GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
The sequence t1,t2,t3,...,tn is such that tn=n+1n+3 for all integers n≥1. What is the product of the first 40 terms of the sequence?
A) 11806
B) 11722
C) 1903
D) 1602
E) 1301
As always, let's list a few terms from the beginning and end of the sequence to help us look for a pattern.
t1=1+11+3=24t2=2+12+3=35t3=3+13+3=46.
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t38=38+138+3=3941t39=39+139+3=4042t40=40+140+3=4143ASIDE: I created this question to demonstrate the importance of NOT simplifying terms in a sequence. So, while we're listing terms in the sequence, we should avoid the temptation of immediately simplifying fractions like 24 and 46, because there are often cases in which it's much easier to see how to arrive at the correct answer by using the "raw" (non-simplified terms).So the product of the first 40 terms
=(24)(35)(46)...(3941)(4042)(4143)=(2)(3)(4)(5).....(38)(39)(40)(41)(4)(5).....(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)=(2)(3)(42)(43) [Notice that this simplification would have been much more difficult had we first simplified all of the terms in the sequence]=1(7)(43)=1301Answer: E