CHAPTER PRACTICE PROBLEMS

PROGRESSION AND SERIES

Q.1. If {a, b, c, d  R+  1}, then find the minimum value of logd a + logb d + loga c + logc b.

Q.2. If A, G, H are arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means between three given numbers a, b
and c, then the equation whose roots are a, b and c.

Q.3. If an be the nth term of an A.P. and if a7 = 15, then the value of the common difference that
would make a2a7a12 greatest.

Q.4. Let a > 0, find the values of parameter a, for which the following three numbers
2x + 2-x, a, 22x + 2-2x are in A.P.

ab 2
Q.5. If a, b, c are in H.P., b, c, d are in G.P. and c, d, e are in A.P., then prove that e  .
2a  b2
Q.6. If n arithmetic means are inserted between x and 2y and then between 2x and y and rth
x
mean in each case is equal then find the ratio of .
y

Q.7. If 2(a2x4+b2y4) =c4, then find the maximum value of x2y2, in terms of a, b and c.

5 55 555 5555 
Q.8. Find the sum of series   2
 3
 4
 .........upoto   .
 13 (13) (13) (13) 

Q.9. Show that the value of x for which log3 (21x + 3), log9 4, log27 (2x  1)3 form an A.P. is 1.

Q.10. The rth, sth and tth terms of a certain G.P. are R, S and T respectively. Prove that Rst.Str.Trx
= 1.
1 1 1
Q.11. If a, , c and , q, are in A.P. of same common difference, then show that if a, q, c are in
b p r
1 1 1
A.P., then , , is also in A.P.
p b r
1
Q.12. If the common ratio of an infinite G.P. be less than , show that each term will be greater
2
than the sum of all the terms that follow it.

Q.13. Find the sum of all the numbers of form n3, which lie between 100 and 10000.

Q.14. If cos ( – ), cos  and cos ( + ) are in harmonic progression,


show that cos  sec   2 .
2

Q.15. Find the sum of the series 1.1 + 2.3 + 3.6 + 4.10 + 5.15 + 6.21 + ……… n terms.

n 1
Q.16. If a, b > 0 (a > b) and n is a positive integer, prove that an – bn  n ab  2 a  b  .

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.
Chapter Practice ProblemsP & S2

2xz
Q.17. If x, y, z  R+ are in H.P., prove that z.ex – y + x.ez – y  .
y
ab c b
Q.18. Prove that   4 , if a, b, c are in H.P. (Given that a, b, c >0).
2a  b 2c  b

1
Q.19. If 1, logy x, logz y and –15logx z are in A.P then prove that x   z3 .
y

1
Q.20. The sum of two numbers is 2 and an even number of AMs are inserted between the them
6
such that their sum exceeds their number by 1. Find the number of means inserted.

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.
 Chapter Practice ProblemsP & S3

SOLUTION
1. Applying A.M.  G.M.
logd a  logc b  loga c  logb d loga logb logc logd
4   
4 logd logc loga logb
Hence logd a + logb b + loga c + logc d  4.

1 1 1
 
abc 1
2. A= , G = (abc)1/3 and  a b c
3 H 3
3G3
now, a + b + c = 3A, abc = G3 and ab + bc + ac =
H
now, equation is x3  (a) x2 + (ab) x  abc = 0
3G3
then equation will be x3  3Ax2 + x  G3 = 0.
H

3. Let d be the common difference

a2a7a12 = (15  5d), 15 (15 + 5d)
= 375 (9  d2)
R.H.S. is greatest when d = 0
 a2a7a12 will greatest when d = 0.

4. Since the numbers are in A.P.

 2x + 2-x + 22x + 2-2x = 2a
x
Let 2 = y
2
1 1  1  1
y+ + y2 + 2 = 2a   y    y   = 2(a + 1)
y y  y   y 
 y > 0  y + 1/y  2
 2 + 4  2a + 2  a  2.

2 1 1
5.   , c2 = bd, 2d = c + e
b a c
c2 2 1 1 2a 2b ab ab 2
e = 2d – c = 2 –c=   =   .
b b  2 1 2  2 1  2a  b 2
( 2a  b) 2a  b 2
     
b a b a

6. rth arithmetic mean between x and 2y

 2y  x 
= x + r  …(1)
 n1 
rth arithmetic mean between 2x and y
 y  2x 
= 2x + r   …(2)
 n1 
From (1) and (2), x = r
y  x 
n1
 (n + 1 − r) x = ry

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.
Chapter Practice ProblemsP & S4

x r
 
y n  1 r

7. Applying the inequality, A.M.  G.M.

We have
2a 2 x 4  2b 2 y 4
 4a 2 b 2 x 4 y 4
2
 c4  4|ab|x2y2
c4
 x2y2 
4 | ab |
c4
Hence, maximum value of x2y2 is
4 | ab |

1 9 99 999 99999 
8. Sn = 5    2
 3
 4
 ........ 
9  13 (13) (13) (13) 
5  (10  1) (100  1) (1000  1) 
=   2
 3
 ........ 
9  13 (13) (13) 
5  10 100 1000   1 1 1 
=   2
 3
 ........     2
 3
 ........  
9  13 (13) (13)   13 (13) (13)  
 10   1  
5  13   13  
=   
9  10   1 
1  1 
  
13  

13  
5  10 13 1 13 
=     
9  13 3 13 12 
5  10 1 
=   
9 3 2
5  1
= 10  
9  3  4
5 39 65
=   .
93 4 36

9. 2. log9 4 = log3 (21x + 3) + log27 (2x  1)3

making base 3,
2 3
log 4 = log (21x + 3) + log (2x  1)
2 3
2 
4 =   3  (y  1), where y = 2x
y 
4y = (3y + 2) (y  1)
 3y2  5y  2 = 0
1
y = 2,
3
x 1
2 = 2,
3

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.
 Chapter Practice ProblemsP & S5

1
rejected then x = 1.
3

10. Let the common ratio be taken as k and a be the first term
R = Tr = akr1
Rst = ast. k(r1)(st)
Str = atr. k(s1)(ttr)
Trs = arx. k(t1)(rs)
Multiplying all three, we get
Rst. Str. Trx = 1.
1 1 1 1
11. Let d = a=c =q = q
b b p r
1 1
by (1) and (4), q  a =  … (A)
r b
1 1
by (2) and (3), q  c =  … (B)
p b
Adding equation (A) and (B)
1 1 2
2q  (a + c) =  
r p b
 if a, q, c are in A.P.
1 1 1
then, , , in A.P.
p b r
12. Tp > Tp+1 + Tp+2 + ……… 
ar p
arp1 >
1 r
where r < 1 or 1  r = positive
multiply the inequality (1) by quantity 1  r and cancel arp1,
1r>r
1
r< .
2

13. The first term will be 53 = 125

Now 203 = 400  20 = 8000
(21)3 = 441  21 = 9261
 then series will be 53 + 63 + 73 + ……… + (21)3
then, Sn = (13 + 23 + ……… + 213)  (13 + 23 + ……… + 43)
3 2
 n(n  1)   k(k  1) 
=    
 2   2 
= (21  11)2  (2  5)2
= 53261.

14.  cos ( – ), cos  and cos ( + ) are in H.P

 cos  =

2 cos    cos    2 cos 2   sin 2 


cos     cos    2 cos . cos 
or cos2  . cos  = cos2  -sin2 
or sin2  = cos2  (1 –cos )

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.
Chapter Practice ProblemsP & S6

 
4 sin2 cos2
sin2  2 2
or cos2  = 
1  cos  2 
2 sin
2
 
or cos2  = 2 cos 2 , or cos2  . sec 2 =2
2 2

or cos . sec =  2.
2

15. Sn = 1 + 2.3 + 3.6 + 4.10 + 5.15 + 6.21 + ……… n terms

= 1.1 + 2(1 + 2) + 3(1 + 2 + 3) + 4(1 + 2 + 3 + 4) + ……… + n(1 + 2 + …..+ n)
 r (r  1) 
 Tr = r  
 2 
n n
r 2 (r  1) 1 n 3 2
Sn = r 1
Tr  
r 1 2

2 r 1

(r  r )

2
1  n(n  1)  n(n  1)( 2n  1)  1  n2 (n  1)2 n(n  1)(2n  1) 
=     =   
2  2  6  2 4 6 
n(n  1) n(n  1)
= [3n(n + 1) + 2(2n + 1)] = (n + 2)(3n + 1).
24 24
b b2 b n1
16. Let us consider numbers 1, , 2 ,............... n 1
a a a
 AM GM
b b2 b n 1
1   2  ....  n 1  1/ n
a a a b b2 b n 1 
  1. . 2 .... n 1 
n  a a a 
n
b  1/ n
1   n  1 2  ... n 1
1/ n  n n 1

a 
    b   
1 a bn n
a  b 2 
or    or      
  b    a  n n
a b   
n 1    
  a    a  

  a 
n 1 n 1
1 an  bn
or  n 1
 b
 
 2

or a  b  a  ba
n n
 n 1 b
. n 1
2

n a a  b   a 
a 2
n1
 an – bn  n ab  2 a  b  .

2xz
17. y= (given)
xz
We have to prove
 z ex – y + x ez – y  x + z
ze x  y  x ez  y
 1
xz
Applying weighted A.M.  Weighted G.M. on ex – y and ez–y and having corresponding weights
as z and x
1
ze x  y  x ez  y  x  y

xz
 e

  e  
z zy x xz

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.
 Chapter Practice ProblemsP & S7

1

 e xz  yz  xz  xy 
x z

1
 e 
2 xz  y x  z  x  z

1
 e 0 xz

1
as 2xz = y(x + z) from (1)
18. Since a, b, c are in H.P.
1 1 2 1 2 1 2c  b
       . . . . (1)
a c b a b c bc
1 2 1 2a  b
and    . . . . (2)
c b a ab
From (1) and (2) , we have
c b a b ac  b  ca  b 
  
2c  b 2a  b bc ab
c c a a c a c a
=    =     
b a b c a c  b b
c  a 1  2ac 
>2+   >2+   (since GM  HM)
 b  b b 
2 + 2.

19. logy x = 1 + d  x = y1+d ……(1) where d = common difference

logz y = 1+ 2d  y = z1+2d ……(2)
 1 3 d 
  
 15 
–15 logx z = 1 + 3d  z = x ……(3)
from equation (1) and (2)
 x = z(1+d)(1+2d)
From equation (3)
 15 
   15
 x = z 1 3 d   (1 + d)(1 + 2d) =
1  3d
 6d3 + 11d2 + 6d + 16 = 0  d = –2
From equation (1) and (2)
1
 x = = z3
y

20. Let n (being even) AMs inserted between the a and b,

 a, A1, A2,…., An, b are in AP and (n + 2) terms are there altogether.
Now since a + b = A1 + An = A2 + An-1 = …. constant .
Also A1 + A2 + …. + An = n +1 (given)
a b  13 
 n  = n + 1  n   = n + 1  13n = 12n + 12  n = 12.
 2   6. 2 

FIITJEE ICES House, 29 – A, Kalu Sarai, Sarvapriya Vihar, New Delhi -110016, Ph 26515949, 26569493, Fax:011-26513942.