Problema Solution

Find the 5 consecutive terms in A.P whose sum is 120 and the ratio of the product of the first n d last terms to the product of 2nd n 4th term is 20:21?I am not getting the accurate value?

Answer provided by our tutors

let the terms of the A.P. be


a1

a2 = a1 + d

a3 = a1 + 2d

a4 = a1 + 3d

a5 = a1 + 4d


the sum of the 5 consecutive terms is


S5 = (5/2)(a1 + a5)


120 = (5/2)(a1 + a1 + 4d)


5(a1 + 2d) = 120


a1 + 2d = 24


a1 = 24 - 2d


the ratio of the product of the first n d last terms to the product of 2nd n 4th term is 20:21


(a1*a5) : (a2*a4) = 20 : 21


21a1(a1 + 4d) = 20(a1 + d)(a1 + 3d)


plug a1 = 24 - 2d into the last equaton


21(24 - 2d )(24 - 2d + 4d) = 20(24 - 2d + d)(24 - 2d + 3d)


by solving we find 2 solutions


d1 = 3


d2 = -3


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for d1 = 3 we have a1 = 24 - 6 = 18 thus the terms are


18, 21, 24, 27, 30


for d1 = -3 we have a1 = 24 + 6 = 30 thus the terms are


30, 27, 24, 21, 18