If R,S,T are in AP, then S-R = T-S, or (1) 2S = R+T If U,V,W are in GP, then, or (2) UW = V2 If X,Y,Z are in HP, then their reciprocals are in AP, so , Multiply through by LCD = XYZ XZ-YZ = XY-XZ (3) 2XZ = XY+YZ Since a,b,c are in AP, then we substitute R=a, S=b, T=c in (1) (4) 2b = a+c <--we know this Since a, mb, c are in GP, then we substitute U=a, V=mb, W=c in (2) (5) ac = m2b2 <--we know this We are to prove that a, m2b, c are in HP. So to find out what we need to prove, we substitute X=a, Y=m2b, Z=c in (3) (6) 2ac = am2b + m2bc <--we are to prove this So we will start with 2ac, and show that it is equal to am2b + m2bc By (5), 2ac = 2m2b2 2ac = m2∙b∙2b, use (4) to substitute a+c for 2b 2ac = m2∙b∙(a+c), distribute: 1ac = m2∙b∙a + m2∙b∙c That's the same as 2ac = am2b + m2bc which is (6), which is what we were to prove. Edwin