Topic Name

ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION
Concept

Definition:

An arithmetic progression or arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the difference
between the consecutive terms is constant.
The general form of an A.P : a, a+d, a+2d, a+3d,.......

The nth term of A.P series is: Sn = (n/2)[2a +(n - 1)d]

Where, Sn---> Sum of a term of A.P
a ---> First term of A.P
d ---> Common difference
n ---> Number of terms
an = a1 + (n - 1)d
Where, an = the nth term in the sequence
a1 = the first term in the sequence
d = the common difference between terms
Note: Sum of an AP = [(First term + Last term)/ 2]* Number of terms
Question: 01

What is sum of the first 15 terms of an A.P whose 11th and 7th terms are 5.25 and 3.25
respectively?

A] 56.25
B] 60
C] 52.5
D] None of these

Answer: A
Explanation:

a +10d = 5.25
a +6d = 3.25
By solving => 4d = 2
then, d = 1/2
a + 5 = 5.25
a = 0.25 = 1/4
S15= (15 / 2 ) * [(2* 1 / 4) + 14* 1 / 2)]
= 15 / 2[(1 / 2 ) + (14 / 2)]
= (15 / 2) * (15 / 2)
= 225 / 4
S15= 56.25
Hence, option A is correct.
Question: 02

If (12 + 22 + 32 + ..... + 102) = 385, then what is the value of (22 + 42 + 62 +.....+ 202)=?

A] 770
B] 1155
C] 1540
D] (385*385)

Answer: C
Explanation:

22 + 42 + 62 +.....+ 202 = (1*2)2 + (2*2)2 + (2*3)2 +.....+ (2*10)2

= (2 2*12) + (22*22) + (22* 32) +.....+ (22*102)

= 2 2[12+ 22 +.....+ 102]

= 4*385

= 1540.

Hence, option C is correct.

Question: 03

In an arithmetic series consisting of 51 terms, the sum of the first three terms is 65 and the
sum of the middle three terms is 129. What is the first term and the common difference of the
series?

A] 64, 9/8
B] 32, 8/9
C] 187/9, 8/9
D] 72, 9/8

Answer: C
Explanation:

Given, a + (a + d) + (a + 2d) = 65

3a + 3d = 65 _______(1)

The middle terms are 25th, 26th and 27th terms

a + 24d + a + 25d + a + 26d = 129

3a + 75d = 129 _______(2)

From (1) and (2), d = 8/9 and

a = 187/9

Hence, option C is correct.

Question: 04

If Sn denotes the sum of the first n terms in an Arithmetic Progression and

S1: S4 = 1: 10, then what is the ratio of first term to fourth term?

A] 1 : 3
B] 2 : 3
C] 1 : 4
D] 1 : 5

Answer: C
Explanation:

Use Sn= (n/2) [2a + (n-1)d] and

Tn = a + (n-1)d

:S1 / S4 = 1 / 10 = a /(4 / 2) [2a + 3d]

6a = 6d ------> a=d

Therefore, :T1/ T4 = a/ (a + 3d)

= a/ 4a

T1/ T4 = 1 / 4

Hence, option C is correct.

Question: 05

The sum of the three numbers in A.P is 21 and the product of their extremes is 45. Find the
numbers?

A] 9, 7 and 5
B] 5, 7 and 9
C] Both (1) and (2)
D] None of these

Answer: B
Explanation:

Let the numbers are be a - d, a, a + d

Then, a - d + a + a + d = 21

3a = 21 -----> a = 7

and (a - d)(a + d) = 45

a2 - d2=45 ----->d2= 4 Therefore, d = +2.

Hence, the numbers are 5, 7 and 9 when d = 2 and 9, 7 and 5 when d = -2.

In both cases, numbers are the same.

Hence, option B is correct.

Question: 06

How many numbers between 11 and 90 divisible by 7?

A] 10
B] 11
C] 12
D] 13

Answer: B
Explanation:

The required numbers are 14, 21, 28,......,84

This is an A.P with a = 14 and d = (21-14) = 7

Let it contains n terms.

Then, Tn = 84

a + (n-1)d = 84

14 + (n-1)*7 = 84 or n = 11

Therefore, Required number of terms = 11.

Hence, option B is correct.

Question: 07

The sum of n terms of an A.P is 3n2 + n, find the nth term.

A] 6n - 4
B] 6n - 2
C] 4n - 4
D] 4n - 2

Answer: B
Explanation:
Given, Sn= 3n2 + n, put n = 1,2

S1 = (3* 12) + 1 = 4 and T1 = 4

S2= (3*22) + 2 = 14

T1 = S2- S1= 14 - 4 = 10

Therefore, T2 -T1 = 10 -4 = 6 and

Tn= a + (n-1)d = 4 + (n-1)6

=6n - 2.

Hence, option B is correct.

Question: 08

If you save 1 paise today, 2 paise next day and 3 paise the succeeding day and so on, what
will be your savings in 365 days?

A] 666.75
B] 668.85
C] 665.35
D] 667.95

Answer: D
Explanation:

Savings on successive days are 1, 2, 3, 4, ?. Paise which form and A.P with a = 1, d =1.

Total savings in 365 days

S365 = (365 / 2) [2 *1 +(365 - 1)(1)]

= (365 / 2)[2 +364]

= (365 / 2)366 = 365*183

= 66795 paise = Rs. 667.95

Hence, option D is correct.

Question: 09

How many terms are there in the following Arithmetic progressions?

-16, -12, -8,……………16

A] 9
B] 10
C] 11
D] 12

Answer: A
Explanation:

a1 = -16; d = a2 - a1

d = -12 - (-16)=> d = -12 + 16=> d = 4

Formula to find number of terms in an arithmetic progression : n = [(l - a1) / d] + 1

Substitute 16 for l, -16 for a1 and 4 for d.

n = [{16 - (-16)} / 4] + 1

n = [{16 + 16} / 4] + 1 => n = [32 / 4] + 1

n = 8 + 1 => n = 9

Therefore, there are 9 terms in the given arithmetic sequence.

Question: 10

How many two digit numbers are divisible by 13?

A] 7
B] 8
C] 9
D]10

Answer: A
Explanation:

Two digit numbers : 10, 11, 12,………… 99

Find the two digit numbers divisible by 13.

The first two digit number divisible by 13 is 13.

The second two digit number divisible by 13 is => 13 + 13 = 26

The third two digit number divisible by 13 is => 26 + 13 = 39................

The last two digit number divisible by 13 is 91

Then, the two digit numbers divisible by 13 are 13, 26, 39,.......................91
Explanation:

In the above sequence, the difference between any two consecutive term is 13. So, the
above sequence is an arithmetic progression. So,

n = [(l - a1) / d] + 1

Substitute 91 for l, 13 for a1 and 13 for d.

n = [(91 - 13) / 13] + 1

n = [78 / 13] + 1

n = 6 + 1 => n = 7

Therefore, there are seven two digit numbers divisible by 13.

Question: 11

Find the 12th term of the arithmetic progression ;

√2, 3√2, 5√2,…………

A] 25√2
B] 24√2
C] 23√2
D] 22√2

Answer: C
Explanation:

Common Difference : d = a 2 - a1

d = 3√2 - √2 => d = 2√2

12th Term : an = a1 + (n - 1)d

Substitute 12 for n, √2 for a1 and 2√2 for d.

a12 = √2 + (12 - 1)(2√2)

a12 = √2 + (11)(2√2) => a12 = √2 + 22√2

a12 = 23√2

So, the 12th term of the given arithmetic progression is 23√2.

Question: 12

If log 2, log (2x -1) and log (2x + 3) are in A.P, then x is equal to ____

A] 5/ 2
B] log2 5
C] log3 2
D] 3/ 2

Answer: B
Explanation:

If three numbers a, b, and c are in Arithmetic progression it means b - a = c - b

Or, we can rewrite it as 2b = a + c.
1. Product Rule: log a + log b = log ab.
Example: log 2 + log 10 = log 20

2. Power Rule:a log b = log ba

Example: 3 log 2 = log 23 = log 8

Because log 2, log (2x -1) and log (2x + 3) are in an AP

2 log (2x - 1) = log 2 + log (2x + 3)

Using the power rule of log, we can write 2 log (2x - 1) = log (2x - 1)2

Therefore, we can write the equation as log (2x - 1)2 = log 2 + log (2x + 3)
Explanation:

Using product rule, we can write the right hand side of the equation as follows:

log 2 + log (2x + 3) = log 2 (2x + 3)

The modified equation after applying the power rule and the product rule of logarithms is

log (2x - 1)2 = log 2 (2x + 3)

Removing logarithm on both sides of the equation, we get

(2x - 1)2 = 2 (2x + 3)

Or 22x - 2*2x + 1 = 2 * 2x + 6

Or 22x - 4 * 2x - 5 = 0
Explanation:

Let y = 2x

So, the equation can be written as y2 - 4y - 5 = 0

Factorzing, we get (y - 5)(y + 1) = 0.

So, y = 5 or y = -1

So, 2x = 5 or 2x = -1

2x cannot be negative. S, 2x = 5

If 2x = 5, expressed in terms of a log, it becomes x = log25

Question: 13

What is the sum of the following series? -64, -66, -68, ..... , -100

A] -1458
B] -1558
C] -1568
D] -1664

Answer: B
Explanation:

Key Data: First term is -64. The common difference is -2. The last term is -100.

Sum of the first n terms of an AP Sn = (n/2) [2a + (n-1)d]

a n = a1 + (n - 1)d

-100 = -64 + (n - 1)(-2)

Therefore, n = 19.

S n = (19/ 2) [2(-64)+(19-1)(-2)]
=(19/ 2)[-128-36]
S n = 19 * (-82) = -1558

The correct answer is Choice B.

Question: 14

x, 17, 3x - y2 - 2 and 3x + y2 - 30 are four consecutive terms of an increasing arithmetic

sequence. The sum of the four numbers is divisible by:

A] 2
B] 3
C] 4
D] 5

Answer: A
Explanation:

1. The four terms are in an arithmetic sequence and the sequence is an ascending sequence. i.e.,
the second term is greater than the first term and so on.

2. The sum of the four terms = x + 17 + 3x - y2 - 2 + 3x + y2 - 30 = 7x - 15

3. In an arithmetic sequence, the difference between any two terms will be the same.

So, 17 - x = (3x + y 2 - 30) - (3x - y2 - 2)

i.e., 17 - x = 2y 2 - 28

Or 45 - x = 2y 2
Explanation:

1. Because y is an integer, 2y2 has to be an even integer.

Unless x is odd, 45 - x cannot be even.

So, we can deduce that x is odd.

2. The sum of the four terms is 7x - 15

x is odd; So, 7x will also be odd. Hence, 7x - 15 will be even.

Therefore, the sum of the 4 terms will be divisible by 2.

The correct answer is Choice A.

Question: 15

A piece of equipment cost a certain factory Rs. 600,000. If it depreciates in value, 15% the
first year, 13.5 % the next year, 12% the third year, and so on, what will be its value at the end
of 10 years, all percentages applying to the original cost?

A] 2,00,000
B] 1,05,000
C] 4,05,000
D] 6,50,000

Answer: B
Explanation:

Let the cost of an equipment is Rs. 100.

Now the percentages of depreciation at the end of 1st, 2nd, 3rd years are 15, 13.5, 12, which

are in A.P., with a = 15 and d = - 1.5.

Hence, percentage of depreciation in the tenth year = a + (10-1) d = 15 + 9 (-1.5) = 1.5

Also total value depreciated in 10 years = 15 + 13.5 + 12 + ... + 1.5 = 82.5

Hence, the value of equipment at the end of 10 years=100 - 82.5 = 17.5.

The total cost being Rs. 6,00,000/100 * 17.5 = Rs. 1,05,000.

THANK YOU