SOLUTION: The seventh term of an arithmetic sequence is 25. Its first, third, and 21st term form a geometric sequence. Find the first term and the common difference of the sequence

Algebra ->  Sequences-and-series -> SOLUTION: The seventh term of an arithmetic sequence is 25. Its first, third, and 21st term form a geometric sequence. Find the first term and the common difference of the sequence      Log On


   



Question 1187650: The seventh term of an arithmetic sequence is 25. Its first, third, and 21st
term form a geometric sequence. Find the first term and the common
difference of the sequence

Answer by greenestamps(13198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


If the first term is a and the common difference is d, then

3rd term: a+2d
7th term: a+6d
21st term: a+20d

The given information is

[1] a%2B6d+=+25 (the 7th term is 25)
[2] %28a%2B2d%29%2Fa=%28a%2B20d%29%2F%28a%2B2d%29 (the 1st, 3rd, and 21st term form a geometric sequence)

Working with [2] will give you an expression for d in terms of a; substituting the result into [1] will give you the answer. I'll get you started; the rest is straightforward.

%28a%2B2d%29%2Fa=%28a%2B20d%29%2F%28a%2B2d%29
%28a%2B2d%29%5E2=a%28a%2B20d%29
a%5E2%2B4ad%2B4d%5E2=a%5E2%2B20ad
4ad%2B4d%5E2=20ad
4d%5E2-16ad=0
4d%28d-4a%29=0

d=4a

You can finish....