 1 } , u _ { 2 } , u _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is defined by
$$u _ { n + 1 } = \frac { 1 } { u _ { n } } , \quad u _ { 1 } = \frac { 2 } { 3 }$$ Find the exact value of \(\sum _ { r = 1 } ^ { 100 } u _ { r }\)
OCR MEI Paper 3 2022 June Q3
4 marks Moderate -0.3
3 An infinite sequence \(a _ { 1 } , a _ { 2 } , a _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is defined by \(a _ { \mathrm { n } } = \frac { \mathrm { n } } { \mathrm { n } + 1 }\), for all positive integers \(n\).
  1. Find the limit of the sequence.
  2. Prove that this is an increasing sequence.
OCR Further Additional Pure AS 2018 March Q3
5 marks Standard +0.3
3 In this question you must show detailed reasoning.
  1. The sequence \(\left\{ A _ { n } \right\}\) is given by \(A _ { 1 } = \sqrt { 3 }\) and \(A _ { n + 1 } = ( \sqrt { 3 } + 1 ) A _ { n }\) for \(n \geqslant 1\). Find an expression for \(A _ { n }\) in terms of \(n\).
  2. The sequence \(\left\{ B _ { n } \right\}\) is given by the formula $$B _ { n } = \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 3 } } \left( ( \sqrt { 3 } + 1 ) ^ { n } - ( \sqrt { 3 } - 1 ) ^ { n } \right) \text { for } n \geqslant 1 .$$ Explain why \(B _ { n } \rightarrow \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 3 } } ( \sqrt { 3 } + 1 ) ^ { n }\) as \(n \rightarrow \infty\).
  3. The sequence \(\left\{ C _ { n } \right\}\) converges and is defined by \(C _ { n } = \frac { A _ { n } } { B _ { n } }\) for \(n \geqslant 1\). Identify the limit of \(C n\) as \(n \rightarrow \infty\).
AQA Paper 1 2020 June Q7
4 marks Moderate -0.8
7 Consecutive terms of a sequence are related by $$u _ { n + 1 } = 3 - \left( u _ { n } \right) ^ { 2 }$$ 7
  1. In the case that \(u _ { 1 } = 2\) 7
    1. (i) Find \(u _ { 3 }\) 7
    2. (ii) Find \(u _ { 50 }\) 7
    3. State a different value for \(u _ { 1 }\) which gives the same value for \(u _ { 50 }\) as found in part (a)(ii).
Edexcel PURE 2024 October Q2
Standard +0.8
  1. A sequence of numbers \(u _ { 1 } , u _ { 2 } , u _ { 3 } , \ldots\) is defined by
$$\begin{gathered} u _ { 1 } = 7 \\ u _ { n + 1 } = ( - 1 ) ^ { n } u _ { n } + k \end{gathered}$$ where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. Show that \(u _ { 5 } = 7\) Given that \(\sum _ { r = 1 } ^ { 4 } u _ { r } = 30\)
  2. find the value of \(k\).
  3. Hence find the value of \(\sum _ { r = 1 } ^ { 150 } u _ { r }\)
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2013 June Q2
7 marks Easy -1.3
2
  1. An arithmetic sequence has first term 3 and common difference 2. Find the twenty-first term of this sequence.
  2. Find the sum to infinity of a geometric progression with first term 162 and second term 54.
  3. A sequence is given by the recurrence relation \(u _ { 1 } = 3 , u _ { n + 1 } = 2 - u _ { n } , n = 1,2,3 , \ldots\). Find \(u _ { 2 } , u _ { 3 }\), \(u _ { 4 } , u _ { 5 }\) and describe the behaviour of this sequence.
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2017 June Q4
4 marks Moderate -0.3
4 A sequence of complex numbers is defined by $$u _ { 1 } = 1 + \mathrm { i } \quad \text { and } \quad u _ { n + 1 } = \mathrm { i } u _ { n } ( n = 1,2,3 , \ldots )$$
  1. Find \(u _ { 2 } , u _ { 3 } , u _ { 4 } , u _ { 5 }\) and \(u _ { 6 }\).
  2. Describe the behaviour of the sequence.
  3. Hence evaluate \(\sum _ { n = 1 } ^ { 73 } u _ { n }\).
CAIE FP1 2019 November Q3
7 marks Challenging +1.8
The integral \(I_n\), where \(n\) is a positive integer, is defined by $$I_n = \int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} x^{-n} \sin \pi x \, dx.$$
  1. Show that $$n(n+1)I_{n+2} = 2^{n+1} n + \pi - \pi^2 I_n.$$ [5]
  2. Find \(I_5\) in terms of \(\pi\) and \(I_1\). [2]
CAIE FP1 2019 November Q3
7 marks Challenging +1.3
The integral \(I_n\), where \(n\) is a positive integer, is defined by $$I_n = \int_{-\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} x^n \sin \pi x \, dx.$$
  1. Show that $$n(n+1)I_{n+2} = 2^{n+1}n + \pi - \pi^2 I_n.$$ [5]
  2. Find \(I_5\) in terms of \(\pi\) and \(I_1\). [2]
AQA Paper 1 2024 June Q12
5 marks Moderate -0.8
The terms, \(u_n\), of a periodic sequence are defined by $$u_1 = 3 \quad \text{and} \quad u_{n+1} = \frac{-6}{u_n}$$
  1. Find \(u_2\), \(u_3\) and \(u_4\) [2 marks]
  2. State the period of the sequence. [1 mark]
  3. Find the value of \(\sum_{n=1}^{101} u_n\) [2 marks]
AQA Paper 3 2019 June Q3
1 marks Easy -1.2
Given \(u_1 = 1\), determine which one of the formulae below defines an increasing sequence for \(n \geq 1\) Circle your answer. [1 mark] \(u_{n+1} = 1 + \frac{1}{u_n}\) \quad \(u_n = 2 - 0.9^{n-1}\) \quad \(u_{n+1} = -1 + 0.5u_n\) \quad \(u_n = 0.9^{n-1}\)
SPS SPS FM 2020 September Q2
4 marks Challenging +1.2
A sequence of numbers \(a_1, a_2, a_3, ...\) is defined by $$a_1 = 3$$ $$a_{n+1} = \frac{a_n - 3}{a_n - 2}, \quad n \in \mathbb{N}$$
  1. Find \(\sum_{r=1}^{100} a_r\) [3]
  2. Hence find \(\sum_{r=1}^{100} a_r + \sum_{r=1}^{99} a_r\) [1]