document.write( "Question 762889: how many terms of the series 24,20,16...must be taken that the sum may be 72? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #464276 by sachi(548)\"\" \"About 
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the series is 24,20,16...in AP
\n" ); document.write( "so a=1st term=24 & common difference =20-24=-4
\n" ); document.write( "sum=72 is of say n terms
\n" ); document.write( "then 72=n/2[2*24+(n-1)*-4]=n/2[48-4n+4]=n/2[52-4n]
\n" ); document.write( "or 144=52n-4n^2
\n" ); document.write( "or 4n^2-52n+144=0
\n" ); document.write( "or n^2-13n+36=0
\n" ); document.write( "or n^2-9n-4n+36=0
\n" ); document.write( "or n(n-9)-4(n-9)=0
\n" ); document.write( "or (n-9)(n-4)=0
\n" ); document.write( "or n=9 or 4
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