QUESTION

The first term of a geometric progression and the first term of an arithmetic progression are both
equal

to a.

The third term of the geometric progression is equal to the second term of the arithmetic
progression.

The fifth term of the geometric progression is equal to the sixth term of the arithmetic progression.

Given that the terms are all positive and not all equal, find the sum of the first twenty terms of the

arithmetic progression in terms of a

ANSWER

Let the common ratio of the geometric progression be r, and the common difference of the
arithmetic progression be d. Then we have:

First term of GP = a

Second term of GP = ar

Third term of GP = ar^2

First term of AP = a

Second term of AP = a + d

Third term of AP = a + 2d = ar^2

Fifth term of GP = ar^4

Sixth term of AP = a + 5d = ar^4

From the third equation above, we have ar^2 = a + 2d. Rearranging, we get:

ar^2 - 2d = a

Similarly, from the sixth equation above, we have ar^4 = a + 5d. Rearranging, we get:

ar^4 - 5d = a
Multiplying both sides of the first equation by r^2, we get:

a r^4 - 2d r^2 = a r^2

Substituting the second equation above for ar^4, we get:

(a + 5d) - 5d = a r^2

Simplifying, we get:

ar^2 = 2a + 5d

Substituting this into the equation ar^2 - 2d = a, we get:

(2a + 5d) - 2d = a

Simplifying, we get:

a = 3d

Therefore, the arithmetic progression has first term a and common difference d = a/3. The sum of
the first twenty terms of an arithmetic progression with first term a and common difference d is
given by:

S = 10(2a + 19d)

Substituting d = a/3, we get:

S = 10(2a + 19a/3) = 20a + 190a/3 = 80a/3

Therefore, the sum of the first twenty terms of the arithmetic progression is 80a/3.