The first term of an arithmetic sequence is -2 and the common difference is 5. What is the sum of the first 15 terms?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. 495

  1. Step 1: S_n = n(2a_1 + (n - 1)d) / 2.
  2. Step 2: S_15 = 15(-4 + 70) / 2 = 495.
Answer
495.
Why not the others: The other values use one term too few, forget to halve, or use n times the last term.

Practise more Probability, counting and sequences.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed University of Bahrain Aptitude Test (UOB Aptitude) mock tests.