SOLUTION: Geometric Series Question: a, a-12, a+12 are the first three terms of a geometric sequence 1) What is the value of a? 2) Calculate the sum for the first 10 terms

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Question 1096580: Geometric Series Question:
a, a-12, a+12 are the first three terms of a geometric sequence
1) What is the value of a?
2) Calculate the sum for the first 10 terms

Answer by ikleyn(52790) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Since a, a-12 and a+12 are three consecutive terms of an geometric progression, you have


%28a-12%29%2Fa = %28a%2B12%29%2F%28a-12%29.      ( the ratio  a%5B2%5D%2Fa%5B1%5D  is the same as the ratio  a%5B3%5D%2Fa%5B2%5D )


Then cross-nultiplying

%28a-12%29%5E2 = a*(a+12)  ====>

a^2 - 24a + 144 = a^2 + 12a  ====>

-24a + 144 = 12a  ====>  144 = 24a + 12a  ====>  144 = 36a  ====>  a = 144%2F36 = 4.


Your GP is  4, 4-12 = -8,  4+12 = 16.


It has the first term 4 and the common difference (-2).


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There is a bunch of lessons on geometric progressions in this site
    - Geometric progressions
    - The proofs of the formulas for geometric progressions
    - Problems on geometric progressions
    - Word problems on geometric progressions
    - One characteristic property of geometric progressions
    - Solved problems on geometric progressions
    - Fresh, sweet and crispy problem on arithmetic and geometric progressions
    - Mathematical induction and geometric progressions
    - Mathematical induction for sequences other than arithmetic or geometric


Also,  you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-II in this site
    - ALGEBRA-II - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

The referred lessons are the part of this online textbook under the topic "Geometric progressions".


Save the link to this textbook together with its description

Free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-II
https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/complex/ALGEBRA-II-YOUR-ONLINE-TEXTBOOK.lesson

into your archive and use when it is needed.