Simply simple progression

Algebra Level 3

Consider an arithmetic progression such that:

  • The fourth term is 22.
  • The sum of the first four terms exceeds 6 times the common difference between its terms by 4.

Find the 50 th {50}^{\text{th}} term of this arithmetic progression.


The answer is 344.

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3 solutions

Ashish Menon
May 28, 2016

Let the first term be a a , common difference be d d , a 4 a_4 be the fourth term, a 50 a_{50} be 50 th {50}^{\text{th}} term and sum of first 4 terms be S 4 S_4 .
a 4 = a + ( 4 1 ) × d 22 = a + 3 d 1 S 4 = 4 2 × ( 2 a + ( 4 1 ) × d ) 6 d + 4 = 2 × ( a + a + 3 d ) 2 ( 3 d + 2 ) 2 = a + a + 3 d 3 d + 2 = a + a + 3 d 2 Substituting 1 in 2 : 3 d + 2 = a + 22 a 3 d = 20 3 Adding 1 and 3 : 2 a = 2 a = 1 4 Substituting 4 in 1 : 22 = 1 + 3 d 3 d = 21 d = 7 a 50 = a + ( 50 1 ) d = 1 + 49 × 7 = 1 + 343 = 344 \begin{aligned} a_4 & = a + \left(4 - 1\right)×d\\ 22 & = a + 3d \longrightarrow \boxed{1}\\ \\ S_4 & = \dfrac{4}{2} × \left(2a + \left(4 - 1\right)×d\right)\\ 6d + 4 & = 2 × \left(a + a + 3d\right)\\ \dfrac{2\left(3d + 2\right)}{2} & = a + a + 3d\\ 3d + 2 & = a + a + 3d \longrightarrow \boxed{2}\\ \\ \text{Substituting} \boxed{1} \text{in} \boxed{2}:-\\ 3d + 2 & = a + 22\\ a - 3d & = -20 \longrightarrow \boxed{3}\\ \\ \text{Adding} \boxed{1} \text{and} \boxed{3}:-\\ 2a & = 2\\ a & = 1 \longrightarrow \boxed{4}\\ \\ \text{Substituting} \boxed{4} \text{in} \boxed{1}:-\\ 22 & = 1 + 3d\\ 3d & = 21\\ d & = 7\\ \\ a_{50} & = a + \left(50 - 1\right)d\\ & = 1 + 49×7\\ & = 1 + 343\\ & = \color{#69047E}{\boxed{344}} \end{aligned}

In one of the last few steps, I think you meant to type in a 50 a_{50} instead of a 5 0 a_50 . Nice solution!

Ralph James - 5 years ago

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Haha thanks! Curly brackets were missing.

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

Your solution is rather long. You didn't notice that it could be solved faster

Hung Woei Neoh - 5 years ago
Hung Woei Neoh
May 29, 2016

Let the first term be a a and the common difference be d d . From the given conditions:

T 4 = 22 a + 3 d = 22 T_4 = 22\\ a+3d = 22

S 4 6 d = 4 4 2 ( 2 a + 3 d ) 6 d = 4 2 ( 2 a + 3 d ) 6 d = 4 4 a + 6 d 6 d = 4 4 a = 4 a = 1 S_4 - 6d = 4\\ \dfrac{4}{2}(2a+3d) - 6d = 4\\ 2(2a+3d) - 6d=4\\ 4a+6d-6d=4\\ 4a=4\\ a=1

Substitute to find d d :

1 + 3 d = 22 3 d = 21 d = 7 1+3d=22\\ 3d=21\\ d=7

Therefore,

T 50 = 1 + ( 49 ) ( 7 ) = 344 T_{50} = 1+(49)(7) = \boxed{344}

Nice solution (+1)

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago
Ralph James
May 28, 2016

We know that:

  • 1 a 4 = a 1 + 3 d = 22 1-a_4=a_1+3d=22

  • 2 S 4 = 2 ( a 1 + a 4 ) = 6 d + 4 2- S_4=2(a_1+a_4)=6d + 4

From 2 2 :

S 4 = 2 ( a 1 + 22 ) = 6 d + 4 S_4=2(a_1+22)=6d+4

S 4 = a 1 + 22 = 3 d + 2 \implies S_4=a_1+22=3d+2

a 1 = 20 + 3 d \implies\color{#3D99F6}{a_1=-20+3d}

From 1 1 :

22 = 20 + 3 d + 3 d 22=\color{#3D99F6}{-20+3d}+3d

42 = 6 d d = 7 \implies 42=6d \implies \color{#D61F06}{d=7}

Now, from the formula for the n n th term of an arithmetic progression a n = a 1 + ( n 1 ) d a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d :

a 50 = a 1 + 49 d a_{50}=a_1+49d

a 50 = 20 + 3 d + 49 ( 7 ) a_{50}=\color{#3D99F6}{-20+3d}+49(\color{#D61F06}{7})

a 50 = 20 + 3 ( 7 ) + 343 = 344 a_{50}=-20+3(\color{#D61F06}{7})+343 = \boxed{344} .

Nice solution (+1)

Ashish Menon - 5 years ago

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