Question 49 of 51advanced🔧 ApplyNumerical5 marks

The sum of the first three terms of a geometric progression is 26, and the sum of their squares is 364. Find the terms of the GP.

Correct Answer

2, 6, 18

Exercise: END-OF-CHAPTER EXERCISES | Q: 13 | (Page 22)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The problem requires finding the terms of a geometric progression using the given sum and the sum of their squares. By representing the first three terms as a, ar, and ar2ar^{2}, we can form two equations. Dividing the equation for the sum of squares by the equation for the sum of terms and applying the algebraic identity for (1+r2r^{2}+r4r^{4})/(1+r+r2r^{2}) simplifies the system, allowing us to find the second term and subsequently solve a quadratic equation for the common ratio.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Let the first three terms of the GP be a, ar, ar2ar^{2}, where 'a' is the first term and 'r' is the common ratio.

  2. Step 2: Given the sum of the first three terms is 26: a + ar + ar2ar^{2} = 26 => a(1 + r + r2r^{2}) = 26 ... (1).

  3. Step 3: Given the sum of their squares is 364: a2a^{2} + a2ra^{2r}^2 + a2ra^{2r}^4 = 364 => a2a^{2}(1 + r2r^{2} + r4r^{4}) = 364 ... (2).

  4. Step 4: Divide equation (2) by equation (1): a2a^{2}(1 + r2r^{2} + r4r^{4}) / a(1 + r + r2r^{2}) = 364 / 26. Using the identity (1 + r2r^{2} + r4r^{4}) / (1 + r + r2r^{2}) = 1 - r + r2r^{2}, we get a(1 - r + r2r^{2}) = 14 ... (3).

  5. Step 5: Subtract equation (3) from equation (1): a(1 + r + r2r^{2}) - a(1 - r + r2r^{2}) = 26 - 14, which simplifies to 2ar = 12. Thus, the second term ar = 6.

  6. Step 6: Substitute ar = 6 into equation (1): a + 6 + ar2ar^{2} = 26 => a + ar2ar^{2} = 20. Since a = 6/r and ar2ar^{2} = 6r, we get 6/r + 6r = 20.

  7. Step 7: Multiply by r and simplify: 6 + 6r26r^{2} = 20r => 3r23r^{2} - 10r + 3 = 0. Factoring gives (3r - 1)(r - 3) = 0, so r = 3 or r = 1/3.

  8. Step 8: If r = 3, a = 2, and the terms are 2, 6, 18. If r = 1/3, a = 18, and the terms are 18, 6, 2. In both cases, the terms of the GP are 2, 6, and 18.