MCQMediumJEE 2024Sum of Series

JEE Mathematics 2024 Question with Solution

If 8=3+14(3+p)+142(3+2p)+143(3+3p)+8 = 3 + \frac{1}{4}(3 + p) + \frac{1}{4^2}(3 + 2p) + \frac{1}{4^3}(3 + 3p) + \ldots, then the value of pp is:

  • A

    99

  • B

    88

  • C

    77

  • D

    66

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given:

8=3+14(3+p)+142(3+2p)+143(3+3p)+8 = 3 + \frac{1}{4}(3 + p) + \frac{1}{4^2}(3 + 2p) + \frac{1}{4^3}(3 + 3p) + \ldots

Find: pp

Let the series be

S=3+n=114n(3+np)S = 3 + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{4^n}(3 + np)

Then split it into two series:

S=3+n=134n+n=1np4nS = 3 + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3}{4^n} + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{np}{4^n}

For the geometric part,

n=134n=34114=1\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{3}{4^n} = \frac{\frac{3}{4}}{1 - \frac{1}{4}} = 1

For the arithmetico-geometric part, using

n=1nxn=x(1x)2\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} nx^n = \frac{x}{(1-x)^2}

with x=14x = \frac{1}{4},

n=1np4n=p14(114)2=p14916=4p9\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{np}{4^n} = p \cdot \frac{\frac{1}{4}}{\left(1-\frac{1}{4}\right)^2} = p \cdot \frac{\frac{1}{4}}{\frac{9}{16}} = \frac{4p}{9}

Substituting back,

S=3+1+4p9=8S = 3 + 1 + \frac{4p}{9} = 8

So,

4+4p9=84 + \frac{4p}{9} = 8 4p9=4\frac{4p}{9} = 4 p=9p = 9

Therefore, the value of pp is 99. The correct option is A.

Using A.G.P. Sum Formula

Given:

8=3+14(3+p)+142(3+2p)+143(3+3p)+8=3+\frac{1}{4}(3+p)+\frac{1}{4^2}(3+2p)+\frac{1}{4^3}(3+3p)+\ldots

Find: pp

This is an arithmetic-geometric progression. Using the infinite A.G.P. sum formula,

Sum=a1r+dr(1r)2\text{Sum} = \frac{a}{1-r} + \frac{d \cdot r}{(1-r)^2}

Applying it to the variable part gives directly

4p9=4\frac{4p}{9} = 4

Hence,

p=9p = 9

Therefore, the value of pp is 99. The correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the whole series as a simple geometric progression is incorrect because the bracketed term 3+np3+np changes with nn. Split it into a geometric part and an arithmetico-geometric part instead.

  • Using the formula for xn\sum x^n in place of nxn\sum nx^n is wrong for the second part. The correct identity is n=1nxn=x(1x)2\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} nx^n = \frac{x}{(1-x)^2} for x<1|x|<1.

  • Starting the summation from the wrong index can change the constant term. Here, the standalone 33 must be kept separate, and the summation begins from n=1n=1.

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