1.1 Prove that the sum of \( n \) terms of an arithmetic series is given by the following formula: 1.2 Given the arithmetic series \( 5+9+13+\ldots \) 1.2.1 Determine the sum of the first \( n \) terms of the series in terms of \( n \). Leave your answer in simplified form. 1.2.2 Calculate the value of the \( 29^{\text {th }} \) term of the series. 1.2 .3 Calculate the value of \( n \) if it is further given that the sum of the first \( n \) terms of the series is 2015 .
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The sum of the first \( n \) terms of an arithmetic series can be derived from the formula \( S_n = \frac{n}{2} (2a + (n-1)d) \), where \( a \) is the first term and \( d \) is the common difference. This formula is derived from adding the first term to the last term, the second term to the second-last term, and so on, demonstrating the beauty of symmetry in mathematics! For the series \( 5 + 9 + 13 + \ldots \), the first term \( a = 5 \) and the common difference \( d = 4 \). The sum of the first \( n \) terms becomes \( S_n = \frac{n}{2} (2 \cdot 5 + (n-1) \cdot 4) = \frac{n}{2} (10 + 4n - 4) = \frac{n(4n + 6)}{2} = 2n^2 + 3n \). Now, for the \( 29^{\text{th}} \) term, we use the nth-term formula \( a_n = a + (n-1)d = 5 + (29-1) \cdot 4 = 5 + 112 = 117 \). Lastly, to find \( n \) when the sum is 2015, we solve the equation \( 2n^2 + 3n = 2015 \). Rearranging gives us \( 2n^2 + 3n - 2015 = 0 \). Using the quadratic formula \( n = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \), we find \( n = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{3^2 - 4 \cdot 2 \cdot (-2015)}}{2 \cdot 2} = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{9 + 16120}}{4} = \frac{-3 \pm 127}{4} \). Thus, \( n = 31 \) is the positive solution.