CHAPTER-5 ARITHMETIC PROGESSIONS
QUESTION -18
The sum of 4th and 8th terms of an A.P. is 24 and the sum of the 6th and 10th terms is 44. Find the first three terms of the A.P.
ANSWER:
We know that,
an = a + (n − 1) d
a4 = a + (4 − 1) d
a4 = a + 3d
Similarly,
a8 = a + 7d
a6 = a + 5d
a10 = a + 9d
Given that, a4 + a8 = 24
a + 3d + a + 7d = 24
2a + 10d = 24
a + 5d = 12 (1)
a6 + a10 = 44
a + 5d + a + 9d = 44
2a + 14d = 44
a + 7d = 22 (2)
On subtracting equation (1) from (2), we obtain
2d = 22 − 12
2d = 10
d = 5
From equation (1), we obtain
a + 5d = 12
a + 5 (5) = 12
a + 25 = 12
a = −13
a2 = a + d = − 13 + 5 = −8
a3 = a2 + d = − 8 + 5 = −3
Therefore, the first three terms of this A.P. are −13, −8, and −3.