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2024 VERSION

NUMBER PATTERNS

GRADE 12
PAST EXAM PAPERS

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TAAG 1 : November 2023

1.1 Given the arithmetic series: 7 + 12 + 17 + ⋯

1.1.1 Determine the value 𝑇91 (3)
1.1.2 Calculate 𝑆91 (2)
1.1.3 Calculate the value of 𝑛 for which 𝑇𝑛 = 517 (3)

1.2 The following information is given about a quadratic number pattern:

𝑇1 = 3, 𝑇2 − 𝑇1 = 9 and 𝑇3 − 𝑇2 = 21
1.2.1 Show that 𝑇5 = 111 (2)
1.2.2 Show that the general term of the quadratic pattern is 𝑇𝑛 = 6𝑛2 − 9𝑛 + 6 (3)
1.2.3 Show that the pattern is increasing for all 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁. (3)
[16]

TAAG 2 : November 2023

2.1 Given the geometric series: 3 + 6 + 12 + ⋯to 𝑛 terms.

2.1.1 Write down the general term of this series. (1)
2.1.2 Calculate the value of 𝑘 such that: (4)
𝑘
3
∑ ( ) (2)𝑝 = 98 301
2
𝑝=1

2.2 A geometric sequence and an arithmetic sequence have the same first term.
1
 The common ratio of the geometric sequence is 3.

 The common difference of the arithmetic sequence is 3.

 The sum of 22 terms of the arithmetic sequence is 734 more than the sum to
infinity of the geometric sequence.
Calculate the value of the first term. (5)
[10]

Mr TG Mazibuko Email: Gift217059372@gmail.com cell no: 0730174670

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TAAG 3 : September 2023 Mpumalanga

3.1 The following geometric series is given:

4 + 12 + 36 + … to 15 terms
3.1.1 Write down the series in sigma notation. (2)
3.1.2 Calculate the series. (2)
3.1.3 Is this series convergent? Provide a reason for your answer. (2)

3.2 The sum of an infinite geometric series is 13,5 (𝑟 ≠ 1)

The sum of the same series, calculated from the third term is 1,5.
3.2.1 Calculate 𝑟 if 𝑟 > 0. (4)
3.2.2 Hence, determine the first THREE terms of the series. (2)

[12]

TAAG 4: September 2023 Limpopo

4.1 Given the arithmetic sequence: 14 ; 21 ; 28 ; …. ; 336.

4.1.1 How many terms are there in the sequence? (3)
4.1.2 Calculate the sum of all the terms of the sequence. (2)
4.1.3 The sum of two consecutive terms of the sequence: 21; 35 ; 49 ; … is 308.
Determine the two terms. (4)
4.2 Show that 𝑇 𝑛 = 4𝑛 2 + 𝑛 is the general term of a quadratic sequence with the following
properties:
 68 is the fourth term of the quadratic sequence.
 21 and 29 are the second and third terms, respectively, of the sequence of the first
differences of the quadratic sequence. (4)
[13]

TAAG 5: September 2023 Limpopo

5.1 The sum to infinity of a geometric series is 6, and the sum to infinity of the squares of the terms
of the series is 6.
5.1.1 Write down the second term of the series of squares in terms of 𝑎 and 𝑟 . (1)
5.1.2 Calculate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑟 . (6)

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5.1.3 Write down 𝑇 6 of the series of squares. (2)

5.2 There are 50 litres of water in a container. Water evaporates from this container at the rate of
1% per hour under the certain weather conditions. How much water will be left in the container
after 8 hours if left under these weather conditions? (3)

[12]

TAAG 6: September 2023 Limpopo

6.1 The following is an arithmetic sequence:

1 − 𝑝 ; 2𝑝 − 3 ; 𝑝 + 5 ; …
6.1.1 Calculate the value 𝑝 .
(2)

6.1.2 Write down the value of:

(a) The first term of the sequence
(1)

(b) The common difference (1)

6.1.3 Explain why NONE of the number in this arithmetic sequence are perfect
squares. (2)

6.2 The following sequence of numbers forms a quadratic sequence:

−3 ; −2 ; −3 ; −6; −11 ; …

6.2.1 The FIRST differences of the above sequence also form a sequence. (3)
Determine an expression for the general term of the first differences.

6.2.2 Calculate the first difference between 35th and 36th terms of the quadratic
sequence.
(1)
6.2.3 Determine an expression for the 𝑛 𝑡 ℎ term of the quadratic sequence.
(4)

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6.2.4 Show that the sequence of numbers will NEVER contain a positive term. (2)
[16]

TAAG 7 : September 2023 Free State

7.1 Consider the series: 𝑎 + (𝑎 + 𝑑) + (𝑎 + 2𝑑) + ⋯

7.1.1 Prove that the sum of the first 𝑛 terms of this arithmetic series will be
𝑛
: 𝑆𝑛 = [ 2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)]𝑑 (3)
2

7.1.2 Given : 2𝑥 + 2. 2𝑥 + 3. 2𝑥 + ⋯ The sum of the first 20 terms of the

series is 1680. Calculate the value of 𝑥. (4)

𝑛2 +𝑛
7.2 Given : 𝑆𝑛 = , calculate 𝑇8 . (3)
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7.3 Consider the series : 32 + (−16) + 8 + (−4) + ⋯

Calculate the sum of the first 10 terms of the series. (3)
[13]

TAAG 8 : September 2023 Free State

8.1 Given the quadratic number pattern : −4; −6; −10; −16; …
8.1.1 Determine 𝑇𝑛 . (4)
8.1.2 Between which consecutive terms of the pattern is the difference
−100? (4)
8.2 Given that :

Calculate the value of 𝑘. (4)

[12]

TAAG 9 : September 2023 KZN

9.1 The values below are the consecutive terms of a quadratic sequence. The fourth term is 49.
__; ___; ____; 49; 77; 111; 151; … … …
9.1.1 Determine the third term of the quadratic sequence. (1)
9.1.2 Determine the general term, 𝑇𝑛 of the quadratic sequence. (4)

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9.1.3 Between which twp consecutive terms of the quadratic sequence is the first
difference 418. (3)
[8]

TAAG 10 : September 2023 KZN

10.1 The first two terms of a geometric sequence are 𝑥 and (𝑥 + 1).

10.1.1 Write down the common ratio. (1)

10.1.2 Write down the third term. (2)
10.1.3 If 𝑥 = 2, will the sequence converge? Motivate your answer. (2)
10.2 The given sequence below has four terms only, such that the first three terms,
𝑇1 ; 𝑇2 and 𝑇3 form an arithmetic sequence and the last three terms, 𝑇2 ; 𝑇3 and 𝑇4
form a geometric sequence.
6; 𝑎 ; 𝑏 ; 16
Calculate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏. (5)

[10]

TAAG 11 : May/June 2023 NSC

1 1 1
11.1 Given the geometric series : 5 + 15 + 45 + ⋯

11.1.1 Is this a convergent geometric series? Justify your answer with the
necessary calculations. (2)
11.1.2 Calculate the sum to infinity of this series. (2)
11.2 An arithmetic and geometric sequence are combined to form the pattern,
1 1 1
which is given by : 𝑃𝑛 = 𝑥 ; 3 ; 2𝑥 ; 9 ; 3𝑥 ; 27 ;…

11.2.1 Write down the next TWO terms of the pattern. (2)

11.2.2 Determine the general term (𝑇𝑛 ) for the odd terms of this pattern.
Write down your answer in terms of 𝑥. (2)
11.2.3 Calculate the value of 𝑃26 . (3)
11.2.4 (6)

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If ∑ 𝑃𝑛 = 33, 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑥.

𝑛=1

[17]

Mr TG Mazibuko Email: Gift217059372@gmail.com cell no: 0730174670

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TAAG 12 : May/June 2023 NSC

A quadratic sequence has the following properties:

 The second difference is 10.

 The first two terms are equal, i.e. 𝑇1 = 𝑇2 .
 . 𝑇1 + 𝑇2 + 𝑇3 = 28.

12.1 Show that the general term of the sequence is 𝑇𝑛 = 5𝑛2 − 15𝑛 + 16. (6)
12.2 Is 216 a term in this sequence? Justify your answer with the necessary calculations. (3)
[9]
TAAG 13

13.1 Given: 𝑆𝑛 = 3𝑛+2 − 9.

13.1.1 Show that : 𝑇𝑛 = 2(3𝑛+1 ) (5)
13.1.2 Will this series converge? Explain (2)
13.2 The common difference of an arithmetic sequence is 4.
Prove that 2√ 𝑆2𝑛 − 2𝑆𝑛 = 4𝑛 (6)
[13]
TAAG 14

14.1 The sum of the fifth and the ninth terms of an arithmetic sequence is 6,

While the twenty fifth term is−24. Calculate the sum of the first 50 terms. (7)

14.2 A tennis ball is dropped from a height of 10 metres above the ground and
Loses 5% of its previous height with each bounce. Determine the total
distance the ball travels before it comes to rest on the ground. (4)
[11]

TAAG 15 June 2023 Mpumalanga

Given the arithmetic series 3 + 8 + 13 + ⋯ (𝑡𝑜253 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠)

15.1 Write down the 4th term of the series. (1)

15.2 Calculate the 253rd term of the series. (3)
Mr TG Mazibuko Email: Gift217059372@gmail.com cell no: 0730174670
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15.3 Express the series in sigma notation. (2)

15.4 Calculate the sum of the series. (2)
15.5 How many terms of the series are divisible by 4? (4)

[12]

TAAG 16 June 2023 Mpumalanga

16.1 Determine the largest integer value of 𝑚 if:

𝑚

∑ (2. 2𝑘+2 ) < 2046

𝑘=−2

[5]

TAAG 17 Pre-June 2023 Limpopo (Mogalakwena District)

The sequence: −67; 𝑥 ; 𝑦 ; −28; −19; … has a quadratic pattern.

17.1 Determine the value of 𝑥 and 𝑦. (6)
17.2 Find the expression for the 𝑛𝑡ℎ term. (4)
17.3 Prove that the sequence of numbers will never contain a positive term. (3)

[13]

TAAG 18 March 2023 KZN

18.1 (𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑥 − 2)3 + (𝑥 − 2)4 + ⋯ Form a geometric series.

18.1.1 Write down the common ratio. (1)
18.1.2 Determine the value(s) of 𝑥 for which the series will converge. (2)
18.2 Mr Peter gave his four sons R8400 to share, such that their shares
formed terms of a geometric sequence. The largest share was 27 times
the smallest share. Determine the amount each son received. (4)
[7]
TAAG 19
The first two terms of a geometric sequence and an arithmetic sequence are the same. The first term
is 12. The sum of the first three terms of the geometric sequence is 3 more than the sum of the first
three terms of the arithmetic sequence.
Determine TWO possible values for the common ratio, 𝑟, of the geometric sequence.
[6]

Mr TG Mazibuko Email: Gift217059372@gmail.com cell no: 0730174670