Arithmetic Sequence!

Algebra Level 2

Let a a , b b , c c , d d , and e e be five consecutive terms in an arithmetic progression , and suppose that a + b + c + d + e = 125 a+b+c+d+e = 125 .

Which of the following terms can be uniquely found?

a a b b c c d d e e

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2 solutions

Hana Wehbi
Feb 5, 2021

Let n n be the common difference between every two consecutive terms.

Note that:

a = c 2 n a = c - 2n ,

b = c n b = c - n ,

c = c c = c ,

d = c + n d = c + n , and

e = c + 2 n e = c + 2n

a + b + c + d + e = ( c 2 n ) + ( c n ) + c + ( c + 2 n ) + ( c + n ) = 5 c = 125 c = 25. \implies a+b+c+d+e = (c-2n)+(c -n ) + c + ( c + 2n ) + (c + n) = 5c = 125 \implies c = 25.

We can not find other terms since n n which is the common difference is unknown.

Let the common difference of the arithmetic progression be δ \delta . Then

a + b + c + d + e = 125 ( c 2 δ ) + ( c δ ) + c + ( c + δ ) + ( c + 2 δ ) = 125 5 c = 125 c = 25 \begin{aligned} a + b + c + d + e & = 125 \\ (c-2\delta) + (c - \delta) + c + (c + \delta) + (c + 2\delta) & = 125 \\ 5c & = 125 \\ \implies c & = 25 \end{aligned}

The value of c \boxed c can be found.

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