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Three distinct numbers a, b and c are in geometric progression, and their cyclic sums, taking two at a time, a + b, b + c and c + a are in arithmetic progression. What is the common ratio of the geometric progression involving a, b and c?
    Correct answer is '-2'. Can you explain this answer?
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    Three distinct numbers a, b and c are in geometric progression, and th...
    Common ratio of the geometric progression = c/b = -2 Answer: -2
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    Three distinct numbers a, b and c are in geometric progression, and th...
    Given:
    Three distinct numbers a, b, and c are in geometric progression.
    The cyclic sums, taking two at a time, a b, b c, and c a are in arithmetic progression.

    To find:
    The common ratio of the geometric progression involving a, b, and c.

    Solution:

    Let the three numbers be a, ar, and ar^2, where r is the common ratio of the geometric progression.

    The cyclic sums are given as follows:
    a b = a + ar
    b c = ar + ar^2
    c a = ar^2 + a

    We are given that the cyclic sums are in arithmetic progression. So, let's assume the common difference of the arithmetic progression is d.

    Therefore, we have the following equations:
    b - a = d
    c - b = d

    Simplifying the equations, we get:
    ar - a = d
    ar^2 - ar = d

    Step 1: Solve the first equation for a:
    ar - a = d
    a(r - 1) = d
    a = d / (r - 1) ----(1)

    Step 2: Solve the second equation for a:
    ar^2 - ar = d
    ar(r - 1) = d
    r(r - 1) = d / a

    Substituting the value of a from equation (1) into the above equation, we get:
    r(r - 1) = d / (d / (r - 1))
    r(r - 1) = (r - 1)
    r^2 - r - 1 = 0

    Step 3: Solve the quadratic equation:
    Using the quadratic formula, we have:
    r = (-(-1) ± √((-1)^2 - 4(1)(-1))) / (2(1))
    r = (1 ± √(1 + 4)) / 2
    r = (1 ± √5) / 2

    Since the numbers are distinct, we can eliminate the negative value. Therefore, the possible value of r is:
    r = (1 + √5) / 2

    Step 4: Verify the value of r:
    Let's substitute the value of r into the cyclic sums and check if they are in arithmetic progression:

    a + ar = a(1 + r)
    = a(1 + (1 + √5) / 2)
    = a(2 + √5) / 2

    ar + ar^2 = ar(1 + r)
    = ar(1 + (1 + √5) / 2)
    = ar(2 + √5) / 2

    ar^2 + a = ar^2 + a(1)
    = ar^2 + a(1 + √5) / 2
    = ar^2 + a(2 + √5) / 2

    We can observe that all three expressions have a common factor of (2 + √5) / 2, which simplifies to 1 + √5. Therefore, the cyclic sums are in arithmetic progression.

    Conclusion:
    The common ratio of the geometric progression involving a, b, and c is (1 +
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