• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Simple A.P question (1 Viewer)

sinophile

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
1,339
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
The 4th, 6th and 8th terms of an A.P add up to -6. Find the sixth term.

Ive hit a roadblock here, been thinking about this question for AGES.
 

Trebla

Administrator
Administrator
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
8,402
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
sinophile said:
The 4th, 6th and 8th terms of an A.P add up to -6. Find the sixth term.

Ive hit a roadblock here, been thinking about this question for AGES.
Tn = a + (n - 1)d
T4 + T6 + T8 = (a + 3d) + (a + 5d) + (a + 7d)
= 3a + 15d
.: 3a + 15d = - 6
3(a + 5d) = - 6
but T6 = a + 5d
.: 3T6 = - 6
=> T6 = - 2
 

bored.of.u

Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Messages
236
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
sinophile said:
The 4th, 6th and 8th terms of an A.P add up to -6. Find the sixth term.

Ive hit a roadblock here, been thinking about this question for AGES.
using the basic form Tn (nth term) = a+(n-1)d

T4 (4th term) = a+3d
T6 (6th term) = a+5d
T8 (8th term) = a+7d

.: T4+T6+T8 = (a+3d)+(a+5d)+(a+7d) = 3a+15d = -6 ----> e1 (equation 1)
.: we also know that T6 = a+5d ----> e2 (equation 2)

then we rearrange e1 to the form 3(a+5d) = -6 ----> e3 (equation 3)
then we substitute e2 into e3

.: 3 T6 = -6
.: T6 = -2

so your 6th term is -2

hope this helped you and good luck =D
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top