MATHEMATICS ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

CHALLENGER PROBLEMS

Single Option Correct Questions

1. (C)
a + 6d = 5a ⇒ 6d = 4a … (1)
Now, a + 8d = 2(a + 3d) + 1
a + 8d = 2a + 6d + 1
a – 2d = −1 … (2)
From (1) and (2), we get
a = 3, d = 2
2. (D)
n
Sn = × (2a + (n − 1)d)
2
n
920 = × (2 × 7 + (n − 1) × 3)
2
n
920 = × (14 + 3n − 3)
2
n
920 = × (3n + 11)
2
840 = n(3n + 11)
3n2 + 11n − 1840 = 0
3n2 + 80n − 69n − 1840 = 0
(3n2 + 80n) + (−69n − 1840) = 0
n(3n + 80) − 23(3n + 80) = 0
(3n + 80)(n − 23) = 0
−80
3n + 80 = 0 ⇒ n = (not a valid solution since n must be positive)
3
n – 23 = 0 ⇒ n = 23
Thus, the number of terms that will add up to a sum of 920 is n = 23.

3. (B)
1 1 1
Since , and
p+q r+p q+r
are in AP therefore,
1 1 1 1
− = −
r+p p+q q+r r+p
p+q−r−p r+p−q−r
⇒ =
(r + p)(p + q) (q + r)(r + p)
q−r p−q
⇒ = or q2 − r 2
p+q q+r
= p2 − q2
⇒ 2q2 = r 2 + p2
Therefore, p2 , q2 , r 2 are in AP.

4. (A)
Let a be the first term and d be the common difference of the given A.P. Then,
pth term = q ⇒ a + (p − 1)d = q.
qth term = p ⇒ a + (q − 1)d = p.
Subtracting equation (ii) from equation (i), we get
(p − q)d = (q − p) ⇒ d = −1
Putting d = −1 in equation (i), we get
a = (p + q − 1)

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nth term = a + (n − 1)d

5. (A)
6. (D)
In AP t 2 − t1 = t 4 − t 3
a − 18 = −3 − b
a + b = −3 + 18
a + b = 15
3
7. (A)
We are given that:
9 × T9 = 15 × T15
Using the formula for the nth term:
T9 = a + (9 − 1)d = a + 8d
T15 = a + (15 − 1)d = a + 14d
Substituting these into the equation gives:
9(a + 8d) = 15(a + 14d)
9a + 72d = 15a + 210d
9a − 15a = 210d − 72d
−6a = 138d
138
a=− d
6
a = −23d
Now,
T24 = a + (24 − 1)d = a + 23d
T24 = −23d + 23d
T24 = 0

8. (B)
The sum of the first k terms of an arithmetic progression is given by:
k
Sk = (2a + (k − 1)d)
2
Let's first look at each part of the expression individually.
S3n − S3n−1 :
Using the formula for the sum of an A.P., we get:
3n
S3n = (2a + (3n − 1)d)
2
3n − 1
S3n−1 = (2a + (3n − 2)d)
2
Now,
3n 3n − 1
S3n − S3n−1 = (2a + (3n − 1)d) − (2a + (3n − 2)d)
2 2
1
S3n − S3n−1 = [3n(2a + (3n − 1)d) − (3n − 1)(2a + (3n − 2)d)]
2
S2n − S2n−1 :
Similarly:
2n
S2n = (2a + (2n − 1)d) = n(2a + (2n − 1)d)
2
2n − 1
S2n−1 = (2a + (2n − 2)d)
2
Now, subtract S2n−1 from S2n :
2n − 1
S2n − S2n−1 = n(2a + (2n − 1)d) − (2a + (2n − 2)d)
2

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Now, substitute the results from S3n − S3n−1 and S2n − S2n−1 into the original expression:
(S3n − S3n−1 ) − (S2n − S2n−1 )
The expression involves the difference between the sums of arithmetic progressions with terms that should
simplify.
However, upon closer inspection or pattern recognition in simpler cases (such as n = 1r , n = 2, etc.), we can
deduce that the value of this expression simplifies to n ⋅ d.
9. (A)
S5 + S7 = 167 and S10 = 235
n
Now Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2
S5 + S7 = 167
5 7
⇒ [2a + 4d] + [2a + 6d] = 167
2 2
⇒ 12a + 31 d = 167 … . (1)
also S10 = 235
10
∴ [2a + 9d] = 235
2
2a + 9 d = 47 … … . (2)
Multiplying equation (2) by 6 and subtract (1), we get
23 d = 115
∴d=5
Substituting value of d in (2), we have
2a + 9(5) = 47
2a + 45 = 47
2a = 2
a=1
Thus, the given A.P. is 1,6,11,16,

10. (D)
In the given AP, let the first term be a and the common difference be d.
Then, Tn = a + (n − 1)d
Now, we have:
T10 = a + (10 − 1)d
⇒ a + 9 d = 52 … (1)
T13 = a + (13 − 1)d = a + 12 d
T17 = a + (17 − 1)d = a + 16 d
But, it is given that T17 = 20 + T13
i.e., a + 16d = 20 + a + 12d
⇒ 4d = 20
⇒d=5
On substituting d = 5 in (1), we get:
a + 9 × 5 = 52
⇒a=7
Thus, a = 7 and d = 5
∴ The terms of the AP are 7,12,17,22, …

11. (A)
Let d be the common difference of the AP
Here, a = 10 and n = 14
Now,
S14 = 1505 (Given)
14 n
⇒ [2 × 10 + (14 − 1) × d] = 1505 {Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]}
2 2

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MATHEMATICS ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

⇒ 7(20 + 13 d) = 1505
⇒ 20 + 13 d = 215
⇒ 13 d = 215 − 20 = 195
⇒ d = 15
∴ 25th term of the AP, a25
= 10 + (25 − 1) × 15 [an = a + (n − 1)d]
= 10 + 360 = 370
12. (C)
n(n + 1)
The sum of first 'n' natural numbers is
2
.

13. (B)
n
We know, Sn = × (a + l)
2
For our case, where n = 10 :
10
S10 = × (a + l)
2
S10 = 5 × (a + l)
Given that S10 = 210, so we get
5 × (a + l) = 210
a + l = 42 …..(1)
Also given that the difference between the last term and the first term is 36:
l − a = 36 …..(2)
By adding (1) and (2), we get
(a + l) + (l − a) = 42 + 36
2l = 78
l = 39
Now substitute l value in (1):
a + 39 = 42
a = 42 − 39
a=3
14. (C)
For sequence, x, a1 , a2 , y
y−x
y = x + 3d ⇒ d =
3
y−x y−x
⇒ a1 = x + , a2 = x + 2 [ ] and
3 3
y−x
Similarly, a2 − a1 = [ ]
3
For sequence, x, b1 , b2 , y
y−x y − x a2 − a1
d= and b2 − b1 = ⇒ =1
3 3 b2 − b1
15. (C)
Given that, the AP is A, B, L
∵ an = a + (n − 1)d
⇒ L = A + (n − 1)(B − A)
L−A
⇒ (n − 1) =
B−A
L − A + B − A L + B − 2A
⇒n= =
B−A B−A
n
∴ Sum of an AP, Sn = [2a + (n − 1)d]
2
(B + L − 2A) B + L − 2A
= [2A + { − 1} (B − A)]
2(B − A) B−A

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(B + L − 2A)
Sn = ⋅ (A + L)
2(B − A)
Hence proved.

Multiple Option Correct Questions

1. (A, B, D)
Tn = a + (n − 1) ⋅ d
T5 = 2 + (5 − 1) ⋅ 3 = 2 + 4 ⋅ 3 = 2 + 12 = 14
T7 = 2 + (7 − 1) ⋅ 3 = 2 + 6 ⋅ 3 = 2 + 18 = 20
T8 = 2 + (8 − 1) ⋅ 3 = 2 + 7 ⋅ 3 = 2 + 21 = 23
2. (A, B, C, D)
Sn = 2n2 + 3n
Sn−1 = 2(n − 1)2 + 3(n − 1) = 2n2 + 2 − 4n + 3n − 3 = 2n2 − n − 1
Tn = Sn – Sn − 1 = 2n2 + 3n − (2n2 − n − 1) = 4n + 1
If n = 1, T1 = 4(1) + 1 = 5, which is first term
If n = 2, T2 = 4(2) + 1 = 9, second term
If n = 3, T3 = 4(3) + 1 = 13, third term
d = 9– 5 = 4

3. (A, B, C)
Given, a + 2d = 7 and a + 6d = 19
By solving these equations, we get
a = 1, d = 3
a10 = a + 9d = 1 + 9(3) = 1 + 27 = 28

4. (A, B)
The sum of the first 20 terms is 210, so:
20
S20 = ⋅ (2a + (20 − 1) ⋅ d) = 210
2
10 ⋅ (2a + 19d) = 210
Substitute a = 5 into the equation:
10 ⋅ (2 ⋅ 5 + 19d) = 210
10 ⋅ (10 + 19d) = 210
100 + 190d = 210
190d = 110
110 11
d= =
190 19
an = a + (n – 1)d
11
a20 = 5 + 19d = 5 + 19 ( ) = 16
19
5. (A, C, D)
In 3,7,11,15, … common difference = 4
In 2,5,8,11, …, common difference = 3
In −1, −4, −7, −10, …, common difference = -3

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