The 11th term and the 21st term of an A.P. are 16 and 29 respectively, then find:
(a) The first term and common difference
(b) The 34th term
(c) ‘n’ such that tn = 55
Solution
(a) Let 'a' be the first term and 'd' the common difference of the given A.P.
For t11= 16, n ==11, we have
t11 = a(11-1)d
∴16 = a+10d ..........(1)
for t21=29,n=21,we have
t21 = a+(21-1)d
∴29= a+20d ...........(2)
Subtracting (1) from (2),we get
13 =10d⇒d=1.3
Substituting d = 1.3 in (1), we get
16=a+10(1.3)
∴16=a+13⇒1=3
Thus, the first term is 3 and the common difference is 1.3.
(b) For 34th term, n = 34, a = 3, d = 1.3
tn = a(n-1)d
∴t34= 3(34-1)(1.3)
=3+33*1.3
=3+42.9
=45.9∴
Thus, the 34th term is 45.9.
(c) tn = 55, a = 3, d = 1.3
∴tn= a(n-1)d
∴55= 3(n-1)(1.3)
∴55-3= (n-1)(1.3)
∴(n-1)((1.3)=52
∴n-1= `52/1.3`
∴n-1= 40
∴n= 40+1
∴n= 41