The first term of a geometric progression is 81 and the fourth term is 24. Find
(i) the common ratio of the progression,
(ii) the sum to infinity of the progression.
The second and third terms of this geometric progression are the first and fourth terms respectively of an arithmetic progression.
(iii) Find the sum of the first ten terms of the arithmetic progression.
Solution
(i) Let the first term be \(a = 81\) and the common ratio be \(r\). The fourth term is given by \(ar^3 = 24\).
Thus, \(81r^3 = 24\) which gives \(r^3 = \frac{24}{81}\).
Solving for \(r\), we get \(r = \frac{2}{3}\) or 0.667.
(ii) The sum to infinity of a geometric progression is given by \(S_\infty = \frac{a}{1-r}\).
Substituting \(a = 81\) and \(r = \frac{2}{3}\), we get \(S_\infty = \frac{81}{1 - \frac{2}{3}} = 243\).
(iii) The second term of the GP is \(ar = 81 \times \frac{2}{3} = 54\).
The third term of the GP is \(ar^2 = 36\).
These are the first and fourth terms of the AP, so \(3d = -18\) giving \(d = -6\).
The sum of the first ten terms of the AP is \(S_{10} = 5 \times (108 - 54) = 270\).
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