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Given:
1. Let Tk denote the kth term of an arithmetic progression.
2. Suppose there are positive integers m≠n such that Tm = 1/n and Tn = 1/m

Asked: Then Tm*n equals
(a) 1/mn
(b) 1/m+1/n
(c) -1
(d) 0
(e) 1

If a is the first term of the arithmetic progression and d be the common difference.

Tk = a + (k-1)d

Tm = a + (m-1)d = 1/n
Tn = a + (n-1)d = 1/m

(m-n)d = 1/n - 1/m = (m-n)/mn
d = 1/mn

a = 1/n - (m-1)/mn = {m - (m-1)} / mn = 1/mn

Tm*n = a + (mn-1)d = 1/mn + (mn-1)/mn = 1/mn + 1 - 1/mn = 1

IMO E
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Looks like Typo for answers, C printed twice.

Answer : E (1)

Let' 'd' is the common difference of successive members.

a is the initial term.

There fore per prompt.

a+(m–1)d= 1/n ---(1)

a+(n–1)d= 1/m----(2)

Substracting 1- 2

(m–n)d= 1/n- 1/m
d=1/(mn)

Substituting d in (1) gives a =1/mn
now we have both a and d and a=d

To calculate:
Tm*n=a+(mn–1)d
=1/mn + (mn-1)/mn
=1/mn + 1 -1/mn = 1
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for given AP we can write
Tm= a+(m-1)*d
Tn=a+(n-1)*d
1/n= a+(m-1)*d---(1)
1/m=a+(n-1)*d--(2)
subtract 1 from 2
m-n/mn = m-n
d=1/mn
substitute in (1)
we get
a+(m-1)*1/mn=1/n
a = 1/mn
so
Tmn = a +(mn-1)*d
Tmn= 1/mn+(mn-1)*1/mn
Tmn = 1/mn +1-1mn
Tmn = 1
IMO E (1)




Let Tk denote the kth term of an arithmetic progression. Suppose there are positive integers m≠n such that Tm = 1/n and Tn = 1/m. Then Tm*n equals
(a) 1/mn
(b) 1/m+1/n
(c) -1
(d) 0
(e) 1
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Let Tk denote the kth term of an arithmetic progression. Suppose there are positive integers m≠n such that Tm = 1/n and Tn = 1/m. Then Tm*n equals
(a) 1/mn
(b) 1/m+1/n
(c) -1
(c) 0
(d) 1

\(T_k = a+2(k-1)d\)

\(T_m = a+2(m-1)d\)
\(T_n = a+2(n-1)d\)

T_m - T_n = 2md - 2d - 2nd + 2d = 2md - 2nd

\(\frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{m} = 2d(m-n) \)

\(\frac{m - n}{mn} = 2d(m-n)\)

\(d = \frac{1}{2mn}\)

\(T_m = a+2(m-1)d\) => \(\frac{1}{n} = a+\frac{2(m-1)}{2mn}\)

\(a= \frac{1}{n}-\frac{(m-1)}{mn}\)

\(a= \frac{(m-m+1)}{mn} = \frac{1}{mn}\)

\(T_{mn} = a+2(mn-1)d\)

\(T_{mn} = \frac{1}{mn}+\frac{2(mn-1)}{2mn}\)

\(T_{mn} = \frac{1+mn-1}{mn}\) = \(\frac{mn}{mn}\)

Answer - D
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Let us assume Tm = T3 and Tn = T4 for quick solution

=> T3 = 1/4 & T4 = 1/3
=> common diff d = 1/12

so now a+2d = 1/4 so a = 1/4 - 1/6 = 1/12

so now T12 = a+ 11d => 1/12 + 11(1/12) = 1.

So in general, for any Tmn, the value will be 1.

Answer D
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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 Question
Let \(a\) 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 d
Subtract 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 a
Substitute \(d = \frac{1}{mn}\) 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)
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