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2014 AMC 12A Problem 7

Problem 7 of 25EasierAlgebraArithmetic

The first three terms of a geometric progression are 3,\sqrt{3}, 33,\sqrt[3]{3}, and 36.\sqrt[6]{3}. What is the fourth term?

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Solution

Writing the terms as powers of 3,3, they are 312,3^{\frac{1}{2}}, 313,3^{\frac{1}{3}}, 316.3^{\frac{1}{6}}. The common ratio is 313312=3−16.\dfrac{3^{\frac{1}{3}}}{3^{\frac{1}{2}}}=3^{-\frac{1}{6}}. The fourth term is 316⋅3−16=30=1.3^{\frac{1}{6}}\cdot3^{-\frac{1}{6}}=3^{0}=1. Thus, the correct answer is A.
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Tagged: geometric sequence · exponent

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