CAT Questions | CAT Algebra Questions | Progressions

CAT Algebra question from Progressions that appears in the Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT Exam consists of concepts from Number Theory and Algebra. It involves concepts based on Artihmetic Progressions and Geometric Progressions. With some simple but very powerful ideas, one can cut down on a lot of working when it comes to progressions. For example, anchoring a progression around its middle term can be very useful. Reinforce these ideas with the following questions. In CAT Exam, one can generally expect to get 1~2 questions from Progressions. Make use of 2IIMs Free CAT Questions, provided with detailed solutions and Video explanations to obtain a wonderful CAT score. If you would like to take these questions as a Quiz, head on here to take these questions in a test format, absolutely free.

  1. CAT Progressions - Geometric Progressions

    Second term of a GP is 1000 and the common ratio is r = where n is a natural number. Pn is the product of n terms of this GP. P6 > P5 and P6 > P7, what is the sum of all possible values of n?

    A. 4

    B. 9

    C. 5

    D. 13

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    9



  2. CAT Progressions - Common Ratio

    Sum of first 12 terms of a GP is equal to the sum of the first 14 terms in the same GP. Sum of the first 17 terms is 92, what is the third term in the GP?

    A. 92

    B. -92

    C. 46

    D. 231

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    92



  3. CAT Progressions - Sum up to 'n' Terms

    Sum of first 25 terms in AP is 525, sum of the next 25 terms is 725, what is the common difference?

    A.

    B.

    C.

    D.

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    825



  4. CAT Progressions - Common Difference

    Let the nth term of AP be defined as tn, and sum up to 'n' terms be defined as Sn. If |t8| = |t16| and t3 is not equal to t7, what is S23?

    A. 23(t16 - t8)

    B. 0

    C. 23t11

    D. Cannot be determined

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    0



  5. CAT Progressions - Mean

    a, b, c, d and e are 5 distinct numbers that from an arithmetic progression. They are not necessarily consecutive terms but form the first 5 terms of the AP. It is known that c is the arithmetic mean of a and b, and d is the arithmetic mean of b anc c. Which of the following statements are true?
    i. Average of all 5 terms put together is c.
    ii. Average of d and e is not greater than average of a and b.
    iii. Average of b and c is greater than average of a and d.

    A. i and ii only

    B. ii and iii only

    C. ii and iii only

    D. i and iii only

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    i and ii only


  6. CAT Progressions - Median

    Consider a, b, c in a G.P. such that |a + b + c| = 15. The median of these three terms is a, and b = 10. If a > c, what is the product of the first 4 terms of this G.P.?

    A. 40000

    B. 32000

    C. 8000

    D. 48000

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    40000


  7. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    If 4 times the 4th term of an A.P. is equal to 9 times the 9th term of the A.P., what is 13 times the 13th term of this A.P.?

    A. 7 times the 13th term

    B. 0

    C. 13 times the 7th term

    D. 4 times the 4th term + 9 times the 9th term

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    0


  8. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    Sequence P is defined by pn = pn-1 + 3, p1 = 11, Sequence Q is defined as qn = qn-1 – 4, q3 = 103. If pk > qk+2, what is the smallest value k can take?

    A. 6

    B. 11

    C. 14

    D. 15

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    15


  9. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    The sum of 2n terms of A.P. {1, 5, 9, 13…..} is greater than sum of n terms of A.P. = {56, 58, 60..…}. What is the smallest value n can take?

    A. 9

    B. 10

    C. 12

    D. 14

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    9



  10. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    a, b, c and d are in A.P., What can we say about terms bcd, acd, abd and abc?

    A. They are also in A.P.

    B. They are also in H.P.

    C. They are also in G.P.

    D. They are not in an A.P., G.P. or H.P.

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    They are also in H.P.



  11. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    Second term in an AP is 8 and the 8th term is 2 more than thrice the second term. Find the sum up to 8 terms of this AP.

    A. 124

    B. 108

    C. 96

    D. 110

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    124



  12. CAT Progressions - Sum of infinite terms

    If Sn = n3 + n2 + n + 1 , where Sn denotes the sum of the first n terms of a series and tm= 291, then m is equal to?

    A. 24

    B. 30

    C. 26

    D. 20

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    30



  13. CAT Progressions - Sum of infinite terms

    Sum of infinite terms of a GP is 12. If the first term is 8, what is the 4th term of this GP?

    A.

    B.

    C.

    D.

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    827



  14. CAT Progressions - Sum of a Sequence

    Find sum : 22 + 2 × 32 + 3 × 42 + 4 × 52+.....+10 × 112

    A. 6530

    B. 3600

    C. 2850

    D. 3850

    Correct Answer

    Choice D
    3850



  15. CAT Progressions - Ratio of Amounts

    The salaries earned by two friends Anil and Jeetu in different years are in A.P. If the ratio of the amount earned by them in ‘p’ number of years are (4p+1) : (2p+17). Then find the ratio of amount earned by them in the 7th year.

    A. (2p+1) : (4p+6)

    B. 53 : 43

    C. 4 : 7

    D. 15p : 36p

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    53 : 43



  16. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    Ram invests a total sum of 2000 rupees on government bonds in 4 years. If these investments are in A.P and the sum of squares of the investments is 1200000. Find the investment made by ram in each year respectively. It is also known that he always invest more than the previous year.

    A. 200, 400, 600, 800

    B. 875, 625, 375, 125

    C. 125, 375, 625, 875

    D. 50, 350, 650, 950

    Correct Answer

    Choice A
    200, 400, 600, 800



  17. CAT Progressions - Arithmetic Progressions

    Ram invest different amounts during the year on shares. S1, S2, S3........Sm are different sums of ‘n’ amounts invested in ‘m’ years. If the amounts invested during the years are in A.P whose first terms are 1,2,3,.....,m and common difference are 1,3,5,......,(2m-1) respectively then find the total amount invested by Ram in ‘m’ years.

    A. n(m+1)

    B. m+1

    C. (mn + 1)

    D. Cannot be determined

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    mn2 (mn + 1)



  18. CAT Progressions - Sequence and Series

    Find the sum of the series .4 + .44 + .444……. to n terms

    A. 5.69

    B. 14.44

    C. [9n-1 + ]

    D. [n + 1]

    Correct Answer

    Choice C
    481 [9n-1 110n]



  19. CAT Progressions - A.P, G.P and H.P

    If the equation px2 + 2qx + r = 0 and dx2 + 2ex + f = 0 have a common root,
    then in which type of progression is , ,

    A. , , are in G.P

    B. , , are in A.P

    C. , , are in H.P

    D. Insufficient Data

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    dp , eq



  20. CAT Progressions - Sum of all Terms

    Find the sum of all the terms, If the first 3 terms among 4 positive integers are in A.P and the last 3 terms are in G.P. Moreover the difference between the first and last term is 40.

    A. 108

    B. 172

    C. 124

    D. 196

    Correct Answer

    Choice B
    172