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# If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic

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If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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18 Aug 2012, 12:39
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If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression, and the sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40, find the first term of the sequence?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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18 Aug 2012, 13:20
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NYC5648 wrote:
If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression, and the sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40, find the first term of the sequence?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
e) 6

Thanks!

We can write $$a_1*a_{13}=a_3*a_3$$ and $$a_3+a_7=40.$$
Since $$a_3=a_1+2d,$$ (where $$d$$ is the the constant defining the arithmetic progression), $$a_{13}=a_1+12d$$, $$\, a_4=a_1+3d$$, $$\, a_7=a_1+6d$$, from the above two equations we get
$$a_1(a_1+12d)=(a_1+2d)^2$$ and $$a_1+3d+a_1+6d=40.$$ Further, $$12a_1d=4a_1d+4d^2$$ or $$8a_1d=4d^2$$ which leads to $$2a_1=d.$$ (If $$d=0$$ all the terms in the arithmetic progression are equal to 20, and so are those in the geometric progression. It should have been stated that the arithmetic progression is non-constant.)
The other equation leads to $$2a_1+9d=40$$, so $$2a_1+18a_1=40,$$ or $$a_1=2.$$

IMO, not a real GMAT question.
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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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29 Aug 2012, 23:57
In my opinion one can solve this question by simple calculations pick an option from choices lets say 2
first one is arith matic sequence so it will be like 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16
notice that square of two is 4 and square of 4 is i6 which is the thirteenth term so one can solve it by mental math.

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2012, 03:25
shoaibfu wrote:
In my opinion one can solve this question by simple calculations pick an option from choices lets say 2
first one is arith matic sequence so it will be like 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16
notice that square of two is 4 and square of 4 is i6 which is the thirteenth term so one can solve it by mental math.
That's wrong. The solution is: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, ..., 50.
Geometric means constant factor, so in this case: 2, 10, 50 (constant factor being 5). And 14+26=40. It would be pretty hard to guess the correct solution. A lot of trial and error. It would take too long.
In your sequence, 16 isn't even the 13th term. It's the 15th.

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2012, 06:26
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If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression, and the sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40, find the first term of the sequence?

if 1 ,3 and 13 in ap are gp then (a+2d)sqr = a(a+12a)
and a+3d + a+6d = 40

solve the two eq.. we get a = 2

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2012, 19:35
Zinsch123 wrote:
shoaibfu wrote:
In my opinion one can solve this question by simple calculations pick an option from choices lets say 2
first one is arith matic sequence so it will be like 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16
notice that square of two is 4 and square of 4 is i6 which is the thirteenth term so one can solve it by mental math.
That's wrong. The solution is: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, ..., 50.
Geometric means constant factor, so in this case: 2, 10, 50 (constant factor being 5). And 14+26=40. It would be pretty hard to guess the correct solution. A lot of trial and error. It would take too long.
In your sequence, 16 isn't even the 13th term. It's the 15th.

exactly
16 will be 15th term not 13th
that itself can refute further calculation based on that approach
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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2012, 21:37
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NYC5648 wrote:
If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression, and the sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40, find the first term of the sequence?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6

The following was my thought process:

It looks like a simple AP of small integers.

I will start with some concrete info. I know that 'sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40'
(a+3d) + (a + 6d) = 40
2a + 9d = 40

Note here that 2a is even and sum of 2a and 9d is even. So, 9d must be even too. This means, d, the common difference, must be even.
If d = 2, 9d = 18 and 2a = 40 - 18 = 22. But a = 11 is not in the options so ignore it.
If d = 4, 9d = 36 and 2a = 40 - 36 = 4. This gives us a = 2

Now check: a = 2, d = 4
1st term = 2, 3rd term = 10, 13th term = 50.
2, 10 and 50 are in GP. Good!
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Kudos [?]: 18450 [11], given: 237 Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 7862 Kudos [?]: 18450 [0], given: 237 Location: Pune, India Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink] ### Show Tags 30 Aug 2012, 21:46 metallicafan wrote: +1 A Although it requires a lot of trial and error to find how to combine the equalities. :s Probably, a 700+ question. Zinsch123 wrote: It would be pretty hard to guess the correct solution. A lot of trial and error. It would take too long. In your sequence, 16 isn't even the 13th term. It's the 15th. Actually, it isn't very hard to guess. When you use 'brute force'/'hit and trial'/'logic'/'intuition', you need to have a point to start from. You can certainly not say, "Ok, say the first term is 2 and common difference is 1 - not working. Say, common difference is 2 - not working etc etc." You first need to analyze whatever info you have and shrink your world of possible APs. Otherwise, using the theoretical algebraic solution might actually be faster. The good thing is that as far as GMAT is concerned, a combination of logic and brute force works very well. Often, you will get the answer using logic alone. Sometimes, a couple of hit and trials are needed too. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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24 Sep 2013, 05:56
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If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression, and the sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40, find the first term of the sequence?

Slightly different algebraic approach.........

the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic progression are in geometric progression

First term = a
Third Term = a+2d
Thirteenth Term = a+12d

They are in Geometric Progression too
So $$\frac{(a+2d)}{a} = \frac{(a+12d)}{(a+2d)}$$ --------------------------> {When a, b, c, d are in GP then b/a = c/b = d/c.........}

$$(a+2d)^2 = a(a+12d)$$ ----------> $$a^2 + 4d^2 + 4ad = a^2 + 12ad$$ -----------> d^2 = 2ad -----------> d(d-2a)=0---------> Statement 1

the sum of the fourth and seventh terms of this arithmetic progression is 40 -------> (a+3d) + (a+6d) = 40 --------> 2a + 9d = 40 --------> $$d = \frac{40 - 2a}{9}$$

Putting $$d = \frac{40 - 2a}{9}$$ in the Statement 1, we get $$(\frac{40 - 2a}{9})$$$$(\frac{40 - 2a}{9} - 2a)$$ -------------------> $$(\frac{40 - 2a}{9})$$$$(\frac{40 - 20a}{9})$$ ----------> $$\frac{(40-2a)(40-20a)}{81} = 0$$ ------------------> Either (40-2a)=0 ------> a = 20 or (40-20a)=0 -----> a = 2, which is the answer
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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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26 Oct 2014, 22:53
a1+3d+a1+6d=40
2a1+9d=40

a1=20-9d/2

all answer choices are integers, so 9d/2 should be integer less than 20 and 9d is even.
Only d=4 gives 18 to get 20-18=2

A

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If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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06 Aug 2016, 18:44
equation1: (a+2d)/a=(a+12d)/(a+2d)➡d=2a
equation2: 2a+9d=40
substituting,
2a+18a=40
a=2

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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12 Aug 2016, 08:00
Its not that difficult as its seems

Here => a+3d+a+6d=40 => 2a+9d=40 ---> equation 1

putting d=2a in equation 1
a=2

Smash that A
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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic [#permalink]

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Re: If the first, third and thirteenth terms of an arithmetic   [#permalink] 12 Dec 2017, 04:22
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