BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

If the 3rd term of sequence \(A\) is \(15\) and all of the terms in the sequence are positive, then what is the 2nd term

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Moderator
Posts: 2058
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 4:24 amFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 1 times
by M7MBA » Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:29 am

Timer

00:00

Answers

A

B

C

D

E

Stats

Difficulty—

If the 3rd term of sequence \(A\) is \(15\) and all of the terms in the sequence are positive, then what is the 2nd term?

1) The 1st term of \(A\) is \(5.\)
2) Each term of \(A\) after the 1st term is y times the preceding term.

Answer: C

Source: EMPOWERgmat
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Data Sufficiency |
Legendary Member
Posts: 2214
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:22 pmFollowed by: 5 members

Re: If the 3rd term of sequence \(A\) is \(15\) and all of the terms in the sequence are positive, then what is the 2nd

by deloitte247 » Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:20 am
Target question => What is the 2nd term?

Statement 1 => A = 5 but the value of 2nd and third term remains unknown so statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2 => Each term of A after the 1st term is y times the preceding term
This provides us with the sequence but then the preceding term must be provided so statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Combining both statements together =>
From statement 1 => first term = 5
From statement 2 => every term after 1st term = y * preceding term
1st term => 5
2nd term => y * 5 = 5y
3rd term => y * 5y = 5y^2 = 15
$$evaluating\ 3rd\ term\ =>\ 5y^2=15$$
$$y^2=\frac{15}{5}=3$$
$$so\ y\ =\ \sqrt{3}$$
$$Hence,\ the\ 2nd\ term\ =\ 5\ \cdot\ \sqrt{3}=5\sqrt{3}$$
$$Combining\ both\ statements\ together\ is\ SUFFICIENT$$
$$Answer\ =\ C$$
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1