BTEC Assignment Brief

Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Diploma in

Qualification Engineering

Unit number and title Unit 8: Further Engineering Mathematics

A: Examine how sequences and series can be used to solve

Learning aim(s)
engineering problems.
Assignment title Using sequences and series to solve engineering problems
Assessor
Dr.Jaimon Qudros
Issue date
26/02/2023
Hand in deadline
20/04/2023

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BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 8 Learning Aim A – Issue 1 January 2020
 You have applied for a work placement at a local company
as part of your training as a [enter specific route] Engineer.
The company Training Manager has explained that there are
a number of roles available that involve applying
mathematical skills and knowledge. The Training Manager
Vocational Scenario or has said that they would like to see how you approach
Context solving engineering problems before deciding on the most
appropriate role for you.
The first set of problems that they have provided are based
on sequences and series, which they would like you to solve
using the supplied data.

You have been asked to explore a range of engineering

problems that will require you to solve problems based
around sequences and series

To do this:
Your tutor will provide you with a set of data for you to use
to complete the following activities. You need to:

1 Use your given sequences to answer the questions

Series A 1, -1, -3, -5, -7 …
Series B 4, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25 …
Series C 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 …
Series D 4, 5, 7, 10, 14 …
Series E 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10000 …
Series F 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 …
Series G 1, -1, 1, -1, 1 …
Task 1 Series H 1, 4, 9, 16, 25 …
(a) Identify which of your given sequences is
(i) an Arithmetic Progression (AP)
(ii) a Geometric Progression (GP)
(iii)neither an AP or a GP
(b) Identify for your AP,
(i) the first term (a)
(ii) the common difference (d)
(iii)the 10th term
(iv)the sum of the first 10 terms
(c) Identify for your GP,
(i) the first term (a)
(ii) the common ratio (r)
(iii)the 8th term
(iv) the sum of the first 8 terms
(v) whether the GP is convergent (give reasons).
(d) Explain why the other sequence is neither an AP or a
GP

2 A tunnelling machine drills 500 metres. Use your values

from the table to estimate the cost of drilling if the first
metre costs £X and each extra metre costs £Y.

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BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 8 Learning Aim A – Issue 1 January 2020
 3 A motor has 5 speeds varying from X rpm to Y rpm in a
Geometric Progression.
(a) Calculate the common ratio
(b) Make a table of the speeds.

4 A CNC machine centre costs £100,000. Its value

depreciates at X% per annum.
(a) What will be its value after Y years?
(b) How long will it take to have a value of £50,000?

5 Use Pascal’s triangle to expand your binomial expression.

A ( 1+ x )3
B ( 1−x )3
C ( 1+ x )4
D ( 1−x )4
E ( 1+2 x )3
F ( 1−2 x )3

6 Use the binomial theorem to expand the same binomial

expression as question 5.

7 Use the binomial theorem to expand your binomial

expression, and state the range of values of x for which the
expansion is valid.
A ( 1+ x )−2
B ( 1+ x )−3
x
8 Write the first four terms of a Maclaurin seriesfor f ( x )=e

9 Use your value of x to calculate a value for e x from the

first four terms. Compare the answers to questions 7 and 8.
10 You have carried out an experiment to investigate the
effect of the length of a pendulum on the time period of
oscillation. Theory says that the pendulum should follow the
rule

T =2 π
Where T is the time period (seconds)
√ L
g

L is the length of the pendulum (metre)

G is the acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.81 m/s 2)
Calculate the expected percentage error in the time period
calculation if your measurement of length is X% high.
Checklist of evidence Your informal report should contain the worked solutions to
required the problems using the values given to you by your tutor.
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BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 8 Learning Aim A – Issue 1 January 2020
 Each worked solution should be laid out clearly and contain
brief explanations of the stages of the calculation to indicate
your understanding of the subject. Diagrams should be well
presented and clearly labelled.

The report is an informal report as it does not need to follow

the structure associated with a formal report of Abstract,
Contents, References etc. The solutions should be
numbered to match the questions, and be easy to follow.

Criteria covered by this task:

Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
reference
8/A. D1 Evaluate, using technically correct language and a logical structure,
engineering problems using non-routine sequence and series
operations, while solving accurately all the given problems using
routine and non-routine operations.
8/A.M1 Solve given problems accurately using routine and non-routine
arithmetic and geometric progression operations.
8/A.M2 Solve given problems accurately using routine and non-routine power
series operations.
8/A.P1 Solve given problems using routine arithmetic and geometric
progression operations
8/A.P2 Solve given problems using routine power series operations.

Sources of information mathsisfun.com/index.htm

to support you with
this Assignment
mathcentre.ac.uk/students/topics
Other assessment Data selection matrix for questions
materials attached to
this Assignment Brief

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BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 8 Learning Aim A – Issue 1 January 2020
 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5-6 Q7 Q9 Q10
Candidate
X Y X Y X Y
1 A B D 1000 100 10 160 1.0 2 A A 1 1
2 C B D 1050 100 11 176 1.1 2 B B 2 2
3 F B D 1100 100 12 192 1.2 2 C B 3 4
4 A B H 1150 100 13 208 1.3 2 D A 2 5
5 C B H 1200 100 14 224 1.4 2 E B 2 1
6 F B H 1000 110 15 240 1.5 2 F B 3 2
7 A E D 1050 110 16 256 1.6 2 F A 2 4
8 C E D 1100 110 17 272 1.7 2 E B 1 5
9 F E D 1150 110 18 288 1.8 2 D B 2 1
10 A E H 1200 110 19 304 1.9 2 C A 3 2
11 C E H 1000 105 20 320 2.0 2 B B 2 4
12 F E H 1050 105 21 336 1.0 3 A B 1 5
13 A G D 1100 105 22 352 1.1 3 A A 3 1
14 C G D 1150 105 23 368 1.2 3 B B 2 2
15 F G D 1200 105 24 384 1.3 3 C B 1 4
16 A G H 1000 120 25 400 1.4 3 D A 1 5
17 C G H 1050 120 26 416 1.5 3 E B 3 1
18 F G H 1100 120 27 432 1.6 3 F B 3 2
19 F E D 1150 120 28 448 1.7 3 F A 2 4
20 A E H 1200 120 29 464 1.8 3 E B 1 5

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BTEC International Level 3 Authorised Assignment Brief Unit 8 Learning Aim A – Issue 1 January 2020