The 4th term of a GP is 3/7.If the 7th term is eight times as much as the 4th term, find the third term of the progression.

1 answer

In GP n-th term:

an = a • r ⁿ⁻¹

where

a = a1 = initial value

r = common ratio

In this case:

a4 = 3 / 7

a4 = a • r ³

a • r ³ = 3 / 7

a7 = a • r ⁶

a7 = 8 • a4 = 8 • 3 / 7 = 24 / 7

a7 / a4 = a • r ⁶ / a • r ³ = r ³

( 24 / 7 ) / ( 3 / 7 ) = 24 / 3 = 8 = r ³

r = ∛8

r = 2

Put this value in equation:

a • r ³ = 3 / 7

a • 2 ³ = 3 / 7

8 a = 3 / 7

a = ( 3 / 7 ) / 8 = 3 / 7 • 8

a = 3 / 56

a3 = a • r ² = 3 / 56 • 2² = 3 / 56 • 4 =

12 / 56 = 4 • 3 / 4 • 14 = 3 / 14