99

Chapter
Progressions 99

CONTENTS
3.1 Introduction
Arithmetic progression (A.P.)
3.2 Definition
3.3 General term of an A.P.
3.4 Selection of terms in an A.P.
3.5 Arithmetic mean
3. 6 Properties of A.P.
Geometric progression (G.P.)
3.7 Definition
3.8 General term of G.P.
3.9 Sum of first n terms of a G.P.
3.10 Selection of terms in a G.P.
3.11 Sum of infinite terms of a G.P.
3.12 Geometric mean
3.13 Prpoperties of G.P.
Harmonic progression (H.P.) Leonardo Fibonacci

3.14 Definition
3.15 General term of an H.P.
3.16 Harmonic mean
According to Boethius (510 A.D.) arithmetic,
Geometric and Harmonic sequences were known
3.17 Properties of H.P. to early Greek writers. Among the Indian
Arithmetico-geometric progression (A.G.P.) mathematician; Aryabhatta (476 A.D.) was the first
3.18 nth term of A.G.P. to give the formula for the sum of squares and
3.19 Sum of A.G.P. cubes of natural numbers in his famous work
3.20 Method of finding sum Aryabhatiyam.
3.21 Method of difference
Miscellaneous series Another special type of sequence having
3.22 Special series important applications in mathematics, called
3.23 Vn method Fibonacci sequence, was discovered by Italian
3.24 Properties of arithmetic, geometric and Mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci (1170-1250
A.D.) The general series was given by Frenchman
harmonic means between two given numbers
Francois-vieta (1540-1603 A.D.)
3.25 Relation between A.P., G.P. and H.P.
It was only through the rigorous developed of
3.26 Applications of progressions
algebraic and set theoretic tools that the concepts
Assignment (Basic and Advance Level)
related to sequence and series could be
Answer Sheet of Assignment
formulated suitably.
 100 Progressions

3.1 Introduction.
(1) Sequence : A sequence is a function whose domain is the set of natural numbers, N.
If f : N  C is a sequence, we usually denote it by  f (n)    f (1), f (2), f (3),.... 
It is not necessary that the terms of a sequence always follow a certain pattern or they are
described by some explicit formula for the nth term. Terms of a sequence are connected by
commas. Example : 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …………. is a sequence.
(2) Series : By adding or subtracting the terms of a sequence, we get a series.
If t1 , t 2 , t 3 , ..... t n , ..... is a sequence, then the expression t1  t 2  t 3  .....  t n .... is a series.
A series is finite or infinite as the number of terms in the corresponding sequence is finite
or infinite.
1 1 1 1
Example : 1      .... is a series.
2 3 4 5
(3) Progression : A progression is a sequence whose terms follow a certain pattern i.e. the
terms are arranged under a definite rule.
Example : 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, …….. is a progression whose terms are obtained by the rule :
Tn  2n  1 , where Tn denotes the nth term of the progression.

Progression is mainly of three types : Arithmetic progression, Geometric progression and

Harmonic progression.
However, here we have classified the study of progression into five parts as :
 Arithmetic progression
 Geometric progression
 Arithmetico-geometric progression
 Harmonic progression
 Miscellaneous progressions

Arithmetic progression(A.P)
3.2 Definition.
A sequence of numbers  t n  is said to be in arithmetic progression (A.P.) when the
difference t n  t n 1 is a constant for all n  N. This constant is called the common difference of the
A.P., and is usually denoted by the letter d.
 Progressions 101

If ‘a’ is the first term and ‘d’ the common difference, then an A.P. can be represented as
a, a  d , a  2d , a  3 d ,........

Example : 2, 7, 12, 17, 22, …… is an A.P. whose first term is 2 and common difference 5.
Algorithm to determine whether a sequence is an A.P. or not.
Step I: Obtain a n (the nth term of the sequence).
Step II: Replace n by n – 1 in a n to get a n 1 .
Step III: Calculate a n  a n 1 .
If a n  a n 1 is independent of n, the given sequence is an A.P. otherwise it is not an A.P. An
arithmetic progression is a linear function with domain as the set of natural numbers N.
 t n  An  B represents the nth term of an A.P. with common difference A.
3.3 General Term of an A.P..
(1) Let ‘a’ be the first term and ‘d’ be the common difference of an A.P. Then its nth term is
a  (n  1)d .
Tn  a  (n  1)d
(2) pth term of an A.P. from the end : Let ‘a’ be the first term and ‘d’ be the common difference
of an A.P. having n terms. Then pth term from the end is (n  p  1)th term from the beginning.

p th term from the end  T(n p 1)  a  (n  p)d

Important Tips
 General term (Tn) is also denoted by l (last term).
 Common difference can be zero, +ve or –ve.
 n (number of terms) always belongs to set of natural numbers.
Tn  Tk T p  Tk
 If Tk and Tp of any A.P. are given, then formula for obtaining Tn is  .
nk p k
 If pTp = qTq of an A.P., then Tp + q = 0.
 If pth term of an A.P. is q and the qth term is p, then Tp + q = 0 and Tn = p + q – n.
1 1
 If the pth term of an A.P. is and the qth term is , then its pqth term is 1.
q p
 If Tn =pn + q, then it will form an A.P. of common difference p and first term p + q.

Example: 1 Let Tr be rth term of an A.P. whose first term is a and common difference is d. If for some positive
1 1
integers m, n, m  n, Tm  and Tn  , then a – d equals [AIEEE 2004]
n m
1 1 1
(a)  (b) 1 (c) (d) 0
m n mn
1 1
Solution: (d) Tm   a  (m  1) d  …..(i)
n n
1 1
and Tn   a  (n  1) d  …..(ii)
m m
1 1 (m  n) 1
Subtract (ii) from (i), we get (m  n) d    (m  n) d   d , as m – n  0
n m mn mn
 102 Progressions
1 1 n 1 1
a  (n  1) d     d . Therefore a – d = 0
m m mn mn
Example: 2 The 19th term from the end of the series 2 + 6 + 10 + …. + 86 is
(a) 6 (b) 18 (c) 14 (d) 10
Solution: (c) 86  2  (n  1) 4  n  22
19th term from end  tn 19 1  t22 19 1  t4  2  (4  1) 4  14
Example: 3 In a certain A.P., 5 times the 5th term is equal to 8 times the 8th term, then its 13th term is [AMU 1991]
(a) 0 (b) – 1 (c) – 12 (d) – 13
Solution: (a) We have 5 T5  8 T8
Let a and d be the first term and common difference respectively
 5{a  (5  1)d}  8{a  (8  1) d}
 3a  36 d  0  a  12d  0 , i.e. a  (13  1) d  0 . Hence 13th term = 0
Example: 4 If 7th and 13th term of an A.P. be 34 and 64 respectively, then its 18 th term is
(a) 87 (b) 88 (c) 89 (d) 90
Solution: (c) Let a be the first term and d be the common difference of the given A.P., then
T7  34  a  6d  34 …..(i)
T13  64  a  12d  64 …..(ii)
From (i) and (ii), d = 5, a = 4
 T18  a  17 d  4  17  5  89
Tn  Tk Tp  Tk T  T7 T13  T7 T  34 64  34
Trick:   18   18   T18  89
n k p k 18  7 13  7 11 6
am an ap
Example: 5 If  an  is an arithmetic sequence, then   m n p equals
1 1 1

(a) 1 (b) –1 (c) 0 (d) None of these

Solution: (c) Let a be the first term and d the common difference. Then ar  a  (r  1) d

a  (m  1) d a  (n  1)d a  ( p  1) d a a a m 1 n 1 p 1
 m n p  m n p d m n p
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 m n p
 a m n p  d m n p  a.0  d .0  0
1 1 1 1 1 1
Example: 6 The nth term of the series 3 + 10 + 17 + ….. and 63 + 65 + 67 + …… are equal, then the value of n is
[Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
(a) 11 (b) 12 (c) 13 (d) 15
Solution: (c) nth term of 1st series  3  (n  1)7  7 n  4
nth term of 2nd series  63  (n  1)  2n  61
 we have, 7n  4  2n  61  n = 13

3.4 Selection of Terms in an A.P..

When the sum is given, the following way is adopted in selecting certain number of terms :
Number of terms Terms to be taken
3 a – d, a, a + d
 Progressions 103

4 a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d
5 a – 2d, a – d, a, a + d, a + 2d
In general, we take a – rd, a – (r – 1)d, ……., a – d, a, a + d, ……, a + (r – 1)d, a + rd, in case
we have to take (2r + 1) terms (i.e. odd number of terms) in an A.P.
And, a  (2r  1)d , a  (2r  3)d , ......., a  d , a  d , ......., a  (2r  1)d , in case we have to take 2r terms in
an A.P.
When the sum is not given, then the following way is adopted in selection of terms.
Number of terms Terms to be taken
3 a, a  d , a  2 d
4 a, a  d , a  2d , a  3 d
5 a, a  d , a  2d , a  3 d , a  4 d
Sum of n terms of an A.P. : The sum of n terms of the series
a  (a  d )  (a  2d )  .......  {a  (n  1) d } is given by
n
Sn  [2a  (n  1) d ]
2
n
Also, S n  (a  l) , where l = last term = a  (n  1) d
2

Important Tips
 The common difference of an A.P is given by d  S 2  2S1 where S 2 is the sum of first two terms and S 1 is the sum of
first term or the first term.
 , when d  0
 The sum of infinite terms   .
 , when d  0
 If sum of n terms S n is given then general term Tn  S n  S n 1 , where S n 1 is sum of (n – 1) terms of A.P.
 Sum of n terms of an A.P. is of the form An 2  Bn i.e. a quadratic expression in n, in such case, common difference is
twice the coefficient of n 2 i.e. 2A.
S f T f (2n  1)
  If for the different A.P’s n  n , then n 
S n n Tn  (2n  1)
 n 1 
A B
T An  B S  2 
 If for two A.P.’s n  then n 
Tn Cn  D S n  n 1 
C D
 2 
 Some standard results
n
n (n  1)
 Sum of first n natural numbers  1  2  3  ........  n  r 
r 1
2
n
 Sum of first n odd natural numbers  1  3  5  .....  (2n  1)   (2r  1)  n
r 1
2

n
 Sum of first n even natural numbers  2  4  6  ......  2n   2r  n (n  1)
r 1

  If for an A.P. sum of p terms is q and sum of q terms is p, then sum of (p + q) terms is {–(p + q)}.
 If for an A.P., sum of p terms is equal to sum of q terms, then sum of (p + q) terms is zero.
 104 Progressions
1 1 1
 If the pth term of an A.P. is and qth term is , then sum of pq terms is given by S pq  ( pq  1)
q p 2

Example: 7 7th term of an A.P. is 40, then the sum of first 13 terms is [Karnataka CET 2003]
(a) 53 (b) 520 (c) 1040 (d) 2080
13
Solution: (b) S 13  {2a  12 d }  13 {a  6 d }  13  T7  13  40  520
2
Example: 8 The first term of an A.P. is 2 and common difference is 4. The sum of its 40 terms will be [MNR 1978; MP PET 2002]
(a) 3200 (b) 1600 (c) 200 (d) 2800
n 40
Solution: (a) S  [2a  (n  1) d ]  [2  2  (40  1)4 ]  3200
2 2
Example: 9 The sum of the first and third term of an A.P. is 12 and the product of first and second term is 24, the
first term is
[MP PET 2003]
(a) 1 (b) 8 (c) 4 (d) 6
Solution: (c) Let a  d, a, a  d, ........ be an A.P.

24
 (a  d)  (a  d)  12  a  6 . Also, (a  d) a  24  6  d  4  d2
6
 First term  a  d  6  2  4
S 3 r  S r 1
Example: 10 If S r denotes the sum of the first r terms of an A.P., then is equal to
S 2 r  S 2 r 1
(a) 2r – 1 (b) 2r + 1 (c) 4r + 1 (d) 2r + 3
3r (r  1) d
{2a  (3r  1)d }  {2a  (r  1  1) d } (2r  1)a  {3r(3r  1)  (r  1)(r  2)}
S 3 r  S r 1
Solution: (b)  2 2  2
S 2 r  S 2 r 1 T2r a  (2r  1) d

d
(2r  1)a  {8 r 2  2}
2 (2r  1)a  d (4 r 2  1)
   2r  1
a  (2r  1)d a  (2r  1)d
Example: 11 If the sum of the first 2n terms of 2, 5, 8…. is equal to the sum of the first n terms of 57, 59, 61….,
then n is equal to
[IIT Screening 2001]
(a) 10 (b) 12 (c) 11 (d) 13
2n n
Solution: (c) We have, {2  2  (2n  1)3}  {2  57  (n  1)2}  6n  1  n  56  n  11
2 2
Example: 12 If the sum of the 10 terms of an A.P. is 4 times to the sum of its 5 terms, then the ratio of first term
and common difference is [Rajasthan PET 1986]
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 1 (c) 2 : 3 (d) 3 : 2
Solution: (a) Let a be the first term and d the common difference
10 5 a 1
Then, {{a  (10  1)d }  4  {2a  (5  1)d }  2a  9d  4 a  8d  d  2a   ,a:d=1:2
2 2 d 2
Example: 13 150 workers were engaged to finish a piece of work in a certain number of days. 4 workers dropped
the second day, 4 more workers dropped the third day and so on. It takes eight more days to finish
the work now. The number of days in which the work was completed is [Kurukshetra CEE 1996]
(a) 15 (b) 20 (c) 25 (d) 30
1
Solution: (c) Let the work was to be finished in x days.  Work of 1 worker in a day 
150 x
 Progressions 105

Now the work will be finished in (x + 8) days.  Work done = Sum of the fraction of work done
1 1 1
1  150  (150  4 )  (150  8 )  ....... to (x + 8) terms
150 x 150 x 150 x

x 8  150   4 
 1 2   (x  8  1)    150 x  (x  8 ){150  2(x  7)}  (x  8 )(x  7)  600  0
2  150 x  150 x 
 (x  8 )(x  7)  25  24 ,  x  8  25
Hence work completed in 25 days.
Example: 14 If the sum of first p terms, first q terms and first r terms of an A.P. be x, y and z respectively, then
x y z
(q  r)  (r  p)  (p  q) is
p q r
8 xyz
(a) 0 (b) 2 (c) pqr (d)
pqr
p x d
Solution: (a) We have a, the first term and d, the common difference, x  {2a  ( p  1) d }   a  ( p  1)
2 p 2
y d z d
Similarly,  a  (q  1) and  a  (r  1)
q 2 r 2
x y z  d  d  d
 (q  r)  (r  p)  ( p  q)  a  ( p  1) (q  r)  a  (q  1) (r  p)  a  (r  1) ( p  q)
p q r  2  2  2
d
 a{(q  r)  (r  p)  ( p  q)}  {( p  1)(q  r)  (q  1)(r  p)  (r  1)( p  q)}
2
d d
 a.. 0 
[{ pq  pr  rq  pq  pr  qr  {(q  r)  (r  p)  ( p  q)}  0  {0  0}  0
2 2
Example: 15 The sum of all odd numbers of two digits is [Roorkee 1993]
(a) 2475 (b) 2530 (c) 4905 (d) 5049
Solution: (a) Required sum, S  11  13  15  .......  99
Let the number of odd terms be n, then 99  11  (n  1)2  n  45
45  n 
 S  (11  99 )  45  55  2475  S  2 (a  l)
2  
Example: 16 If sum of n terms of an A.P. is 3 n 2  5 n and Tm  164 , then m = [Rajasthan PET 1991, 95; DCE 1999]
(a) 26 (b) 27 (c) 28 (d) None of these
Solution: (b) Tm  S m  S m 1  164  (3m 2  5m)  {3(m  1)2  5(m  1)}  164  3(2m  1)  5  m  27
1 1 1
Example: 17 The sum of n terms of the series    ....... is [UPSEAT 2002]
1 3 3 5 5 7
1 1
(a) 2n  1 (b) 2n  1 (c) 2n  1 (d) ( 2n  1  1)
2 2
1 1 1 1
Solution: (d) Sn     ...... 
1 3 3 5 5 7 2n  1  2n  1
3 1 5 3 7 5 2n  1  2 n  1
    ..... 
( 3  1)( 3  1) 2 2 2
1 1
 [ 3  1  5  3  7  5  .....  ( 2n  1  2n  1 )]  [ 2n  1  1]
2 2
1 1 1
Example: 18 If a1 , a 2 ,......, an1 are in A.P., then   .....  is [AMU 2002]
a1 a 2 a 2 a 3 a n a n 1
n 1 1 n 1 n
(a) (b) (c) (d)
a1 a n 1 a1 a n 1 a1 a n 1 a1 a n 1
 106 Progressions

1 1   1 1  1 1 
        
a a2   a2 a3  a an 1 
Solution: (d) S 
1

1
 .... 
1
  1
  ......   n
a1a2 a2 a3 an an 1 (a2  a1 ) (a3  a2 ) (an 1  an )
As a1, a2 , a3 ,......., an , an 1 are in A.P., i.e. a2  a1  a3  a2  .........  an 1  an  d (say)

1  1 1  1 1  1 1  1  1 1  an 1  a1 [a  (n  1  1) d ]  a1
 S         ......       
   1
d  1
a a2   2
a a3   n
a an 1  d  1
a an 1  d . a1 . an 1 d . a1 . an 1
nd n
S 
d a1 an 1 a1 an 1

3.5 Arithmetic Mean.

(1) Definitions
(i) If three quantities are in A.P. then the middle quantity is called Arithmetic mean (A.M.)
between the other two.
If a, A, b are in A.P., then A is called A.M. between a and b.
(ii) If a, A1 , A 2 , A 3 ,....., A n , b are in A.P., then A1 , A 2 , A 3 , ......, A n are called n A.M.’s between a
and b.
(2) Insertion of arithmetic means
(i) Single A.M. between a and b : If a and b are two real numbers then single A.M. between a
ab
and b 
2
(ii) n A.M.’s between a and b : If A1 , A 2 , A 3 , ......., A n are n A.M.’s between a and b, then
b a b a b a
A1  a  d  a  , A 2  a  2d  a  2 , A3  a  3d  a  3 , …….,
n 1 n 1 n 1
b a
An  a  nd  a  n
n 1

Important Tips
 Sum of n A.M.’s between a and b is equal to n times the single A.M. between a and b.
ab 
i.e. A1  A2  A3  ..........  An  n  
 2 
1 1
 If A1 and A2 are two A.M.’s between two numbers a and b, then A1  (2a  b), A2  (a  2b ) .
3 3
Sum of m A.M .'s m
 Between two numbers,  .
Sum of n A.M .'s n
th
 n 1 
 If number of terms in any series is odd, then only one middle term exists which is   term.
 2 
th th
n  n  
 If number of terms in any series is even then there are two middle terms, which are given by   and    1
2  2  
term.

Example: 19 After inserting n A.M.’s between 2 and 38, the sum of the resulting progression is 200. The value of n
is [MP PET 2001]
(a) 10 (b) 8 (c) 9 (d) None of these
Solution: (b) There will be (n + 2) terms in the resulting A.P. 2, A1, A2 ,......, An , 38
 Progressions 107

n2
Sum of the progression  (2  38 )  200  (n  2)  20  n  8
2
Example: 20 3 A.M.’s between 3 and 19 are
(a) 7, 11, 15 (b) 4, 6, 10 (c) 6, 10, 14 (d) None of these
Solution: (a) Let A1 , A2 , A3 be three A.M.’s. Then 3, A1 , A2 , A3 , 19 are in A.P.
19  3
 common difference d   4 .Therefore A1  3  d  7 , A2  3  2d  11 , A3  3  3d  15
3 1
Example: 21 If a, b, c, d, e, f are A.M.’s between 2 and 12, then a  b  c  d  e  f is equal to
(a) 14 (b) 42 (c) 84 (d) None of these
Solution: (b) Since, a, b, c, d, e, f are six A.M.’s between 2 and 12
6 6
Therefore, a  b  c  d  e  f  (a  f )  (2  12 )  42
2 2

3.6 Properties of A.P..

(1) If a1 , a 2 , a 3 ..... are in A.P. whose common difference is d, then for fixed non-zero number
K  R.
(i) a1  K, a 2  K, a 3  K,..... will be in A.P., whose common difference will be d.
(ii) Ka 1 , Ka 2 , Ka 3 ........ will be in A.P. with common difference = Kd.
a1 a 2 a 3
(iii) , , ...... will be in A.P. with common difference = d/K.
K K K
(2) The sum of terms of an A.P. equidistant from the beginning and the end is constant and
is equal to sum of first and last term. i.e. a1  a n  a 2  a n 1  a 3  a n  2  ....
(3) Any term (except the first term) of an A.P. is equal to half of the sum of terms
1
equidistant from the term i.e. an  (an k  an k ) , k < n.
2
(4) If number of terms of any A.P. is odd, then sum of the terms is equal to product of
middle term and number of terms.
(5) If number of terms of any A.P. is even then A.M. of middle two terms is A.M. of first
and last term.
(6) If the number of terms of an A.P. is odd then its middle term is A.M. of first and last
term.
(7) If a1 , a 2 , ......a n and b1 , b 2 , ......b n are the two A.P.’s. Then a1  b1 , a 2  b 2 , ...... a n  b n are also
A.P.’s with common difference d 1  d 2 , where d 1 and d 2 are the common difference of the given
A.P.’s.
(8) Three numbers a, b, c are in A.P. iff 2b  a  c .
(9) If Tn , Tn 1 and Tn  2 are three consecutive terms of an A.P., then 2Tn 1  Tn  Tn  2 .
(10) If the terms of an A.P. are chosen at regular intervals, then they form an A.P.

Example: 22 If a1, a2 , a3 , ....., a24 are in arithmetic progression and a1  a5  a10  a15  a20  a24  225 , then a1  a2  a3  .....
a23  a24  [MP PET 1999; AMU 1997]

(a) 909 (b) 75 (c) 750 (d) 900

 108 Progressions
Solution: (d) a1  a5  a10  a15  a20  a24  225  (a1  a24 )  (a5  a20 )  (a10  a15 )  225  3(a1  a24 )  225  a1  a24  75

(∵ In an A.P. the sum of the terms equidistant from the beginning and the end is same and is equal to
the sum of first and last term)
24
a1  a2  .....  a24  (a1  a24 )  12  75  900
2
1 1 1
Example: 23 If a, b, c are in A.P., then , , will be in [DCE 2002; MP PET 1985; Roorkee 1975]
bc ca ab
(a) A.P. (b) G.P. (c) H.P. (d) None of these
1 1 1
Solution: (a) a, b, c are in A.P.,  , , will be in A.P. [Dividing each term by abc]
bc ca ab
Example: 24 If log 2, log( 2n  1) and log( 2n  3) are in A.P., then n = [MP PET 1998; Karnataka CET 2000]

3
(a) 5/2 (b) log 2 5 (c) log 3 5 (d)
2
Solution: (b) As, log 2, log( 2n  1) and log( 2n  3) are in A.P. Therefore

2 log(2 n  1)  log 2  log(2 n  3)  (2 n  5)(2 n  1)  0

As 2 n cannot be negative, hence 2 n  5  0  2 n  5 or n  log 2 5

Geometric progression(G.P.)
3.7 Definition.
A progression is called a G.P. if the ratio of its each term to its previous term is always
constant. This constant ratio is called its common ratio and it is generally denoted by r.
12 36 108
Example: The sequence 4, 12, 36, 108, ….. is a G.P., because    .....  3 , which is
4 12 36
constant.
Clearly, this sequence is a G.P. with first term 4 and common ratio 3.
1 1 3 9 1  1 1 3
The sequence ,  , ,  , .... is a G.P. with first term and common ratio       
3 2 4 8 3  2 3 2
3.8 General Term of a G.P..
(1) We know that, a, ar, ar 2 , ar 3 , .....arn 1 is a sequence of G.P.
Here, the first term is ‘a’ and the common ratio is ‘r’.
The general term or nth term of a G.P. is Tn  ar n 1
It should be noted that,
T2 T3
r   ......
T1 T2
(2) pth term from the end of a finite G.P. : If G.P. consists of ‘n’ terms, pth term from the end
 (n  p  1)th term from the beginning  ar n  p .
n 1
1
Also, the pth term from the end of a G.P. with last term l and common ratio r is l  
r

Important Tips
b c
 If a, b, c are in G.P.   or b 2  ac
a b
 Progressions 109

 If Tk and Tp of any G.P. are given, then formula for obtaining Tn is

1 1
 Tn  n k  Tp  p k
    
T  
 k   Tk 
 If a, b, c are in G.P. then
b c ab b c ab a ab a
    or  or 
a b ab b c b c b bc b
 Let the first term of a G.P be positive, then if r > 1, then it is an increasing G.P., but if r is positive and less than 1,
i.e. 0< r < 1, then it is a decreasing G.P.
 Let the first term of a G.P. be negative, then if r > 1, then it is a decreasing G.P., but if 0< r < 1, then it is an
increasing G.P.
a b c 1
 If a, b, c, d,… are in G.P., then they are also in continued proportion i.e.    .... 
b c d r

Example: 25 The numbers ( 2  1), 1, ( 2  1) will be in [AMU 1983]

(a) A.P. (b) G.P. (c) H.P. (d) None of these

Solution: (b) Clearly (1)  ( 2  1).( 2  1)
2

 2  1, 1, 2  1 are in G.P.
Example: 26 If the pth, qth and rth term of a G.P. are a, b, c respectively, then aq r  b r  p  c p  q is equal to
[Roorkee 1955, 63, 73; Pb. CET 1991, 95]
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) abc (d) pqr
2 3
Solution: (b) Let x , xy , xy , xy ,.... be a G.P.
 a  xy p 1 , b  xy q 1 , c  xy r 1

Now, aq r . b r  p . c p  q  (xy p 1 )q r (xy q 1 )r  p (xy r 1 )p  q  x (q r)(r  p )( p  q ). y ( p 1)(q r)(q 1)(r  p )(r 1)(p  q )

 x 0 . y p (q r) q (r  p ) r( p  q )(q r  r  p  p  q )  x 0 . y 0  0  (xy )0  1

Example: 27 If the third term of a G.P. is 4 then the product of its first 5 terms is [IIT 1982; Rajasthan PET 1991]
(a) 4 3 (b) 4 4 (c) 4 5 (d) None of these
Solution: (c) Given that ar 2  4
Then product of first 5 terms  a(ar)(ar 2 )(ar 3 )(ar 4 )  a5 r10  [ar 2 ]5  4 5
Example: 28 If x, 2 x  2, 3 x  3 are in G.P., then the fourth term is [MNR 1980, 81]

(a) 27 (b) – 27 (c) 13.5 (d) – 13.5

Solution: (d) Given that x, 2 x  2, 3 x  3 are in G.P.

Therefore, (2 x  2)2  x (3 x  3)  x 2  5 x  4  0  (x  4 )(x  1)  0  x  1,  4

Now first term a = x, second term ar  2(x  1)
3
2( x  1)  2(x  1)  8
 r , then 4th term  ar 3  x    x 2 (x  1)
3
x  x 
Putting x  4 , we get
8 27
T4  (3)3    13 .5
16 2

3.9 Sum of First ‘n’ Terms of a G.P..

If a be the first term, r the common ratio, then sum S n of first n terms of a G.P. is given by
a(1  r n )
Sn  , |r|< 1
1r
 110 Progressions

a(r n  1)
Sn  , |r|> 1
r 1
S n  na , r=1
3.10 Selection of Terms in a G.P..
(1) When the product is given, the following way is adopted in selecting certain number of
terms :

Number of terms Terms to be taken

3 a
, a, ar
r
4 a a
, , ar, ar 3
r3 r
5 a a
2
, , a, ar, ar 2
r r

(2) When the product is not given, then the following way is adopted in selection of terms

Number of terms Terms to be taken

3 a, ar, ar 2
4 a, ar, ar 2 , ar 3
5 a, ar, ar 2 , ar 3 , ar 4

100 100
Example: 29 Let a n be the nth term of the G.P. of positive numbers. Let a
n 1
2n   and a
n 1
2 n 1   , such that    ,

then the common ratio is [IIT 1992]

   
(a) (b) (c) (d)
   
Solution: (a) Let x be the first term and y, the common ratio of the G.P.
100 100
Then,   a
n 1
2n  a2  a4  a6  ....  a200 and   a
n 1
2 n 1  a1  a3  a5  ......  a199

1  (y 2 )100  1  y 200 
   xy  xy 3  xy 5  .....  xy 199  xy  xy  

1y 2
 1y
2


1  (y 2 )100  1  y 200 
  x  xy 2  xy 4  .....  xy 198  x   x   
1  y2  1  y2 
 
 
  y . Thus, common ratio 
 
Example: 30 The sum of first two terms of a G.P. is 1 and every term of this series is twice of its previous term,
then the first term will be
[Rajasthan PET 1988]
 Progressions 111

1 1 2 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4 3 3 4
 an 
Solution: (b) We have, common ratio r = 2;   2
 an 1 
1 1 1
Let a be the first term, then a  ar  1  a(1  r)  1  a   
1r 12 3

3.11 Sum of Infinite Terms of a G.P..

(1) When |r|< 1, (or  1  r  1)
a
S 
1r
(2) If r  1, then S  doesn’t exist

Example: 31 The first term of an infinite geometric progression is x and its sum is 5. Then [IIT Screening 2004]
(a) 0  x  10 (b) 0  x  10 (c) 10  x  0 (d) x  10
x x
Solution: (b) According to the given conditions, 5  , r being the common ratio  r  1 
1r 5
x x x
Now, |r|< 1 i.e. 1  r  1  1  1  1  2   0  2 0 i.e.
5 5 5
x
0  2 ,  0  x  10
5
n r

ne
1 n
Example: 32 lim is [AIEEE 2004]
n 
r 1

(a) e + 1 (b) e – 1 (c) 1 – e (d) e

n n

n e e
1 1 1 1/n 1
Solution: (b) lim r/n
 lim r/n
 lim  (e  e 2 / n  e 3 / n  .....  e n / n )  lim  [e 1 / n  (e 1 / n )2  (e 1 / n )3  .....  (e 1 / n )n ]
n  n  n n  n n  n
r 1 r 1

1
(e  1) 
1 1 / n 1  (e 1 / n )n 1 1/n 1 e (1  e )(e 1 / n  1  1) (e  1)
 lim e  lim e  lim  lim  lim 1 / n n
n  n 1  e1 / n n  n 1  e 1 / n n  n (1  e 1 / n ) n  n n  e 1
1
Put  h, we get h  0
n
h 0 
 0  (e  1) lim  0 form 
h 0 eh 1  
1
 (e  1) lim  (e  1).1  e  1 .
h 0 eh
 
Example: 33 The value of .2 3 4 .234 is [MNR 1986; UPSEAT 2000]
232 232 0 . 232 232
(a) (b) (c) (d)
990 9990 990 9909
  2 34 34 34 2 34  1 1 
Solution: (a) .2 3 4  .234343434 ....      ......   1    ....... 
10 1000 100000 10 7 10 1000  100 (100 )2 
 
1 17  1  1 17 100 1
   17  116 232
    1   
5 500  1  1  5 500 99 5  99  495 990
 
 100 
Example: 34 If a, b, c are in A.P. and |a|, |b|, |c| < 1, and
 112 Progressions

x  1  a  a 2  .... 
y  1  b  b 2  .... 
z  1  c  c 2  ..... 
Then x, y, z shall be in [Karnataka CET 1995]
(a) A.P. (b) G.P. (c) H.P. (d) None of these
1
Solution: (c) x  1  a  a 2  ....  
1a
1
y  1  b  b 2  ....  
1b
1
z  1  c  c 2  .....  
1c
Now, a, b, c are in A.P.
1 1 1
 1 – a, 1 – b, 1 – c are in A.P.  , , are in H.P. Therefore x, y, z are in H.P.
1a 1b 1c

3.12 Geometric Mean.

(1) Definition : (i) If three quantities are in G.P., then the middle quantity is called geometric
mean (G.M.) between the other two. If a, G, b are in G.P., then G is called G.M. between a and b.
(ii) If a, G1 , G 2 , G 3 ,.... Gn , b are in G.P. then G1 , G 2 , G 3 ,.... G n are called n G.M.’s between a and
b.
(2) Insertion of geometric means : (i) Single G.M. between a and b : If a and b are two real
numbers then single G.M. between a and b  ab
(ii) n G.M.’s between a and b : If G1 , G 2 , G 3 , ......, G n are n G.M.’s between a and b, then
1 2 3 n
 b  n 1  b  n 1  b  n 1  b  n 1
G1  ar  a  , G 2  ar 2  a  , G 3  ar 3  a  , ……………….., Gn  ar n  a 
 
a  
a  
a a
Important Tips
 Product of n G.M.’s between a and b is equal to nth power of single geometric mean between a and b.
i.e. G1 G2 G3 ...... Gn  ( ab )n

 G.M. of a1 a2 a3 ...... an is (a1 a2 a3 ..... an )1 / n

 If G1 and G2 are two G.M.’s between two numbers a and b is G1  (a 2b)1 / 3 , G2  (ab 2 )1 / 3 .
1
 The product of n geometric means between a and is 1.
a
1
 b  n 1
 If n G.M.’s inserted between a and b then r   
a

3.13 Properties of G.P..

(1) If all the terms of a G.P. be multiplied or divided by the same non-zero constant, then it
remains a G.P., with the same common ratio.
(2) The reciprocal of the terms of a given G.P. form a G.P. with common ratio as reciprocal
of the common ratio of the original G.P.
(3) If each term of a G.P. with common ratio r be raised to the same power k, the resulting
sequence also forms a G.P. with common ratio r k .
 Progressions 113

(4) In a finite G.P., the product of terms equidistant from the beginning and the end is
always the same and is equal to the product of the first and last term.
i.e., if a1 , a 2 , a 3 , ...... an be in G.P. Then a1 an  a 2 an1  a3 an2  an an3  ..........  ar . anr1
(5) If the terms of a given G.P. are chosen at regular intervals, then the new sequence so
formed also forms a G.P.
(6) If a1 , a 2 , a 3 , ....., a n ...... is a G.P. of non-zero, non-negative terms, then
log a1 , log a 2 , log a 3 , ..... log an , ...... is an A.P. and vice-versa.
(7) Three non-zero numbers a, b, c are in G.P. iff b 2  ac .
(8) Every term (except first term) of a G.P. is the square root of terms equidistant from it.
i.e. Tr  Tr  p  Tr  p ; [r > p]

(9) If first term of a G.P. of n terms is a and last term is l, then the product of all terms of
the G.P. is (al)n / 2 .
(10) If there be n quantities in G.P. whose common ratio is r and S m denotes the sum of the
r
first m terms, then the sum of their product taken two by two is S n S n 1 .
r 1
Example: 35 The two geometric mean between the number 1 and 64 are [Kerala (Engg.) 2002]
(a) 1 and 64 (b) 4 and 16 (c) 2 and 16 (d) 8 and 16
Solution: (b) Let G1 and G2 are two G.M.’s between the number a  1 and b  64
1 1 1 1
G1  (a 2b) 3  (1 .64 ) 3  4 , G2  (ab 2 ) 3  (1 .64 2 ) 3  16

Example: 36 The G.M. of the numbers 3, 3 2 , 3 3...... 3 n is [DCE 2002]

2 n 1 n n 1
(a) 3n (b) 3 2 (c) 32 (d) 3 2
1  2  3 ....  n n(n 1) n 1
Solution: (b) G.M. of (3. 3 2. 3 3...... 3 n )  (3. 3 2. 3 3...... 3 n )1 / n  (3) n  3 2n  3 2
Example: 37 If a, b, c are in A.P. b – a, c – b and a are in G.P., then a : b : c is
(a) 1 : 2 : 3 (b) 1 : 3 : 5 (c) 2 : 3 : 4 (d) 1 : 2 : 4
Solution: (a) Given, a, b, c are in A.P.  2b = a + c
b – a, c – b, a are in G.P. So (c  b)2  a (b  a)

  2b  a  c 
 
 (b  a)  (b  a) a   b  b  a  c
2

  b  a  c  b 

 b  2a [∵ b  a]
Put in 2b = a + c, we get c = 3a. Therefore a : b : c = 1 : 2 : 3

Harmonic progression(H.P.)
3.14 Definition.
A progression is called a harmonic progression (H.P.) if the reciprocals of its terms are in
A.P.
 114 Progressions

1 1 1
Standard form :    ....
a a  d a  2d
1 1 1 1
Example: The sequence 1, , , , ,... is a H.P., because the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ….. is an
3 5 7 9
A.P.
3.15 General Term of an H.P..
1 1 1
If the H.P. be as , , , .... then corresponding A.P. is a, a  d , a  2d , .....
a a  d a  2d
Tn of A.P. is a  (n  1) d
1
 Tn of H.P. is
a  (n  1) d
In order to solve the question on H.P., we should form the corresponding A.P.
1 1
Thus, General term : Tn  or Tn of H.P. 
a  (n  1) d Tn of A.P.

3 1
Example: 38 The 4th term of a H.P. is and 8th term is then its 6th term is [MP PET 2003]
5 3
1 3 1 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
6 7 7 5
1 1 1
Solution: (b) Let , , , ....... be an H.P.
a a  d a  2d
1 3 1
 4th term   
a  3d 5 a  3d
5
  a  3d …..(i)
3
Similarly, 3  a  7 d …..(ii)
1 2
From (i) and (ii), d  , a 
3 3
1 1 3
 6th term   
a  5d 2 5 7

3 3
Example: 39 If the roots of a(b  c) x 2  b(c  a) x  c (a  b)  0 be equal, then a, b, c are in [Rajasthan PET 1997]

(a) A.P. (b) G.P. (c) H.P. (d) None of these

Solution: (c) As the roots are equal, discriminate = 0
 {b(c  a)}2  4 a(b  c) c(a  b)  0  b 2 c 2  a 2b 2  2ab 2 c  4 a 2bc  4 a 2 c 2  4 ab 2 c  4 abc 2  0

 (b 2 c 2  2ab 2 c  a 2 b 2 )  4 ac{ab  bc  ac}  (ab  bc )2  4 ac (ab  bc  ac)  {b(a  c)}2  4 abc(a  c)  4 a2c 2

 b 2 (a  c)2  2b(a  c)  2ac  (2ac)2  0  [b(a  c)  2ac]2  0

2 ac
 b
ac
Thus, a, b, c are in H.P.
2 12
Example: 40 If the first two terms of an H.P. be and then the largest positive term of the progression is the
5 23
(a) 6th term (b) 7th term (c) 5th term (d) 8th term
 Progressions 115

5 23 30 23
Solution: (c) For the corresponding A.P., the first two terms are and i.e. and
2 12 12 12
7
Common difference  
12
30 23 16 9 2 5
 The A.P. will be , , , , , , ......
12 12 12 12 12 12
2
The smallest positive term is , which is the 5th term.  The largest positive term of the H.P. will
12
be the 5th term.

3.16 Harmonic Mean.

(1) Definition : If three or more numbers are in H.P., then the numbers lying between the
first and last are called harmonic means (H.M.’s) between them. For example 1, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7,
1/9 are in H.P. So 1/3, 1/5 and 1/7 are three H.M.’s between 1 and 1/9.
Also, if a, H, b are in H.P., then H is called harmonic mean between a and b.
(2) Insertion of harmonic means :
2ab
(i) Single H.M. between a and b 
ab
1 1 1
  ..... 
1 a a2 an
(ii) H, H.M. of n non-zero numbers a1 , a 2 , a 3 , ...., an is given by  1 .
H n
(iii) Let a, b be two given numbers. If n numbers H 1 , H 2 , ...... H n are inserted between a and
b such that the sequence a, H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ...... H n , b is an H.P., then H 1 , H 2 , ...... H n are called n harmonic
means between a and b.
1 1 1 1 1
Now, a, H 1 , H 2 , ...... H n , b are in H.P.  , , , ...... , are in A.P.
a H1 H 2 Hn b
Let D be the common difference of this A.P. Then,
1
 (n  2)th term  Tn  2
b
1 1 ab
  (n  1) D  D 
b a (n  1) ab
Thus, if n harmonic means are inserted between two given numbers a and b, then the
ab
common difference of the corresponding A.P. is given by D 
(n  1) ab
1 1 1 1 1 1 ab
Also,   D,   2 D ,…….,   nD where D 
H1 a H2 a Hn a (n  1) ab

Important Tips
2 ac
 If a, b, c are in H.P. then b  .
ac
3 ab 3 ab
 If H 1 and H 2 are two H.M.’s between a and b, then H1  and H 2 
a  2b 2a  b
 116 Progressions

3.17 Properties of H.P..

(1) No term of H.P. can be zero.
ab a
(2) If a, b, c are in H.P., then  .
b c c
(3) If H is the H.M. between a and b, then
1 1 1 1 H a H b
(i)    (ii) (H  2a)(H  2b)  H 2 (iii)  2
H a H b a b H a H b

Example: 41 The harmonic mean of the roots of the equation (5  2 )x 2  (4  3 ) x  8  2 3  0 is [IIT 1999]

(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6 (d) 8

Solution: (b) Let  and  be the roots of the given equation

4 3 82 3
 a  ,  
5 2 5 2

82 3 
2 
2  5 2  2(8  2 3 ) 4 (4  3 )
Hence, required harmonic mean      4
 4 3 4 3 4 3
5 2

1 1 1 1 1 1 
Example: 42 If a, b, c are in H.P., then the value of         is [MP PET 1998; Pb. CET 2000]
b c a c a b 

2 1 3 2 3 2
(a)  (b)  (c)  (d) None of these
bc b 2 c 2 ca b 2 ab
1 1 1
Solution: (c) a, b, c are in H.P.  , , are in A.P.
a b c
1 1 2
  
a c b

 1 1 1   1 1 1  1  1 1  2 2 1   1 2 2  1  1  3 2  3 2
Now,                              
 b c a   c a b  b  a c  a   b b   b b a   b  b  b a  b 2 ab

Example: 43 If a, b, c are in H.P., then which one of the following is true [MNR 1985]

1 1 1 ac ba bc
(a)   (b) b (c)  1 (d) None of these
b a b c b ac b a b c
2 ac
Solution: (d) a, b, c are in H.P.  b  ,  option (b) is false
ac
2ac a (c  a) c (a  c)
b a  a   b c 
ac ca ac

1 1 a c  1 1 a  c a c a  c a  c 2
           2  ,  option (a) is false
b  a b  c a  c  a c  a  c ac ac 2ac b

b  a b  c (c  a)(b  a) (b  c)(a  c) a  c   b  a  b  c  a  c  b b  a  c (a  c) b
           
b a b c a (c  a) c (a  c) ac   a  c  ac  c a ac ac

ac ac 1
 b   2b   2b  2
ac 2ac b
 option (c) is false.
 Progressions 117

Arithmetico-geometric progression(A.G.P.)

3.18 nth Term of A.G.P..

If a1 , a2 , a3 , ......, an , ...... is an A.P. and b1 , b2 , ......, bn , ...... is a G.P., then the sequence
a1 b1 , a 2 b 2 , a 3 b 3 , ......, an b n , ..... is said to be an arithmetico-geometric sequence.

Thus, the general form of an arithmetico geometric sequence is

a, (a  d ) r, (a  2d ) r , (a  3d ) r , .....
2 3

From the symmetry we obtain that the nth term of this sequence is [a  (n  1) d ] r n 1

Also, let a, (a  d ) r, (a  2d ) r 2 , (a  3d ) r 3 , ..... be an arithmetico-geometric sequence. Then,

a  (a  d ) r  (a  2d ) r  (a  3d ) r  ... is an arithmetico-geometric series.
2 3

3.19 Sum of A.G.P..

(1) Sum of n terms : The sum of n terms of an arithmetico-geometric sequence
a, (a  d ) r, (a  2d ) r 2 , (a  3 d ) r 3 , ..... is given by

 a (1  r n 1 ) {a  (n  1) d }r n
  dr  , when r  1
1  r (1  r ) 2
1r
Sn  
 n [2a  (n  1) d ], when r  1
 2

(2) Sum of infinite sequence : Let |r|< 1. Then r n , r n 1  0 as n   and it can also be shown
a dr
that n . r n  0 as n  . So, we obtain that S n   , as n  .
1  r (1  r)2
In other words, when |r|< 1 the sum to infinity of an arithmetico-geometric series is
a dr
S  
1  r (1  r)2

3.20 Method for Finding Sum.

This method is applicable for both sum of n terms and sum of infinite number of terms.
First suppose that sum of the series is S, then multiply it by common ratio of the G.P. and
subtract. In this way, we shall get a G.P., whose sum can be easily obtained.
3.21 Method of Difference.
If the differences of the successive terms of a series are in A.P. or G.P., we can find nth term
of the series by the following steps :
Step I: Denote the nth term by T n and the sum of the series upto n terms by S n .
Step II: Rewrite the given series with each term shifted by one place to the right.
Step III: By subtracting the later series from the former, find T n .
 118 Progressions

Step IV: From T n , S n can be found by appropriate summation.

3 5 7
Example: 44 1    ......  is equal to [DCE 1999]
2 22 23
(a) 3 (b) 6 (c) 9 (d) 12
3 5 7
S 1    ....... 
2 22 23
Solution: (b)
1 1 3 5
S     ....... 
2 2 22 23
1 2 2 2
S  1   2  3  ........ (on subtractin g)
2 2 2 2
S 1 1 1  S  1/2 
  1  2   2  3  ....     1  2   3 . Hence S = 6
2  2 2 2  2 1 1 / 2 

Example: 45 Sum of the series 1  2 .2  3 .2 2  4 .2 3  .....  100 .2 99 is [IIIT (Hydrabad) 2000; Kerala (Engg.) 2001]

(a) 100 . 2 100

1 (b) 99 . 2 100
1 (c) 99 . 2 100
1 (d) 100 . 2100  1
Solution: (b) Let S  1  2 .2  3 .2 2  4 .2 3  ....  100 .2 99 …..(i)
2S = 1 .2  2 .2 2  3 .2 3  .....  99 .2 99  100 .2100 …..(ii)
Equation (i) – Equation (ii) gives,
2(2 99  1)
 S  1  (1 .2  1 .2 2  1 .2 3  ..... upto 99 terms)  100 .2100  1   100 .2100
2 1

 S  1  2100  2  100 .2100  1  99 . 2100

Example: 46 The sum of the series 3 + 33 + 333 + ….. + n terms is [Rajasthan PET 2000]
1 1 1
(a) (10 n 1  9 n  28 ) (b) (10 n 1  9 n  10 ) (c) (10 n 1  10 n  9 ) (d) None of these
27 27 27
S  3  33  333  ...... to n terms
Solution: (b)
S 3  33  .......
0  3  30  300  ......... to n terms  Tn (on subtractin g)

10 n  1 1
 Tn  3(1  10  100  ....... to n terms)  3  1   (10 n  1)
10  1 3

1 10 n  1 
n n n

  1  3 10  10  1   3 n
1 1 1 1
Sn  (10 n  1)  10 n 
n 1
3 3 n 1
3 n 1

1
S  (10 n 1  9 n  10 )
27

Example: 47 The sum of n terms of the following series 1  (1  x )  (1  x  x 2 )  .... will be [IIT 1962]

1 x n
x (1  x ) n
n (1  x )  x (1  x )
n
(a) (b) (c) (d) None of these
1 x 1 x (1  x )2

S  1  (1  x )  (1  x  x 2 )  ......
Solution: (c)
S  1  (1  x )  .......
0  (1  x  x 2  ..... to n terms)  Tn (on subtractin g)

1  xn
 Tn 
1 x
n n
1  xn
n n
 1  xn 
   x
1 1 1 1
Sn  Tn   1 n
 n   x   

n 1 n 1
1 x 1 x n 1
1 x n 1
1 x 1 x  1 x 
 Progressions 119

n x (1  x n ) n (1  x )  x (1  x n )
  
1 x (1  x )2 (1  x )2
Example: 48 The sum to n terms of the series 1  3  7  15  31  ....... is [IIT 1963]
n 1 n 1
(a) 2 n (b) 2 n 2 (c) 2  n  2
n
(d) None of these
S  1  3  7  15  31  ......
Solution: (b)
S 1  3  7  15  .......
0  (1  2  4  8  16  ..... to n terms)  Tn (on subtractin g)

2n  1
 Tn  1  2  4  8  .......... . to n terms  1   2n  1
2 1
n n n n
 2n  1 
Sn  
n 1
Tn  
n 1
(2n  1)  
n 1
2n  1  2   2  1   n  2
n 1
n 1
n  2

Miscellaneous series
3.22 Special Series.
There are some series in which nth term can be predicted easily just by looking at the
series.
If Tn   n 3   n 2   n  
n n n n n n
Then S n  n 1
Tn  
n 1
( n 3   n 2   n   )   
n 1
n3   
n 1
n2   
n 1
n  1
n 1

2
 n (n  1)   n (n  1)(2n  1)   n (n  1) 
      n
 2   6   2 

Note :  Sum of squares of first n natural numbers

n
n (n  1)(2n  1)
 1 2  2 2  3 2  .......  n 2  r
r 1
2

6
 Sum of cubes of first n natural numbers
2
n
 n (n  1) 
 1 3  2 3  3 3  4 3  .......  n 3  r
r 1
3

 2 


3.23 Vn Method.
1 1 1
(1) To find the sum of the series   ..... 
a1 a 2 a 3 .....ar a 2 a 3 .....ar 1 an an 1 .....an r 1
Let d be the common difference of A.P. Then an  a1  (n  1) d .
Let S n and Tn denote the sum to n terms of the series and nth term respectively.
1 1 1
Sn    ..... 
a1 a 2 .....ar a 2 a 3 .....ar 1 an an 1 .....an r 1
1
 Tn 
an an 1 .....an r 1
 120 Progressions

1 1
Let Vn  ; Vn 1 
an 1 an  2 .....an r 1 an an 1 .....an r  2
1 1 an  an r 1
 Vn  Vn 1   
an 1 an  2 .....an r 1 an an 1 .....an r 2 an an 1 .....an r 1
[a1  (n  1) d ]  [a1  {(n  r  1)  1}d ]
  d (1  r) Tn
an an 1 .....an r 1
n

T
1 1
 Tn  {Vn 1  Vn } ,  S n   (V0  Vn )
d (r  1) d (r  1)
n
n 1

1  1 1 
Sn    
(r  1)(a 2  a1 )  a1 a 2 ....ar 1 an 1 an  2 ......an r 1 
Example: If a1 , a 2 , .....a n are in A.P., then
1 1 1 1  1 1 
  ...     
a1 a 2 a 3 a 2 a 3 a 4 an an 1 an  2 2(a 2  a1 )  a1 a 2 an 1 an  2 
(2) If S n  a1 a 2 .....a r  a 2 a 3 .....a r 1 ....  a n a n 1 ...a n r 1
Tn  a n a n 1 .....a n r 1
Let Vn  a n a n 1 ....a n r 1 a n r ,  Vn 1  a n 1 a n 1 ......a n r 1
 Vn  Vn 1  an an 1 an  2 .....an r 1 (an r  an 1 )  Tn {[a1  (n  r  1) d ]  [a1  (n  2) d ]}  Tn (r  1) d
Vn  Vn 1
 Tn 
(r  1) d
n n

T  (V
1 1 1
Sn    Vn 1 )  (Vn  V0 )  {(a n a n 1 ....a n r )  (a 0 a1 ....a r )}
(r  1)d (r  1) d (r  1) d
n n
n 1 n 1

1
 {an an 1 ....an r  a0 a1 .....ar }
(r  1)(a 2  a1 )
1
Example: 1.2.3.4  2.3.4.5  ......  n (n  1)(n  2)(n  3)  {n (n  1)(n  2)(n  3)  0.1.2.3}
5.1
1
 {n (n  1)(n  2)(n  3)}
5
Example: 49 The sum of 13  2 3  3 3  4 3  ....  15 3 is [MP PET 2003]
(a) 22000 (b) 10000 (c) 14400 (d) 15000
2 2
 n (n  1)   15  16 
Solution: (c) S  13  2 3  3 3  ......  15 3 ; For n  15 , the value of      14400
 2   2 
n
Example: 50 A series whose nth term is    y , the sum of r terms will be [UPSEAT 1999]
x
 r (r  1)   r (r  1)   r (r  1)   r (r  1) 
(a)    ry (b)   (c)    ry (d)    rx
 2x   2x   2x   2x 
r r r r
1 r (r  1) r (r  1)
 t    x  y   x  n  y1  x
n 1
Solution: (a) Sr  n  yr   ry
n 1 n 1 n 1 n 1
2 2x
1
Example: 51 If (1 2  t1 )  (2 2  t2 )  ....  (n 2  tn )  n (n 2  1) , then tn is
3
 Progressions 121

n
(a) (b) n  1 (c) n  1 (d) n
2
1
Solution: (d) n (n 2  1)  (1 2  2 2  ....  n 2 )  (t1  t2  .....  tn )
3
1 n (n  1)(2n  1) 1 n (n  1)
 t1  t 2  .....  tn  12  2 2  3 2  .......  n 2  n (n 2  1)   n (n 2  1)  [2n  1  (2n  2)]
3 6 3 6
n (n  1) n (n  1)
 t1  t2  t3  .....  tn   Sn 
2 2
n (n  1) (n  1) n
tn  S n  S n 1   n
2 2
1 1 1
Example: 52 The sum of the series    .... is [MNR 1984; UPSEAT 2000]
3  7 7  11 11  15
1 1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 6 9 12

 1 1 1  1  1 1   1 1   1 1  1  1 1 1  1 1  1
Solution: (d) S     ....               .......         0  
 3  7 7  11 11  15  4  3 7   7 11   11 15    4  3   4  3  12

Example: 53 The sum of the series 1.2.3 + 2.3.4 + 3.4.5 + ….. to n terms is [Kurukshetra CEE 1998]
(a) n (n  1)(n  2) (b) (n  1)(n  2)(n  3)

1 1
(c) n (n  1)(n  2)(n  3) (d) (n  1)(n  2)(n  3)
4 4

Solution: (c) Tn  n (n  1)(n  2)  n 3  3n 2  2n

n n n n
 S  1.2.3  2.3.4  3.4.5  ...... to n terms   (n
n 1
3
 3n 2  2n)   n  3  n  2 n
n 1
3

n 1
2

n 1

2
 n (n  1)  n (n  1)(2n  1) n (n  1) 1
S   3 2  n (n  1)[n (n  1)  2 (2n  1)  4 ]
 2  6 2 4

1 1
 n (n  1)[n 2  5 n  6]  n (n  1)(n  2)(n  3)
4 4

3.24 Properties of Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic means between Two given Numbers.
Let A, G and H be arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means of two numbers a and b.
ab 2ab
Then, A  , G  ab and H 
2 ab
These three means possess the following properties :
(1) A  G  H
ab 2ab
A , G  ab and H 
2 ab
ab ( a  b )2
 AG   ab  0
2 2
 AG …..(i)
2ab  a  b  2 ab 
G  H  ab   ab    ab ( a  b ) 2  0
ab a  b  ab
 
 122 Progressions

 GH …..(ii)
From (i) and (ii), we get A  G  H
Note that the equality holds only when a = b
(2) A, G, H from a G.P., i.e. G 2  AH
a  b 2ab
AH    ab  ( ab )2  G 2
2 ab
Hence, G 2  AH
(3) The equation having a and b as its roots is x 2  2 Ax  G 2  0
The equation having a and b its roots is x 2  (a  b)x  ab  0
 ab 
 x 2  2 Ax  G 2  0  A  2 and G  ab 
 
The roots a, b are given by A  A 2  G 2
(4) If A, G, H are arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means between three given numbers
3G 3
a, b and c, then the equation having a, b, c as its roots is x 3  3 Ax 2  x  G3  0
H
1 1 1
 
ab c 1
A , G  (abc)1/3
and  a b c
3 H 3
3G 3
 a  b  c  3 A, abc  G 3 and  ab  bc  ca
H
The equation having a, b, c as its roots is x 3  (a  b  c)x 2  (ab  bc  ca)x  abc  0
3G 3
 x 3  3 Ax 2  x  G3  0
H
3.25 Relation between A.P., G.P. and H.P..
 A when n  0
a n 1  b n 1 
(1) If A, G, H be A.M., G.M., H.M. between a and b, then  G when n  1 / 2
an  b n H when n  1

(2) If A1 , A 2 be two A.M.’s; G1 , G 2 be two G.M.’s and H 1 , H 2 be two H.M.’s between two
G1 G 2 A  A2
numbers a and b then  1
H1 H 2 H1  H 2
(3) Recognization of A.P., G.P., H.P. : If a, b, c are three successive terms of a sequence.
ab a
Then if,  , then a, b, c are in A.P.
b c a
ab a
If,  , then a, b, c are in G.P.
b c b
 Progressions 123

ab a
If,  , then a, b, c are in H.P.
b c c
(4) If number of terms of any A.P./G.P./H.P. is odd, then A.M./G.M./H.M. of first and last
terms is middle term of series.
(5) If number of terms of any A.P./G.P./H.P. is even, then A.M./G.M./H.M. of middle two
terms is A.M./G.M./H.M. of first and last terms respectively.
(6) If pth, qth and rth terms of a G.P. are in G.P. Then p, q, r are in A.P.
(7) If a, b, c are in A.P. as well as in G.P. then a  b  c .
(8) If a, b, c are in A.P., then x a , x b , x c will be in G.P. (x  1)

Example: 54 If the A.M., G.M. and H.M. between two positive numbers a and b are equal, then [Rajasthan PET 2003]
(a) a = b (b) ab = 1 (c) a > b (d) a < b
Solution: (a)  A.M. = G.M.
ab ( a )2  2 a b  ( b )2 ( a  b )2
  ab  0  0  ab
2 2 2
 G.M. = H.M.
2ab
 ab   a  b  2 ab  0  ( a  b )2  0  a  b  ab
ab
Thus A.M. =(G.M.) (H.M.) So a  b
Example: 55 Let two numbers have arithmetic mean 9 and geometric mean 4. Then these numbers are the roots of
the quadratic equation [AIEEE 2004]

(a) x 2  18 x  16  0 (b) x 2  18 x  16  0 (c) x 2  18 x  16  0 (d) x 2  18 x  16  0

Solution: (b) A = 9, G = 4 are respectively the A.M. and G.M. between two numbers, then the quadratic equation
having its roots as the two numbers, is given by x 2  2 Ax  G 2  0 i.e. x 2  18 x  16  0
a b c
Example: 56 If , , are in H.P., then [UPSEAT 2002]
b c a

(a) a 2 b, c 2 a, b 2 c are in A.P. (b) a 2 b, b 2 c, c 2 a are in H.P.

(c) a 2 b, b 2 c, c 2 a are in G.P. (d) None of these

a b c
Solution: (a) , , are in H.P.
b c a
b c a b c a
 , , are in A.P.  abc  , abc  , abc  are in A.P.  b 2 c, ac 2 , a 2 b are in A.P.
a b c a b c
 a 2 b, c 2 a, b 2 c are in A.P.
Example: 57 If a, b, c are in G.P., then log a x, log b x, log c x are in [Rajasthan PET 2002]

(a) A.P. (b) G.P. (c) H.P. (d) None of these

Solution: (c) a, b, c are in G.P.
1 1 1
 log x a, log x b, log x c are in A.P.  , , are in A.P.
log a x log b x log c x
 log a x, log b x, log c x are in H.P.
 124 Progressions
Example: 58 If A1 , A2 ; G1, G2 and H1 , H 2 be two A.M.’s, G.M.’s and H.M.’s between two quantities, then the value of
G1G2
is
H1 H 2
[Roorkee 1983; AMU 2000]
A1  A2 A1  A2 A1  A2 A1  A2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
H1  H 2 H1  H 2 H1  H 2 H1  H 2
Solution: (a) Let a and b be the two numbers
 b  a  2a  b  b  a  a  2b
 A1  a    , A2  a  2 
 3  3  3  3
2
b
1/3   b 1 / 3 
G1  a  a 2/3
b 1/3
, G2  a      a1 / 3 b 2 / 3
a  a  
 
1 3 3 ab 3 ab
H1    , H2 
1 1 1 1 2 1 a  2b 2 ab
   
a b a 3 a b

G1G2 (a 2 / 3b1 / 3 )(a1 / 3b 2 / 3 ) (a  2b)(2a  b)

  
H1 H 2 3 ab 3 ab 9 ab

a  2b 2 a  b
2 a  b a  2b
A1  A2    ab
3 3
3ab 3ab  2a  b  a  2b  9 ab (a  b)
H1  H 2    3ab  
a  2b 2a  b  (a  2b )(2 a  b )  (a  2b)(2a  b)
A1  A2 (a  2b)(2a  b) G1G2
  
H1  H 2 9 ab H1 H 2
Example: 59 If the ratio of H.M. and G.M. of two quantities is 12 : 13, then the ratio of the numbers is[Rajasthan PET 1990]
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 3 (c) 3 : 4 (d) None of these
Solution: (d) Let x and y be the numbers
2 xy
 H.M.  , G.M.  xy
x y

H.M. 2 xy 2 x /y 12 2r x
     , ( r  )  12 r 2  26 r  12  0  6 r 2  13 r  6  0
G.M. x  y x 13 r 2  1 y
1
y

13  13 2  4.6.6 13  5 18 8 3 2
 r   ,  ,
26 12 12 12 2 3
x 9 4
 Ratio of numbers   r 2 : 1  : 1 or : 1  9 : 4 or 4 : 9
y 4 9
Example: 60 If the A.M. of two numbers is greater than G.M. of the numbers by 2 and the ratio of the numbers is 4
: 1, then the numbers are [Rajasthan PET 1988]
(a) 4, 1 (b) 12, 3 (c) 16, 4 (d) None of these
x y
Solution: (c) Let x and y be the numbers  A.M. = G.M. + 2   xy  2
2
x
Also,  4 :1  x  4y
y
4y  y 5y
  4 y.y  2   2 y  2  y  4  x  4  4  16
2 2
 The numbers are 16, 4.
Example: 61 If the ratio of A.M. between two positive real numbers a and b to their H.M. is m : n, then a : b is
 Progressions 125

m n  n n  m n m  m n
(a) (b) (c) (d) None of these
m n  n n  m n m  m n
2
a 
  1 2
m (a  b) / 2 m (a  b )  b 
2
m a a  m a  a
Solution: (c) We have,      4      1  2  1  
n 2ab /(a  b) n 4 ab 4
a n b b  n b  b
b
a 2 m
Let  r2 ,  r  (1  r 2 )  2 m r  n  n r 2  n r2  2 m r  n  0
b n

2 m  4m  4n m  m n
 r 
2 n n

m  m n ( m  m  n )( m  m  n ) m  (m  n) n
Considering +ve sign, r    
n n( m  m  n) n( m  m  n) m  m n

m  m n n a m  m n
 r2   . Hence,  .
n m  m n b m  m n
3.26 Applications of Progressions.
There are many applications of progressions is applied in science and engineering.
Properties of progressions are applied to solve problems of inequality and maximum or
minimum values of some expression can be found by the relation among A.M., G.M. and H.M.
Example: 62 If x  log 5 3  log7 5  log 9 7 then
3 1 3
(a) x  (b) x  3
(c) x  3
(d) None of these
2 2 2
Solution: (c) x  log 5 3  log7 5  log 9 7
log 5 3  log 7 5  log 9 7
 (log 5 3 . log 7 5 . log 9 7)1 / 3 [A.M.  G.M.]
3
1/3
x 1 3
  (log 9 3)1 / 3  x  3(log 9 91 / 2 )1 / 3  x  3   . Hence x 
3 2 3
2
Example: 63 If a, b, c, d are four positive numbers then
 a b  c d  a  a c b d  a
(a)        4  (b)        4 
 b c  d e  e  b d  c e  e
a b c d e b c d e a 1
(c)     5 (d)     
b c d e a a b c d e 5
a b
 1/2
Solution: (a,b,c) We have b c   a  b  ; (  A.M.  G.M.)
2 b c 
a b a
  2 …..(i)
b c c
c d c
Similarly,  2 …..(ii)
d e e
Multiplying (i) by (ii),
 a b  c d  a c  a b  c d  a
      4       4 ,  (a) is true
b c  d e  c e  b c  d e  e
1/2 1/2
 a c b d   a c  b d   a c b d  a
Next,        2    2         4 ,  (b) is true
b d  c e  b d  c e b d  c e  e
 126 Progressions

a b c d e
    1/5
b c d e a   a  b  c  d  e  a b c d e
      5 ,  (c) is true
5 b c d e a b c d e a
1/5
b c d e a b c d e a b c d e a
Now,      5            5 ,  (d) is false
a b c d e a b c d e a b c d e
Example: 64 Let an  product of first n natural numbers. Then for all n  N
n
 n 1 
(a) n n  an (b)    n! (c) n n  an  1 (d) None of these
 2 
Solution: (a,b) We have an  1.2.3.......... ...n  n ! , nn  n.n.n........ to n times
 n n  n.(n  1)(n  2)....{ n  (n  1)}  nn  n.(n  1)(n  2)......... 2.1  n n  n !  n n  an . So (a) is true
nn  (n  1)!  n n  an  1 . So (c) is false
n
1  2  3  .....  n n(n  1) n 1  n 1 
 (1 .2 .3 ...... n)1 / n   (n ! )1 / n   (n ! )1 / n .     n ! . So (b) is true.
n 2n 2  2 
Example: 65 In the given square, a diagonal is drawn and parallel line segments joining points on the adjacent
sides are drawn on both sides of the diagonal. The length of the diagonal is n 2 cm. If the distance
1
between consecutive line segments be cm then the sum of the lengths of all possible line segments
2
and the diagonal is

(a) n (n  1) 2 cm (b) n 2 cm (c) n (n  2) cm (d) n 2 2 cm

Solution: (d) Let us consider the diagonal and an adjacent parallel line
Length of the line PQ = RS = AC – (AR + SC) = AC – 2AR ( AR = SC) Q
= AC – 2.PR (  AR = PR) C
1 S
=n 2 2  n 2  2  (n  1) 2 cm P 1/2
2
cm.
45
Length of line adjacent to PQ, other than AC, will be ((n  1)  1) 2  (n  2) 2o cm
R
 Sum of the lengths of all possible line segments and the diagonal A

 2  [n 2  (n  1) 2  (n  2) 2  .....]  n 2 , nN
n (n  1)
 2  2 [n  (n  1)  (n  2)  ......  1]  n 2  2 2   n 2  n 2 {n  1  1}  n 2 2 cm
2
1  x n 1 2 3 n 1
Example: 66 Let f (x )  and g(x )  1   2  ....  (1)n n . Then the constant term in f (x )  g(x ) is equal to
1 x x x x
n (n 2  1) n (n  1) n
(a) when n is even (b) when n is odd (c)  (n  1) when n is even
6 2 2
n (n  1)
(d)  when n is odd
2
1  x n 1 (1  x )(1  x  x 2  .....  x n )
Solution: (b,c) f (x )    1  x  x 2  .......  x n ; f (x )  1  2 x  3 x 2  ......  n x n 1
1 x (1  x )
 2 3 n 1
f (x ).g(x )  (1  2 x  3 x 2  ....  n x n 1 )   1   2  ......  (1)n 
 x x xn 
 Progressions 127

 constant term in f (x )  g(x ) is

c  1 2  2 2  3 2  4 2  .......  n 2 (1)n 1  [1 2  2 2  3 2  4 2  ......  n 2 ]  2 [2 2  4 2  6 2  ....]
when n is odd,
 n(n  1)(2n  1)  n 1  
2
c  [1 2  2 2  .....  n 2 ]  2 [2 2  4 2  6 2  ......  (n  1)2 ]    2 .2 2 [1 2  2 2  3 2  ......    
 6  2  

 n 1   n 1   n 1 
   1  2  1
n (n  1)(2n  1)   n (n  1)(2n  1)  n (n  1)(n  1)
8    
2 2 2

6 6 6 3
n (n  1) n (n  1) n (n  1)
 (2n  1  2(n  1))  3 
6 6 2
n (n  1)(2n  1)  n 
2
when n is even, c  [1 2  2 2  .....  n 2 ]  2 [2 2  4 2  .....  n 2 ]   2 . 2 2 1 2  2 2  ....    
6   2  

n n  n 
     1  2   1
n (n  1)(2n  1)  2 2   2   n (n  1)(2n  1)  1 n (n  1)(n  2)
 8
6 6 6 3
1 1
 n (n  1)(2n  1  2(n  2))   n (n  1)
6 2
***