The above is a geometric progression with only the first and last terms shown.
If the sum of all these terms is 189, then find the number of terms in this progression.
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The sum of terms of a GP is given by
s = 1 − r a 1 − a 1 r n ⟹ 1 8 9 = 1 − r 3 − 3 r n ⟹ 1 8 9 − 1 8 9 r = 3 − 3 r n ⟹ 1 8 6 = − 3 r n + 1 8 9 r ( 1 )
The n t h term of a GP is given by
a n = a 1 r n − 1 ⟹ 9 6 = 3 r n − 1 ⟹ 3 2 r n − 1 ⟹ 3 2 = r r n ⟹ 3 2 r = r n ( 2 )
Substituting ( 2 ) in ( 1 ) , we have
1 8 6 = − 3 ( 3 2 r ) + 1 8 9 r ⟹ 1 8 6 = − 9 6 r + 1 8 9 r ⟹ 1 8 6 = 9 3 r ⟹ r = 2
Solve for n in ( 2 ) by substituting r = 2 ,
3 2 ( 2 ) = 2 n ⟹ 6 4 = 2 n ⟹ 2 6 = 2 n ⟹ n = 6
The Geometric Progression is 3 , 6 , 1 2 , 2 4 , 4 8 , 9 6 .