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Sequences & Series
Sequences and Series
Hard

Question

Let a1,a2,.......,a30{a_1},{a_2},.......,{a_{30}} be an A.P., S=i=130aiS = \sum\limits_{i = 1}^{30} {{a_i}} and T=i=115a(2i1)T = \sum\limits_{i = 1}^{15} {{a_{\left( {2i - 1} \right)}}} . If a5a_5 = 27 and S - 2T = 75, then a10a_{10} is equal to :

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Solution

Key Concepts and Formulas

  • General Term of an A.P.: The nn-th term of an arithmetic progression with first term a1a_1 and common difference dd is given by an=a1+(n1)da_n = a_1 + (n-1)d.
  • Sum of an A.P.: The sum of the first nn terms of an arithmetic progression is given by Sn=n2(a1+an)S_n = \frac{n}{2}(a_1 + a_n) or Sn=n2(2a1+(n1)d)S_n = \frac{n}{2}(2a_1 + (n-1)d).

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Express SS in terms of a1a_1 and dd. The sum SS is the sum of the first 30 terms of the A.P. Using the formula Sn=n2(2a1+(n1)d)S_n = \frac{n}{2}(2a_1 + (n-1)d) with n=30n=30: S=i=130ai=302(2a1+(301)d)S = \sum_{i=1}^{30} a_i = \frac{30}{2}(2a_1 + (30-1)d) S=15(2a1+29d)S = 15(2a_1 + 29d)

Step 2: Express TT in terms of a1a_1 and dd. The sum TT is the sum of the odd-indexed terms from a1a_1 to a29a_{29}. T=i=115a(2i1)=a1+a3+a5++a29T = \sum_{i=1}^{15} a_{(2i-1)} = a_1 + a_3 + a_5 + \ldots + a_{29} The terms a1,a3,a5,,a29a_1, a_3, a_5, \ldots, a_{29} form an A.P. with the first term a1a_1, a common difference of 2d2d, and there are 15 terms. Using the formula Sn=n2(afirst+alast)S_n = \frac{n}{2}(a_{first} + a_{last}) for this sub-series, where n=15n=15, afirst=a1a_{first} = a_1, and alast=a29a_{last} = a_{29}. We know a29=a1+(291)d=a1+28da_{29} = a_1 + (29-1)d = a_1 + 28d. So, T=152(a1+a29)T = \frac{15}{2}(a_1 + a_{29}) T=152(a1+(a1+28d))T = \frac{15}{2}(a_1 + (a_1 + 28d)) T=152(2a1+28d)T = \frac{15}{2}(2a_1 + 28d) T=15(a1+14d)T = 15(a_1 + 14d)

Step 3: Use the given relation S2T=75S - 2T = 75 to find dd. Substitute the expressions for SS and TT into the given equation: 15(2a1+29d)2×[15(a1+14d)]=7515(2a_1 + 29d) - 2 \times [15(a_1 + 14d)] = 75 15(2a1+29d)30(a1+14d)=7515(2a_1 + 29d) - 30(a_1 + 14d) = 75 Expand the terms: 30a1+435d30a1420d=7530a_1 + 435d - 30a_1 - 420d = 75 The 30a130a_1 terms cancel out: (435420)d=75(435 - 420)d = 75 15d=7515d = 75 Divide by 15 to find dd: d=7515=5d = \frac{75}{15} = 5 The common difference dd is 5.

Step 4: Use a5=27a_5 = 27 to find a1a_1. We are given that the 5th term of the A.P. is 27. Using the general term formula an=a1+(n1)da_n = a_1 + (n-1)d: a5=a1+(51)da_5 = a_1 + (5-1)d a5=a1+4da_5 = a_1 + 4d Substitute the given value a5=27a_5 = 27 and the calculated value d=5d=5: 27=a1+4(5)27 = a_1 + 4(5) 27=a1+2027 = a_1 + 20 Solve for a1a_1: a1=2720=7a_1 = 27 - 20 = 7 The first term a1a_1 is 7.

Step 5: Calculate a10a_{10}. Now that we have a1=7a_1 = 7 and d=5d = 5, we can find the 10th term using the general term formula: a10=a1+(101)da_{10} = a_1 + (10-1)d a10=a1+9da_{10} = a_1 + 9d Substitute the values of a1a_1 and dd: a10=7+9(5)a_{10} = 7 + 9(5) a10=7+45a_{10} = 7 + 45 a10=52a_{10} = 52


Common Mistakes & Tips

  • Confusing the common difference: Be careful when calculating the sum of odd-indexed terms (TT). Remember that the common difference of the sub-series (a1,a3,a_1, a_3, \ldots) is 2d2d, not dd.
  • Algebraic errors: Double-check your expansions and subtractions when simplifying the equation S2T=75S - 2T = 75.
  • Identifying the number of terms: Ensure you correctly identify the number of terms in both SS (which is 30) and TT (which is 15).

Summary

The problem requires us to find the 10th term of an arithmetic progression given some information about the sum of its terms and a specific term's value. We first expressed the given sums SS and TT in terms of the first term (a1a_1) and the common difference (dd) of the A.P. By substituting these expressions into the equation S2T=75S - 2T = 75, we were able to solve for the common difference dd. Subsequently, using the given value of a5a_5, we determined the first term a1a_1. Finally, with both a1a_1 and dd known, we calculated the 10th term, a10a_{10}.

The final answer is 52\boxed{52}.

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