DH99
If a:b=b:c=c:d=d:e=3:1,then what is the value of (c+e)/(b+d)?
A. 2:3
B. 3:1
C. 1:3
D. 4:1
E. 1:4
Method I - brute force, which I think is easier. It's quick, too. Find the pattern.
\(\frac{a}{b}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\) --> \(\frac{b}{c}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\)-->\(\frac{c}{d}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\) --> \(\frac{d}{e}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\)
****
\(\frac{a}{b}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\)
3b = a ---> b = \(\frac{a}{3}\)
\(\frac{b}{c}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\)
3c = b ---> c = \(\frac{b}{3}\) ...
d = \(\frac{c}{3}\)
e = \(\frac{d}{3}\)
Each term gets divided by 3 to yield the next term. So the greatest term is
a and the smallest term is
e. Because there is division by 3 a few times, pick a semi-large power of 3 for
a. Or be precise:
We have \(\frac{1}{3}\)*\(\frac{1}{3}\)*\(\frac{1}{3}\)*\(\frac{1}{3}\)= \(\frac{1}{81}\)
Let a = 81. Then b = 27, c = 9, d = 3, and e = 1
(c + e)/(b + d) =
(9 + 1)/(27 + 3) =
10/30 = 1/3
Method II - sequence
Find the ratio:
\(\frac{a}{b}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\)
a = 3b
\(\frac{b}{c}\) = \(\frac{3}{1}\)
b = 3c . . .
This is a geometric sequence, with common ratio of 3 (if \(A_1\) is e). Let e = \(A_1\), and call it x
\(A_{n}\) = \(A_1\) * \(r^{n-1}\), where n is the nth term and r is the common ratio.
\(A_{n}\) = \(A_1 * 3^{n-1}\)
\(A_1\) = e = x
\(A_2\) = d = x * 3 = 3x
\(A_3\) = c = x * \(3^2\) = 9x
\(A_4\) = b = x * \(3^3\) = 27x
\(A_5\) = a = x * \(3^4\) = 81x
Value of (c+e)/(b+d)?
(9x + x)/(27x + 3x) =
\(\frac{10x}{30x}\) = \(\frac{1}{3}\)
ANSWER C