The 3rd term of an A.P is 10 more than the first term while the fifth term is 15 more than the second term. Find the sum of the 8th and 15th terms of the A.P if the 7th term is 7 times the first term.

1 answer

In an arithmetic progression (A.P.), we can denote the first term by \( a \) and the common difference by \( d \).

The \( n \)-th term of an A.P. can be expressed as:

\[ T_n = a + (n-1)d \]

Given Conditions

  1. The 3rd term is 10 more than the 1st term: \[ T_3 = a + 2d = a + 10 \] Simplifying this gives: \[ 2d = 10 \ d = 5 \]

  2. The 5th term is 15 more than the 2nd term: \[ T_5 = a + 4d \quad \text{and} \quad T_2 = a + d \] Therefore, we set up the equation: \[ a + 4d = (a + d) + 15 \] This simplifies to: \[ a + 4d = a + d + 15 \ 4d - d = 15 \ 3d = 15 \ d = 5 \] (Note that we have already determined \( d = 5 \)).

  3. The 7th term is 7 times the first term: \[ T_7 = a + 6d = 7a \] Substituting \( d = 5 \): \[ a + 6(5) = 7a \ a + 30 = 7a \ 30 = 7a - a \ 30 = 6a \ a = 5 \]

Finding \( a \) and \( d \)

Now we have: \[ a = 5, \quad d = 5 \]

Sum of the 8th and 15th Terms

Now we calculate the 8th term (\( T_8 \)) and the 15th term (\( T_{15} \)): \[ T_8 = a + 7d = 5 + 7(5) = 5 + 35 = 40 \] \[ T_{15} = a + 14d = 5 + 14(5) = 5 + 70 = 75 \]

Sum of the 8th and 15th Terms

Calculating the sum: \[ T_8 + T_{15} = 40 + 75 = 115 \]

Thus, the sum of the 8th and 15th terms of the A.P. is:

\[ \boxed{115} \]