Find the lowest number in an AP such that the sum of all the terms is ...
Trying Option (a),
We get least term 5 and largest term 30 (since the largest term is 6 times the least term).
The average of the A.P becomes (5 + 30)/2 = 17.5
Thus, 17.5 × n = 105 gives us:
to get a total of 105 we need n = 6 i.e. 6 terms in this A.P. That means the A.P. should look like:
5, _ , _ , _, _, 30.
It can be easily seen that the common difference should be 5. The A.P, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 fits the
situation.
The same process used for option (b) gives us the A.P. 10, 35, 60. (10 + 35 + 60 = 105) and in the
third option 15, 90 (15 + 90 = 105).
Hence, all the three options are correct.
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Find the lowest number in an AP such that the sum of all the terms is ...
Approach:
Let the first term of the AP be a and the common difference be d.
Given, Sum of all the terms = 105
Also, greatest term = 6 times the least term
Therefore, the greatest term = a + (n-1)d = 6a
where n is the number of terms in the AP.
Calculation:
1. Sum of all terms in an AP:
Sum of n terms in an AP can be given by the formula:
Sum = (n/2)[2a + (n-1)d]
Here, Sum = 105
105 = (n/2)[2a + (n-1)d]
2. Greatest term is 6 times the least term:
a + (n-1)d = 6a
5a = (n-1)d
3. Substitute the value of d in equation 1:
105 = (n/2)[2a + 5a(n-1)/(n-1)]
105 = (n/2)[(7a-5a+5a(n-1))/(n-1)]
105 = (n/2)[(2a+5a(n-1))/(n-1)]
4. Simplify the equation:
210 = n[2a + 5a(n-1)]
Divide both sides by a:
210/a = n(2 + 5n - 5)
42/a = n(5n-3)
5. Check for values of a:
We need to find the lowest value of a.
From the above equation, we can see that a must be a factor of 42.
Therefore, the possible values of a are 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, 42.
6. Substitute values of a to find n:
For each value of a, we can find the corresponding value of n.
If the value of n is a positive integer, then that value of a is valid.
The values of a and n are as follows:
a = 1, n = 15
a = 2, n = 6
a = 3, n = 3.6 (not valid)
a = 6, n = 2.4 (not valid)
a = 7, n = 2.1 (not valid)
a = 14, n = 1.5 (not valid)
a = 21, n = 1.2 (not valid)
a = 42, n = 0.75 (not valid)
7. Find the common difference:
From the equation, 5a = (n-1)d, we get the common difference as:
d = 5a/(n-1)
8. Check for valid values of d:
If the value of d is positive, then the corresponding value of a is valid.
The values of a, n, and d are as follows:
a = 1, n = 15, d = 1/2 (valid)
a = 2, n = 6, d = 2/5 (not valid)
a = 3, n = 3.6, d = 3 (not valid)
a = 6, n = 2.4, d = 6 (not valid)
a = 7, n = 2.1, d