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the sum of the 5th and 10th term of an arithmetic series is 11 and a half. the sum of the first 20 terms is 85 what is the first term?

 Jan 31, 2016
 #1
avatar+129850 
+5

Letting a1 be the first term, we have  that

 

[ a1  + d(5-1)]   + [a1 + d(10-1)]  = 11.5     simplify

 

2a1 + 4d + 9d   =  11.5

 

2a1 + 13d  = 11.5     →   2a1  = 11.5 - 13d   (1)

 

And the sum of the first 20 terms can be expressed by :

 

85 = (20/2) [ 2a1 + (20-1)d ]

 

85 = 10 [2a1 + 19d]   (2)

 

Substituting (1)  into (2), we have

 

85 = 10 [ 11.5 - 13d + 19d]

 

85  = 115 + 60d

 

-30  = 60d     divide both sides by 60

 

-1/2  = d

 

And using (1)  to find the first term , a1, we have

 

2a1 = 11.5 - 13(-1/2)

 

2a1  = 11.5 + 6.5

 

2a1  = 18

 

a1  = 9

 

 

cool cool cool

 Jan 31, 2016
edited by CPhill  Jan 31, 2016
 #2
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9, 8.5, 8, 7.5, 7......................10th term=4.5,

So how did you get: 7(5th term) + 4.5(10th term)=11???????

 Jan 31, 2016
 #3
avatar+129850 
0

Guest....read closely.......the sum of those two terms  = 11.5

 

 

cool cool cool

 Feb 1, 2016

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