The difference between the fourth term and the first term of a Geometrical Progresssion is 52. If the sum of…

The difference between the fourth term and the first term of a Geometrical Progresssion is 52. If the sum of its first three terms is 26 , then the sum of the first six terms of the progression is
  1. 63
  2. 189
  3. 728
  4. 364

Solution

Let $a, a r, a r^2, a r^3, a r^4, a r^5$ be six terms of a G.P. where ' $a$ ' is first term and $\mathrm{r}$ is common ratio. According to given conditions, we have $a r^3-a=5 \Rightarrow a\left(r^3-1\right)=52$ and $a+a r+a r^2=26$ $\Rightarrow a\left(1+r+r^2\right)=26$ To find: $a\left(1+r+r^2+r^3+r^4+r^5\right)$ Consider $ \begin{aligned} & a\left[1+r+r^2+r^3+r^4+r^5\right] \\ & =a\left[1+r+r^2+r^3\left(1+r+r^2\right)\right] \\ & =a\left[1+r+r^2\right]\left[1+r^3\right] \end{aligned} $ Divide (1) by (2), we get $ \frac{r^3-1}{1+r+r^2}=2 $ we know $r^3-1=(r-1)\left(1+r+r^2\right)$ $ \begin{aligned} & \therefore r-1=2 \Rightarrow r=3 \text { and } a=2 \\ & \therefore \quad a\left(1+r+r^2+r^3+r^4+r^5\right) \\ & \quad=a\left(1+r+r^2\right)\left(1+r^3\right) \\ & \quad=2(1+3+9)(1+27) \\ & \quad=26 \times 28=728 \end{aligned} $

Asked in: JEE Main 2012 (07 May Online)

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