Method of Differences

1.

(a)

2
Express ( r 1)(r 3) in partial fractions.
(2)
n

(b)

Hence prove that

n(5n 13)

(r 1)(r 3) 6(n 2)(n 3)

r 1

.
(5)
(Total 7 marks)

2.

(a)

Show that (r + 1) (r 1) Ar + B, where A and B are constants to be found.

(2)
n

(b)

Prove by the method of differences that

r
r 1

1
6

n(n + 1)(2n + 1), n > 1.

(6)
(Total 8 marks)

3.

(a)

1
1
2
2
r .
Express as a simplified single fraction (r 1)
(2)

(b)

Hence prove, by the method of differences, that

n

r
r 2

2r 1
1
1 2
2
(r 1)
n .
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

2
4.

(a)

By expressing 4r 1 in partial fractions, or otherwise, prove that

n

r 1

2
4r 1
2

1
= 1 2n 1 .
(3)

20

(b)

Hence find the exact value of

r 11

1
2

4r 1

.
(2)

Congleton limsiewthiang

(Total 5 marks)

5.

(a)

2
Express (r 1)(r 3) in partial fractions.
(2)

(b)

Hence prove, by the method of differences, that

n

n( an b)

(r 1)(r 3) 6(n 2)(n 3)

r 1

where a and b are constants to be found.

(6)

30

(c)

Find the value of

(r 1)(r 3)

r 21

, to 5 decimal places.
(3)
(Total 11 marks)

6.

(a)

Show that
3

(r + 1) (r 1) = 6r + 2.
(2)

(b)

Hence show that

n

r 1

1
n n 1 2n 1
6

.
(5)

2n

(c)

Show that

r n

1
n n 1 an b
6

, where a and b are constants to be found.

(4)
(Total 11 marks)

Congleton limsiewthiang

7.

Given that for all real values of r,

3

(2r + 1) (2r 1) = Ar + B,
where A and B are constants,
(a)

find the value of A and the value of B.

(2)

(b)

Hence, or otherwise, prove that

r 1

1
n ( n 1)(2n 1)
6

.
(5)

40

(c)

Calculate

(3r 1)
r 1

.
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

8.

(a)

Show that
r 3 r 1
1
1
r 1
,
r (r 1)
r r 1 for r 0, 1.
(3)
n

(b)

Find

r 1

r 3 r 1
r (r 1) , expressing your answer as a single fraction in its simplest form.
(6)
(Total 9 marks)

9.

(a)

1
Express r (r 2) in partial fractions.
(2)

(b)

Hence prove, by the method of differences, that

n

r (r 2)
r 1

n(3n 5)
= (n 1)( n 2) .
(5)

Congleton limsiewthiang

100

(c)

Find the value of

r 50

4
r ( r 2)

, to 4 decimal places.
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Congleton limsiewthiang