GMATBusters
GMATBusters’ Quant Quiz Question -6
Let Tk denote the kth term of an arithmetic progression. Suppose there are positive integers m≠n such that Tm = \(\frac{1}{n}\) and Tn = \(\frac{1}{m}\). Then Tm*n equals
(a) \(\frac{1}{mn }\)
(b) \(\frac{1}{m}+\frac{1}{n }\)
(c) -1
(d) 0
(e) 1
Deconstructing the QuestionLet \(a\) be the first term and \(d\) be the common difference of the Arithmetic Progression.
The formula for the \(k\)-th term is \(T_k = a + (k-1)d\).
Given:
1. \(T_m = \frac{1}{n} \implies a + (m-1)d = \frac{1}{n}\)
2. \(T_n = \frac{1}{m} \implies a + (n-1)d = \frac{1}{m}\)
Target: Find \(T_{mn}\).
Step 1: Solve for dSubtract equation (2) from equation (1):
\((m-1)d - (n-1)d = \frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{m}\)
\(d(m - 1 - n + 1) = \frac{m - n}{mn}\)
\(d(m - n) = \frac{m - n}{mn}\)
Since \(m \neq n\), we can divide by \((m-n)\):
\(d = \frac{1}{mn}\).
Step 2: Solve for aSubstitute \(d = \frac{1}{mn}\) into the first equation:
\(a + (m-1)\frac{1}{mn} = \frac{1}{n}\)
\(a + \frac{m}{mn} - \frac{1}{mn} = \frac{1}{n}\)
\(a + \frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{mn} = \frac{1}{n}\)
\(a = \frac{1}{mn}\).
Step 3: Calculate T_mn\(T_{mn} = a + (mn - 1)d\)
Substitute \(a\) and \(d\):
\(T_{mn} = \frac{1}{mn} + (mn - 1)\frac{1}{mn}\)
\(T_{mn} = \frac{1}{mn} + 1 - \frac{1}{mn}\)
\(T_{mn} = 1\).
Answer: (e)