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How many terms of the series 42+39+36+... makes the sum 315? |
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Answer» Given series is S = 42+39+36+... Let first term of the sequence is a1 = a = 42. Common difference of the sequence is d = a2 - a1 = 39 - 42 = -3. ∴ Sum of n terms of the sequence is Sn = n/2 [2a+(n-1)d] Given that sum = 315 ∴ n/2 [2 x 42 + (n-1) x -3] = 315 ⇒ 42n -3/2 n(n-1) = 315 ⇒ 84n - 3n2 + 3n = 630 ⇒ 3n2 - 87n + 630 = 0 ⇒ n2 - 29n + 210 = 0 ⇒ n2 - 14n - 15n + 210 = 0 ⇒ (n - 14) (n - 15) = 0 ⇒ n = 14 or n = 15 Hence, sum of 14th terms of the series is 315. Also, sum of 15th terms is 315 (∵ a15 = a+14d = 0) |
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