For a certain quadratic sequence, the sum of the first terms is , and the sum of the first sums . Given that the coefficient of the quadratic sequence is , find the third term of the sequence.
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Let us call the quadratic equation a x 2 − 7 x + b
We know that x = 1 ∑ 2 0 ( a x 2 − 7 x + b ) = 7 4 0 0
This can be evaluated to 6 a x ( x + 1 ) ( 2 x + 1 ) - 2 7 x ( x + 1 ) + x b = 7 4 0 0
Substituting x = 2 0 , we get the equation 2 8 7 0 a + 2 0 b = 8 8 7 0
We also know that x = 1 ∑ 2 0 ( 6 a x ( x + 1 ) ( 2 x + 1 ) - 2 7 x ( x + 1 ) + x b ) = 4 0 4 6 0
This can be evaluated to ( 1 2 a x 2 ( x + 1 ) 2 + 1 2 a x ( x + 1 ) ( 2 x + 1 ) + 1 2 a x ( x + 1 ) ) - ( 1 2 7 x ( x + 1 ) ( 2 x + 1 ) + 4 7 x ( x + 1 ) ) + 2 b x ( x + 1 ) = 4 0 4 6 0
Substituting x = 2 0 , we get the equation 1 6 1 7 0 a + 2 1 0 c = 5 1 2 4 0
Solving the two equations simultaneously we can solve a = 3 and b = 1 3
Therefore the original equation is 3 x 2 − 7 x + 1 3 and the third term is 1 9