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The $2^{nd}$, $4^{th}$ and $9^{th}$ terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression. Calculate the common ratio of the geometric progression.

My Attempt:

For A.P $$T_2=a+d$$ $$T_4=a+3d$$ $$T_9=a+8d$$

Now, $$a+d, a+3d, a+8d$$ are in GP.

So, $$\frac {a+3d}{a+d}=\frac {a+8d}{a+3d}$$.

Now, How should I solve further.?

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    Cross multiplication – 2017-02-08
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    @ lab bhattacharjee, There are two variables and 1 equation. so, cross multiplication doesn't give anything – 2017-02-08
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    On the contrary, cross-multiplying gives you a relation between $d$ and $a$, which is enough to solve the problem completely. See my answer below. – 2017-02-08
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    You have the right to accept whichever answer you wish without having to provide any justificiation. You can't please everyone in this world. – 2017-02-09

6 Answers 6

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Continuing from where you left off: You have $$\frac{a+3d}{a+d} = \frac{a+8d}{a+3d}$$ Cross-multiplying gives $$(a+3d)^2 = (a+d)(a+8d)$$ $$a^2 + 6ad + 9d^2 = a^2 + 9ad + 8d^2$$ $$d^2-3ad = 0$$ $$d(d-3a) = 0$$ We conclude from this that either $d=0$, or $d=3a$.

In the first case, $d=0$, the arithmetic sequence is constant, and therefore the ratio of the geometric progression is just $1$. (Note, by the way, that the other solutions presented up to this point seem to have missed that possibility -- which, admittedly, is trivial.)

In the second case, $d=3a$, the $2^{nd}$ term of the arithmetic sequence is $a+3a = 4a$, and $4^{th}$ term is $a + 9a = 10a$, and the $9^{th}$ term is $a + 24a = 25a$. By inspection $4a, 10a, 25a$ are in geometric progression with common ratio $5/2$.

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Hint:

$$\dfrac AC=\dfrac BD=\dfrac{A-B}{C-D}$$ for $A\ne B$

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    @ lab bhattacharjee, I could not understand. Please elaborate – 2017-02-08
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    @ lab bhattacharjee, What do I do with that??? – 2017-02-08
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    @PierredeFermat, See http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/577231/what-are-the-names-in-english-for-alterando-invertendo-componendo-and-dividend and https://gradestack.com/CA-CPT/Ratio-and-Proportion/Properties-of-Proportions/22563-4555-56131-study-wtw – 2017-02-08
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    Nice hint and very neat use of componendo/dividendo :) – 2017-02-08
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    @hypergeometric, This is actually subtrahendo. See $\#7$ of https://gradestack.com/CA-CPT/Ratio-and-Proportion/Properties-of-Proportions/22563-4555-56131-study-wtw – 2017-02-09
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    @labbhattacharjee - thanks for the clarification! interesting range of terminology. there should be a general one for all of them... perhaps *proportionendo* :) – 2017-02-09
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Let $T$ be the 4th term and $d$ be the common difference of the AP. The 2nd and 9th terms are $T-2d, T+5d$ respectively. The 2nd, 4th and 9th terms of the AP form a GP: $$T-2d, T, T+5d$$

The common ratio of the GP, $r$, is given by

$$r=\frac {\overbrace{\;\;\;T\;\;\;}^A}{\underbrace{T-2d}_{C}}=\frac {\overbrace{T+5d}^{B}}{\underbrace{\;\;\;T\;\;\;}_{D}}=\frac {\overbrace{-5d}^{A-B}}{\underbrace{-2d}_{C-D}}=\color{red}{\frac 52}$$

using componendo and dividendo (correction: subtrahendo!) per hint in @lab's answer.

The following is an illustration of such an AP. $$1,\color{blue}4,7,\color{blue}{10},13,16,19,22,\color{blue}{25}$$

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    @ hypergeometric, Could you show me where and how you used componendo and dividendo? – 2017-02-09
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    @Euler - As requested, have inserted labels for componendo/dividendo - nomenclature is consistent with hint in lab's answer. – 2017-02-09
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Express the geometric progression

$$a+d=c,\\a+3d=cr,\\a+8d=cr^2.$$

Subtract pairwise to eliminate $a$, $$c(r-1)=2d,\\cr(r-1)=5d.$$

Take the ratio to eliminate $d$ ($c$ disappears too), $$r=\frac52.$$

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    Yeah...But why??? – 2017-02-08
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    @PierredeFermat: why what ? – 2017-02-08
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    @ Yves Daoust, why are you asking about that? – 2017-02-08
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    @PierredeFermat: because you accepted another, which doesn't seem more intuitive. – 2017-02-08
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    @ Yves Daoust, I find your first part i.e Expressing the geometric progression.. a bit confusing .. so, if you could make it clear . – 2017-02-08
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    @PierredeFermat: drop it, choose another. – 2017-02-08
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$$\frac {a+3d}{a+d}=\frac {a+8d}{a+3d}$$

Apply comonendo and dividendo,

$$\frac {a+3d+a+d}{a+3d-a-d}=\frac {a+8d+a+3d}{a+8d-a-3d}$$

$$\frac {2a+4d}{2d}=\frac{2a+11d}{5d}$$

$$\frac {2a+4d}{2}=\frac{2a+11d}{5}$$

Cross multiply terms,

$$10a+20d=4a+22d$$

$$6a=2d$$

$$a=\frac 13 d$$

Put value of a in ratio,

$$= \frac{a+3d}{a+d}$$

$$= \frac{\frac 13 d+3d}{\frac13+d}$$

$$= \frac{\frac {10}3d}{\frac 43 d}$$

$$= \frac 52$$

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    Hope its help you. – 2017-02-09
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    @Newton any doubt in this question? – 2017-02-09
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How should I solve further?

Assume $d \ne 0$, otherwise the sequence is constant. Now divide each numerator and denominator of your last equation by $d$ to get $$\frac {\frac{a}{d}+3}{\frac{a}{d}+1}=\frac {\frac{a}{d}+8}{\frac{a}{d}+3}$$ and substitate $\frac{a}{d}$ by $r$: $$\frac {r+3}{r+1}=\frac {r+8}{r+3}$$ This gives $r=\frac{1}{3}$.

So we have $$\frac{T_4}{T_2}=\frac {a+3d}{a+d}=\frac {\frac{a}{d}+3}{\frac{a}{d}+1}=\frac {r+3}{r+1}=\frac {\frac{1}{3}+3}{\frac{1}{3}+1}=\frac{5}{2}$$