1951 AMC 12 Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 1951 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1951 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

11.

The limit of the sum of an infinite number of terms in a geometric progression is a1−r,\dfrac{a}{1-r}, where aa denotes the first term and −1<r<1-1\lt r\lt1 denotes the common ratio. The limit of the sum of their squares is:
a2(1−r)2\dfrac{a^2}{(1-r)^2}
a21+r2\dfrac{a^2}{1+r^2}
a21−r2\dfrac{a^2}{1-r^2}
4a21+r2\dfrac{4a^2}{1+r^2}
None of these
Answer: C
Concepts:geometric sequence
Small hint:
Squaring every term also squares the common ratio
Big hint:
The squared series begins a2+a2r2+a2r4+⋯a^2+a^2r^2+a^2r^4+\cdots
Solution:
The squared terms form a geometric series with first term a2a^2 and ratio r2.r^2. Since ∣r∣<1,|r|\lt1, its sum is a21−r2. \frac{a^2}{1-r^2}.
Thus, the correct answer is C.
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