Question 1065636
the sum of an arithmetic progression is
:
S(n) = n * (a(1) + a(n)) / 2
:
we are given the following
:
n * (n + 1) / 2 = (49 - n - 1) * (n + 2 + 49) / 2
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multiply both sides of = by 2 and simplify
:
n^2 + n = (48 - n) * (n + 51)
:
n^2 + n = -n^2 - 3n + 2448
:
2n^2 + 4n - 2448 = 0
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divide both sides of = by 2
:
n^2 + 2n - 1224 = 0
:
use quadratic formula
:
n = (-2 + square root(2^2 + 4 * 1224)) / 2 = 34
n = (-2 - square root(2^2 + 4 * 1224)) / 2 = -36
:
we reject the negative solution and accept n = 34
:
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p = 35
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check our answer
:
First sum = 34 * (1 + 34) / 2 = 595
Second sum = 14 * (36 + 49) / 2 = 595
:
our answer checks
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