135k views
5 votes
The sum of 5 numbers in AP is 35 and the sum of their squares is 285. Which of the following is the third term?

(a) 5
(b) 7
(c) 6
(d) 8

User Jkd
by
8.6k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The third term of the arithmetic progression (AP) is 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the third term of an arithmetic progression (AP) with a given sum and sum of squares, we need to use the formulas for the sum of an AP and the sum of squares of an AP.

Let the third term be 'a', and let the common difference be 'd'

From the given information, we have:

a + (a+d) + (a+2d) + (a+3d) + (a+4d) = 35

a^2 + (a+d)^2 + (a+2d)^2 + (a+3d)^2 + (a+4d)^2 = 285

Simplifying these equations, we get:

5a + 10d = 35

5a^2 + 30ad + 30d^2 = 285

Using the first equation, we can express 'a' in terms of 'd' as:

a = (35 - 10d)/5 = 7 - 2d

Substituting this value of 'a' in the second equation, we can solve for 'd':

5(7 - 2d)^2 + 30(7 - 2d)d + 30d^2 = 285

Expanding this equation, we have:

140 - 70d + 10d^2 + 210d - 60d^2 + 30d^2 = 285

Combining like terms, we get:

-20d^2 + 140d - 145 = 0

Solving this quadratic equation, we find:

d = 5/2 or d = - 7/2

Since 'd' represents the common difference, it cannot be negative. Therefore, 'd' must be 5/2.

Substituting this value of 'd' back into the equation for 'a', we get:

a = 7 - 2(5/2) = 7 - 5 = 2

Therefore, the third term of the arithmetic progression is 'a' which is equal to 2.

Therefore answer is b) 7.

User Chris KL
by
8.9k points