Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Exercise – Sequences and Series | Boundless Maths
Miscellaneous Exercise Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions · Chapter 8

Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Exercise – Sequences and Series

Free, step-by-step Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions for the Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Exercise — all 18 questions solved, moving from pure G.P. algebra and proofs into the real-world applications that make this chapter memorable.

Questions 1–5 solve for unknowns in a G.P. — a term count, a last term, a common ratio — using the same two formulas from Exercise 8.2. Questions 6–10 are proofs, extending those formulas into general identities. Question 11 and 12 handle series that need to be related to a G.P. algebraically before they can be summed. The final six questions (13–18) are applied problems — instalment payments, a chain letter, simple interest, depreciation, and a workforce puzzle — each one a G.P. or A.P. wearing a real-world disguise.

18Questions
Medium–HardDifficulty Mix
2026-27CBSE Syllabus

Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Exercise — All 18 Questions

1

If f is a function satisfying f(x+y)=f(x)f(y) for all x,y\in\mathbb{N} such that f(1)=3 and \displaystyle\sum_{x=1}^{n}f(x)=120, find the value of n.

Medium +
Solution

Since f(x+y)=f(x)f(y) and f(1)=3, setting x=y=1 gives f(2)=f(1)f(1)=9=3^2. In general, f(n)=f(1)^n=3^n, so f(1),f(2),f(3),\ldots is a G.P. with first term 3 and common ratio 3.

The given sum condition becomes:

\sum_{x=1}^{n}3^x=\dfrac{3(3^n-1)}{3-1}=120

3(3^n-1)=240 \ \Rightarrow\ 3^n-1=80 \ \Rightarrow\ 3^n=81=3^4

n = 4
2

The sum of some terms of G.P. is 315 whose first term and the common ratio are 5 and 2, respectively. Find the last term and the number of terms.

Easy +
Solution

Here a=5, r=2. Setting S_n=315:

\dfrac{5(2^n-1)}{2-1}=315 \ \Rightarrow\ 2^n-1=63 \ \Rightarrow\ 2^n=64=2^6

n=6

The last (6th) term is:

a_6=ar^5=5(2)^5=5\times32=160

6 terms; the last term is 160.
3

The first term of a G.P. is 1. The sum of the third term and fifth term is 90. Find the common ratio of G.P.

Easy +
Solution

With a=1, the third and fifth terms are r^2 and r^4. The condition gives:

r^2+r^4=90

Letting u=r^2:

u^2+u-90=0 \ \Rightarrow\ (u-9)(u+10)=0 \ \Rightarrow\ u=9 \text{ or } u=-10

Since u=r^2\ge0, reject u=-10. So r^2=9, giving r=\pm3.

r = 3 or r = −3
4

The sum of three numbers in G.P. is 56. If we subtract 1, 7, 21 from these numbers in that order, we obtain an arithmetic progression. Find the numbers.

Hard +
Solution

Let the three numbers in G.P. be a,\ ar,\ ar^2. The sum condition gives:

a+ar+ar^2=56 \qquad \ldots(1)

After subtracting 1, 7, 21, the numbers a-1,\ ar-7,\ ar^2-21 form an A.P., so twice the middle term equals the sum of the outer two:

2(ar-7)=(a-1)+(ar^2-21) \qquad \ldots(2)

Solving (1) and (2) together gives two possible solutions: (a,r)=(8,2) or (a,r)=(32,\tfrac12) — the same three numbers listed in opposite order.

Taking a=8,\ r=2, the numbers are:

8,\ 8(2)=16,\ 8(4)=32

Check: sum =8+16+32=56 ✓. Subtracting 1, 7, 21 gives 7,\ 9,\ 11, which is indeed an A.P. with common difference 2.

The three numbers are 8, 16, 32.
5

A G.P. consists of an even number of terms. If the sum of all the terms is 5 times the sum of terms occupying odd places, then find its common ratio.

Medium +
Solution

Let the G.P. have 2m terms, first term a, common ratio r. The sum of all terms is:

S_{\text{all}}=\dfrac{a(r^{2m}-1)}{r-1}

The terms in odd places (1st, 3rd, 5th, ..., (2m-1)th) themselves form a G.P. with first term a and common ratio r^2, with m terms:

S_{\text{odd}}=\dfrac{a\left((r^2)^m-1\right)}{r^2-1}=\dfrac{a(r^{2m}-1)}{r^2-1}

The given condition S_{\text{all}}=5\,S_{\text{odd}} becomes:

\dfrac{a(r^{2m}-1)}{r-1}=5\cdot\dfrac{a(r^{2m}-1)}{r^2-1}=\dfrac{5a(r^{2m}-1)}{(r-1)(r+1)}

Cancelling the common non-zero factors:

1=\dfrac{5}{r+1} \ \Rightarrow\ r+1=5 \ \Rightarrow\ r=4

The common ratio is 4.
6

If \dfrac{a+bx}{a-bx}=\dfrac{b+cx}{b-cx}=\dfrac{c+dx}{c-dx} (x\ne0), then show that a, b, c and d are in G.P.

Hard +
Solution

Taking the first equality and cross-multiplying:

(a+bx)(b-cx)=(a-bx)(b+cx)

Expanding both sides:

ab-acx+b^2x-bcx^2=ab+acx-b^2x-bcx^2

Cancelling ab and -bcx^2 from both sides, and collecting like terms:

-acx+b^2x=acx-b^2x \ \Rightarrow\ 2b^2x=2acx

Since x\ne0, dividing by 2x gives b^2=ac.

By exactly the same argument applied to the second equality, c^2=bd.

From b^2=ac: \dfrac{b}{a}=\dfrac{c}{b}. From c^2=bd: \dfrac{c}{b}=\dfrac{d}{c}. So:

\dfrac{b}{a}=\dfrac{c}{b}=\dfrac{d}{c}

Since consecutive ratios are equal, a, b, c, d are in G.P.
7

Let S be the sum, P the product and R the sum of reciprocals of n terms in a G.P. Prove that P^2R^n=S^n.

Hard +
Solution

Let the G.P. have first term a and common ratio r. Then:

S=\dfrac{a(r^n-1)}{r-1} \qquad P=a^n\,r^{\frac{n(n-1)}{2}}

The reciprocals \dfrac{1}{a},\dfrac{1}{ar},\ldots,\dfrac{1}{ar^{n-1}} themselves form a G.P. with first term \dfrac1a and common ratio \dfrac1r, so:

R=\dfrac{\frac1a\left(1-\left(\frac1r\right)^n\right)}{1-\frac1r}=\dfrac{r^{n-1}(r^n-1)}{a\,r^n(r-1)}=\dfrac{r^n-1}{a\,r^{n-1}(r-1)}

Now computing P^2R^n:

P^2=a^{2n}r^{n(n-1)}

R^n=\dfrac{(r^n-1)^n}{a^n r^{n(n-1)}(r-1)^n}

P^2R^n=a^{2n}r^{n(n-1)}\cdot\dfrac{(r^n-1)^n}{a^n r^{n(n-1)}(r-1)^n}=a^n\cdot\dfrac{(r^n-1)^n}{(r-1)^n}=\left(\dfrac{a(r^n-1)}{r-1}\right)^n=S^n

Hence P²Rⁿ = Sⁿ, as required.
8

If a, b, c, d are in G.P, prove that (a^n+b^n), (b^n+c^n), (c^n+d^n) are in G.P.

Hard +
Solution

Since a, b, c, d are in G.P., write b=ar,\ c=ar^2,\ d=ar^3 for common ratio r.

The three expressions become:

T_1=a^n+b^n=a^n(1+r^n)

T_2=b^n+c^n=a^nr^n(1+r^n)

T_3=c^n+d^n=a^nr^{2n}(1+r^n)

Checking whether T_2^2=T_1T_3:

T_2^2=a^{2n}r^{2n}(1+r^n)^2

T_1T_3=a^n(1+r^n)\cdot a^nr^{2n}(1+r^n)=a^{2n}r^{2n}(1+r^n)^2

Both sides are equal.

Hence (aⁿ + bⁿ), (bⁿ + cⁿ), (cⁿ + dⁿ) are in G.P., as required.
9

If a and b are the roots of x^2-3x+p=0 and c, d are roots of x^2-12x+q=0, where a, b, c, d form a G.P. Prove that (q+p):(q-p)=17:15.

Hard +
Solution

By the sum and product of roots: a+b=3,\ ab=p and c+d=12,\ cd=q.

Since a, b, c, d are in G.P., write b=ar,\ c=ar^2,\ d=ar^3 for common ratio r. Then:

a+ar=3 \ \Rightarrow\ a(1+r)=3 \qquad \ldots(1)

ar^2+ar^3=12 \ \Rightarrow\ ar^2(1+r)=12 \qquad \ldots(2)

Dividing (2) by (1):

r^2=4 \ \Rightarrow\ r=\pm2

Taking r=2: from (1), a(3)=3\Rightarrow a=1. Then:

p=ab=a(ar)=a^2r=1\times2=2 \qquad q=cd=(ar^2)(ar^3)=a^2r^5=1\times32=32

\dfrac{q+p}{q-p}=\dfrac{32+2}{32-2}=\dfrac{34}{30}=\dfrac{17}{15}

(Taking r=-2 instead gives a=-3, p=-18, q=-288, and the same ratio 17:15.)

Hence (q + p) : (q − p) = 17 : 15, as required.
10

The ratio of the A.M. and G.M. of two positive numbers a and b, is m : n. Show that a:b=\left(m+\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right):\left(m-\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right).

Hard +
Solution

Given \dfrac{\text{A.M.}}{\text{G.M.}}=\dfrac{m}{n}, i.e. \dfrac{(a+b)/2}{\sqrt{ab}}=\dfrac{m}{n}, so n(a+b)=2m\sqrt{ab}.

Let t=\sqrt{\dfrac{a}{b}}, so a=bt^2 and \sqrt{ab}=bt. Substituting:

n\,b(t^2+1)=2m\,bt \ \Rightarrow\ n(t^2+1)=2mt \ \Rightarrow\ nt^2-2mt+n=0

Solving this quadratic in t:

t=\dfrac{2m\pm\sqrt{4m^2-4n^2}}{2n}=\dfrac{m\pm\sqrt{m^2-n^2}}{n}

Taking the positive root t=\dfrac{m+\sqrt{m^2-n^2}}{n}, and using \dfrac{a}{b}=t^2:

\dfrac{a}{b}=\dfrac{\left(m+\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right)^2}{n^2}

Since \left(m+\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right)\left(m-\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right)=m^2-(m^2-n^2)=n^2, dividing the numerator and denominator of the ratio \left(m+\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right):\left(m-\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right) by n^2 shows it equals \dfrac{\left(m+\sqrt{m^2-n^2}\right)^2}{n^2}, which is exactly \dfrac{a}{b} found above.

Hence a : b = (m + √(m² − n²)) : (m − √(m² − n²)), as required.
11

Find the sum of the following series up to n terms: (i) 5 + 55 + 555 + … (ii) 0.6 + 0.66 + 0.666 + …

Medium +
Solution
(i) 5 + 55 + 555 + ...

Factor out 5 and rewrite each term as a power of 10 minus 1:

S_n=5\left[1+11+111+\cdots\right]=\dfrac{5}{9}\left[9+99+999+\cdots\right]

=\dfrac{5}{9}\left[(10-1)+(10^2-1)+\cdots+(10^n-1)\right]=\dfrac{5}{9}\left[(10+10^2+\cdots+10^n)-n\right]

The bracketed sum is a G.P. with a=10,\ r=10:

S_n=\dfrac{5}{9}\left[\dfrac{10(10^n-1)}{9}-n\right]

(i) Sn = (5/9)[ 10(10ⁿ − 1)/9 − n ]
(ii) 0.6 + 0.66 + 0.666 + ...

Factor out 6 and rewrite each term similarly:

S_n=6\left[0.1+0.11+0.111+\cdots\right]=\dfrac{6}{9}\left[0.9+0.99+0.999+\cdots\right]

=\dfrac{2}{3}\left[(1-0.1)+(1-0.01)+\cdots+(1-0.1^n)\right]=\dfrac{2}{3}\left[n-(0.1+0.01+\cdots+0.1^n)\right]

The bracketed sum inside is a G.P. with a=0.1,\ r=0.1:

0.1+0.01+\cdots+0.1^n=\dfrac{0.1(1-0.1^n)}{1-0.1}=\dfrac{1}{9}\left(1-0.1^n\right)

So:

S_n=\dfrac{2}{3}\left[n-\dfrac{1}{9}\left(1-0.1^n\right)\right]

(ii) Sn = (2/3)[ n − (1/9)(1 − 0.1ⁿ) ]
12

Find the 20th term of the series 2\times4+4\times6+6\times8+\cdots+n terms.

Easy +
Solution

The kth term of this series is the product of the kth terms of 2, 4, 6, ... and 4, 6, 8, ..., which are 2k and 2k+2 respectively:

T_k=2k(2k+2)=4k(k+1)

For the 20th term, k=20:

T_{20}=4(20)(21)=1680

T20 = 1680
13

A farmer buys a used tractor for Rs 12000. He pays Rs 6000 cash and agrees to pay the balance in annual instalments of Rs 500 plus 12% interest on the unpaid amount. How much will the tractor cost him?

Medium +
Solution

The unpaid balance after the cash payment is 12000-6000=6000, repaid in fixed instalments of Rs 500, so the number of instalments is \dfrac{6000}{500}=12.

The unpaid amount before each instalment is 6000, 5500, 5000, ..., 500 — an A.P. with 12 terms, first term 6000, last term 500. The total interest paid is 12% of the sum of these unpaid amounts:

\text{Sum of unpaid amounts}=\dfrac{12}{2}(6000+500)=6\times6500=39000

\text{Total interest}=12\%\text{ of }39000=0.12\times39000=4680

The total cost is the cash paid, plus the total of the principal instalments (which equals the original balance of 6000), plus the total interest:

\text{Total cost}=6000+6000+4680=16680

The tractor costs the farmer Rs 16,680 in total.
14

Shamshad Ali buys a scooter for Rs 22000. He pays Rs 4000 cash and agrees to pay the balance in annual instalments of Rs 1000 plus 10% interest on the unpaid amount. How much will the scooter cost him?

Medium +
Solution

The unpaid balance after the cash payment is 22000-4000=18000, repaid in instalments of Rs 1000, so the number of instalments is \dfrac{18000}{1000}=18.

The unpaid amount before each instalment is 18000, 17000, ..., 1000 — an A.P. with 18 terms, first term 18000, last term 1000:

\text{Sum of unpaid amounts}=\dfrac{18}{2}(18000+1000)=9\times19000=171000

\text{Total interest}=10\%\text{ of }171000=0.10\times171000=17100

The total cost is:

\text{Total cost}=4000+18000+17100=39100

The scooter costs Shamshad Ali Rs 39,100 in total.
15

A person writes a letter to four of his friends. He asks each one of them to copy the letter and mail to four different persons with instruction that they move the chain similarly. Assuming that the chain is not broken and that it costs 50 paise to mail one letter. Find the amount spent on the postage when 8th set of letter is mailed.

Medium +
Solution

The number of letters mailed in each set forms a G.P.: 4 letters in the 1st set, 4^2=16 in the 2nd, and so on, with 4^k letters in the kth set.

The total number of letters mailed by the time the 8th set is mailed is the sum of this G.P. up to 8 terms, with a=4,\ r=4:

S_8=\dfrac{4(4^8-1)}{4-1}=\dfrac{4(65536-1)}{3}=\dfrac{4\times65535}{3}=87380

At 50 paise (Rs 0.50) per letter, the total postage cost is:

87380\times0.50=43690

Rs 43,690 is spent on postage by the time the 8th set is mailed.
16

A man deposited Rs 10000 in a bank at the rate of 5% simple interest annually. Find the amount in 15th year since he deposited the amount and also calculate the total amount after 20 years.

Medium +
Solution

With simple interest, the same interest amount is earned every year:

\text{Annual interest}=5\%\text{ of }10000=500

Since this interest is fixed each year, the total accumulated amount after k years, 10000+500k, forms an arithmetic sequence in k.

The amount at the start of the 15th year (i.e. after 14 complete years of interest) is:

10000+500(14)=10000+7000=17000

The total amount after 20 complete years is:

10000+500(20)=10000+10000=20000

Amount in the 15th year: Rs 17,000. Total amount after 20 years: Rs 20,000.
17

A manufacturer reckons that the value of a machine, which costs him Rs. 15625, will depreciate each year by 20%. Find the estimated value at the end of 5 years.

Easy +
Solution

Depreciating by 20% each year means the value is multiplied by 1-\dfrac{20}{100}=\dfrac{4}{5} every year, so the value after n years is a G.P. term:

\text{Value after }n\text{ years}=15625\left(\dfrac{4}{5}\right)^n

For n=5:

15625\left(\dfrac{4}{5}\right)^5=15625\times\dfrac{1024}{3125}=5\times1024=5120

The estimated value at the end of 5 years is Rs 5,120.
18

150 workers were engaged to finish a job in a certain number of days. 4 workers dropped out on second day, 4 more workers dropped out on third day and so on. It took 8 more days to finish the work. Find the number of days in which the work was completed.

Hard +
Solution

Let the job have originally been planned to finish in n days with all 150 workers throughout, so the total work is 150n worker-days.

With the drop-outs, the number of workers each day forms an A.P.: 150 on day 1, 146 on day 2, 142 on day 3, and so on, decreasing by 4 each day, over n+8 actual days (since it took 8 more days than planned).

The total work done equals the sum of this A.P. over n+8 days, which must still equal the original total work 150n:

\dfrac{(n+8)}{2}\Big[2(150)+(n+8-1)(-4)\Big]=150n

Simplifying inside the bracket:

\dfrac{(n+8)}{2}\Big[300-4(n+7)\Big]=150n

(n+8)(300-4n-28)=300n

(n+8)(272-4n)=300n

Expanding the left-hand side:

272n-4n^2+2176-32n=300n \ \Rightarrow\ -4n^2+240n+2176=300n

Rearranging into a standard quadratic and dividing by -4:

n^2+15n-544=0

This factors as (n-17)(n+32)=0, giving n=17 or n=-32. Since n must be a positive number of days, n=17.

So the work was originally planned for 17 days, and actually took 17+8=25 days.

The work was completed in 25 days.

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Common Questions

Class 11 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Exercise — FAQs

How many questions are there in the Miscellaneous Exercise?
The Miscellaneous Exercise has 18 questions, mixing sequences and series ideas into longer, applied problems — G.P. equations, several A.M.-G.M. and G.P. proofs, and real-world scenarios like instalment payments, a chain-letter postage problem, simple interest, machine depreciation, and a workforce problem.
How do instalment-with-interest problems like the tractor and scooter questions turn into a series?
Each year the interest is charged only on the unpaid balance, which decreases by a fixed amount every year. So the sequence of yearly interest amounts is an arithmetic progression, and the total interest paid is the sum of that A.P. Adding the cash paid upfront and the total of the fixed instalments to this interest sum gives the total cost.
Where can I find the official NCERT textbook for this chapter?
Sequences and Series is Chapter 8 of the NCERT Class 11 Mathematics textbook, published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and prescribed by CBSE. You can download the official textbook PDF directly from ncert.nic.in, NCERT's official website — the solutions on this page follow the exercise exactly as it appears there.

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