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

Redeem

Help:Tough problem on exponential sequence

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

by aloneontheedge » Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:56 am
praveen_gmat wrote:What is the sixtieth term in the following sequence? 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22...
(A) 1,671
(B) 1,760
(C) 1,761
(D) 1,771
(E) 1,821
Every term increases in the following pattern
1 2 4 7 11 16
First diff = 1
2nd diff = 2
3rd diff = 3 and so on
to find the sixtieth term,just find the sum of the numbers increasing by differences + 1
for example,In the sequence provided 5th tem is 11
to get this we take sum of first four natural numbers which is 10 + 1 =11
similiarly to find 60th term take sum of 59 natural numbers + 1 =1771
Pick D
Last edited by aloneontheedge on Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Join the discussion

by akdayal » Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:58 am
My Ans : D 1771
Join the discussion

by praveen_gmat » Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:08 am
@ aloneontheedge...

I understood your solution .. but guess you made a calculation mistake .. 1771 is the answer.

Thanks for the help !
Join the discussion

by sreak1089 » Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:24 am
Pattern is: 1 2 4 7 11 16 22 29
Differences are: 1 2 3 4 5 .....

Thus each term in the sequence can be defined as tn = Sigma(n-1) + 1
Thus t60 = (59*60)/2 + 1 = 1770 + 1 = 1771.

D is the answer.
Join the discussion

by aloneontheedge » Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:14 pm
praveen_gmat wrote:@ aloneontheedge...

I understood your solution .. but guess you made a calculation mistake .. 1771 is the answer.

Thanks for the help !
So stupid i am, will correct it. thanks for pointing it out
Join the discussion