Can we solve this?

Algebra Level 4

Consider an arithmetic progression whose third term is 11 and seventh term is 27. What is the minimum number of terms of this arithmetic progression that is needed to have the sum of all terms divisible by 5 equal 2030?


The answer is 69.

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1 solution

Ashish Menon
May 29, 2016

Let a a be the first term, d d be the common difference, a 3 a_3 be the third term and a 7 a_7 be the seventh term.
a 3 = a + ( 3 1 ) d a + 2 d = 11 1 a 7 = a + ( 7 1 ) d a + 6 d = 27 2 a_3 = a + (3-1)d\\ a + 2d = 11 \longrightarrow \boxed{1}\\ \\ a_7 = a + (7-1)d\\ a + 6d = 27 \longrightarrow \boxed{2}
Subtracting 1 \boxed{1} from 2 \boxed{2} , we get:-
4 d = 16 d = 4 4d = 16\\ d = 4
Substituting d = 4 d = 4 in 1 \boxed{1} , we get:-
a + 2 × 4 = 11 a = 11 8 a = 3 a + 2×4 = 11\\ a = 11 - 8\\ a = 3


So, the AP is 3 , 7 , 11 , 15 , 19 , 23 , 27 , 31 , 35 , 39 , 43 , 47 , 51 , 55 , 3,7,11,15,19,23,27,31,35,39,43,47,51,55, \cdots .

Here we observe that the fourth, ninth, fourteenth, ..... terms are divisible by 5 5 .
They form an AP 15 , 35 , 55 , 75 , 15, 35, 55, 75, \cdots starting with 15 15 and common difference between its terms as 20 20 .
Let n n terms of this AP sum up to 2030 2030 .
Then 2030 = n 2 × ( 2 × 15 + ( n 1 ) × 20 ) 4060 = n ( 30 + 20 n 20 ) 4060 = n ( 20 n 10 ) 4060 = 20 n 2 + 10 n 20 n 2 + 10 n 4060 = 0 10 ( 2 n 2 + n 406 ) = 0 2 n 2 + n 406 = 0 2 n 2 + 29 n 28 n 406 = 0 n ( 2 n + 29 ) 14 ( 2 n + 29 ) = 0 ( 2 n + 29 ) ( n 14 ) = 0 2030 = \dfrac{n}{2} × \left(2×15 + (n - 1)×20\right)\\ 4060 = n\left(30 + 20n - 20\right)\\ 4060 = n\left(20n - 10\right)\\ 4060 = 20n^2 + 10n\\ 20n^2 + 10n - 4060 = 0\\ 10\left(2n^2 + n - 406\right) = 0\\ 2n^2 + n - 406 = 0\\ 2n^2 + 29n - 28n - 406 = 0\\ n\left(2n + 29\right) - 14\left(2n + 29\right) = 0\\ \left(2n + 29\right)\left(n - 14\right) = 0
So, 2 n + 29 = 0 2n + 29 = 0 or n 14 = 0 n - 14 = 0
n = 14.5 n = -14.5 or n = 14 n = 14 .
Since number of terms cannot be negative, n 14.5 n \neq 14.5 . So, n = 14 n = 14 . So, 14 14 terms of the AP 15 , 35 , 55 , 15,35,55,\cdots are needed to sum upto 2030 2030 . So, how many terms of the original AP is needed?

Observe that the first term of the 5-multiples AP is the fourth term of the original AP. The second term of the 5-multiples AP is the ninth term of the original AP. The third one is the fourteenth one. So, the x th x^{\text{th}} term of the 5-multiples AP is the ( 5 x 1 ) th {(5x - 1)}^{\text{th}} term of the original AP. So, the 14 th {14}^{\text{th}} term of the 5-multiples AP is 5 × 14 1 = 69 th 5×14 - 1 = {69}^{\text{th}} term of the original AP. So, the minimum number of terms of the original AP required to satisfy the conditions of the question is 69 \color{#69047E}{\boxed{69}} .

A simpler way:

We know that a n a_n of the original AP is equivalent to a 14 a_{14} of the new AP. This gives us

3 + ( n 1 ) ( 4 ) = 15 + ( 14 1 ) ( 20 ) 3 + 4 n 4 = 15 + 13 × 20 4 n = 4 3 + 15 + 260 4 n = 276 n = 69 3+(n-1)(4) = 15+(14-1)(20)\\ 3+4n-4=15+13\times 20\\ 4n=4-3+15+260\\ 4n=276\\ n=\boxed{69}

Hung Woei Neoh - 5 years ago

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Oh yes! I didnt see that, anyways thanks! :)

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

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