CAT 2005QA Question 14

Miscellaneous ProgressionsEasy
Passage / Data

Answer the next 2 questions based on the information given below.

Ram and Shyam run a race between points A and B, 5 km apart. Ram starts at 9 a.m. from A at a speed of 5 km/hr, reaches B, and returns to A at the same speed. Shyam starts at 9:45 a.m. from A at  a speed of 10 km/hr, reaches B and comes back to A at the same speed.

If a1 = 1 and an + 1 – 3an + 2 = 4n for every positive integer n, then a100 equals

Answer & solution

  • A

    399 – 200

  • B

    399 + 200

  • 3100 – 200

  • D

    3100 + 200

Solution

a1 = 1

an+1 = 4n + 3an – 2

a2 = 4 + 3(1) – 2 = 5 = 32 – 4

a3 = 4(2) + 3(5) – 2 = 21 = 33 – 6

a4 = 4(3) + 3(21) – 2 = 73 = 34 – 8

an = 3n – 2(n)

a100 = 3100 – 200

Hence, option (c).

CAT 2005 QA Q14: If a 1 = 1 and a n + 1 – 3a n + 2 = 4n for every positive integer n, then a 100 equals — Solution | TheCATExam