Number Systems -Sequence and Series

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 202
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:51 am
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:2 members

Number Systems -Sequence and Series

by sukhman » Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:14 am
The infinite sequence Sk is defined as Sk = 10 Sk - 1 + k, for all k > 1. The infinite sequence An is defined as An = 10 An - 1 + (A1 - (n - 1)), for all n > 1. q is the sum of Sk and An. If S1 = 1 and A1 = 9, and if An is positive, what is the maximum value of k + n when the sum of the digits of q is equal to 9? (A) 6 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 16 (E) 18

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 768
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:18 pm
Location: Berkeley, CA
Thanked: 387 times
Followed by:140 members

by Mike@Magoosh » Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:05 pm
sukhman wrote:The infinite sequence Sk is defined as Sk = 10 Sk - 1 + k, for all k > 1. The infinite sequence An is defined as An = 10 An - 1 + (A1 - (n - 1)), for all n > 1. q is the sum of Sk and An. If S1 = 1 and A1 = 9, and if An is positive, what is the maximum value of k + n when the sum of the digits of q is equal to 9? (A) 6 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 16 (E) 18
Dear sukman,
With all due respect, they way you have posted this question is virtually incomprehensible, because you are entirely neglecting mathematical grouping symbols. See:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-quant ... g-symbols/

Here's what I think you are saying:
The infinite sequence Sk is defined as
Sk = 10 S(k - 1) + k, for all k > 1.
The infinite sequence An is defined as
An = 10 A(n - 1) + (A1 - (n - 1)), for all n > 1.

I love sequence problems, but this problem is way too difficult. This is five times harder than anything you would ever conceivably see on the GMAT. Where did you get this problem?
Mike :-)
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
https://gmat.magoosh.com/