<PRE><B>Question 1162270</B>
&lt;br&gt;
Let the first term be a, and let r be the common ratio.  Then...&lt;br&gt;
The third term minus the first is 48:&lt;br&gt;
{{{ar^2-a = a(r^2-1) = 48}}}  [1]&lt;br&gt;
The fourth term minus the second is 144:&lt;br&gt;
{{{ar^3-ar = ar(r^2-1) = 144}}}  [2]&lt;br&gt;
Dividing [2] by [1] gives us r=3.&lt;br&gt;
Substituting r=3 in [1] gives us a=6.&lt;br&gt;
ANSWERS:&lt;br&gt;
The first term is 6; the common ratio is 3.  The 6th term is 6(3^5) = 6*243 = 1458.&lt;br&gt;
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