The sum of the first 6 term of AP is 21if the 7th term is 3 times the sum of the 3rd and 4th term .Find the first term and common difference.

2 answers

6/2 (2a+5d) = 21
a+6d = 3(a+2d + a+3d)
so you have
a = -9
d = 5
In an Arithmetic Progression:

an = a + ( n - 1 ) d

where

a = a1 = the initial term

an = the nth term

d = the common difference of successive members

The sum of the first n term:

Sn = n / 2 [ 2 a + ( n - 1 ) d ]

Ginen conditions:

S6 = n / 2 [ 2 a + ( n - 1 ) d ] = 21

6 / 2 [ 2 a + ( 6 - 1 ) d ] = 21

3 ( 2 a + 5 d ) = 21

Divide both sides by 3

2 a + 5 d = 7

The 7th term is 3 times the sum of the 3rd and 4th term means:

a7 = 3 ( a3 + a4 )

Since:

a3 = a + 2 d , a4 = a + 3 d , a7 = a + 6 d

a7 = 3 ( a3 + a4 )

a + 6 d = 3 ( a + 2 d + a + 3 d )

a + 6 d = 3 ( 2 a + 5 d )

a + 6 d = 6 a + 15 d

Subract 15 d d to both sides

a - 9 d = 6 a

Subract a to both sides

- 9 d = 5 a

5 a = - 9 d

Now you must solve system of two equations:

2 a + 5 d = 7

5 a = - 9 d

Try that.

The solution is:

a = - 9 , d = 5

Check result:

a1 = - 9

a2 = - 9 + 5 = - 4

a3 = - 4 + 5 = 1

a4 = 1 + 5 = 6

a5 = 6 + 5 = 11

a6 = 11 + 5 = 16

a7 = 16 + 5 = 21

The sum of the first 6 term:

- 9 + ( - 4 ) + 1 + 6 +11 +16 = - 9 - 4 + 1 + 6 +11 +16 = 21

Correct.

a7 = 3 ( a3 + a4 )

21 = 3 ( 1 + 6 )

21 = 3 ∙ 7

Correct.