Chapter 10: Problem 50
If \(a\) is the first term, \(d\) the common difference and \(S_{k}\) the sum to \(k\) terms of an A.P., then for \(\frac{S_{k x}}{S_{x}}\) to be inde- pendent of \(x\) (A) \(a=2 d\) (B) \(a=d\) (C) \(2 a=d\) (D) None of these
Short Answer
Expert verified
The correct option is A: \(a = 2d\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Sum of an Arithmetic Progression
The sum of the first \(n\) terms \(S_n\) of an arithmetic progression (A.P.) with first term \(a\) and common difference \(d\) is given by the formula:\[ S_n = \frac{n}{2} (2a + (n-1)d). \]
02
Substitute and Simplify Expression for \(S_{kx}\) and \(S_x\)
Using the formula for \(S_n\), substitute \(n = kx\) and \(n = x\) to find expressions for \(S_{kx}\) and \(S_x\):\[ S_{kx} = \frac{kx}{2} (2a + (kx-1)d), \]\[ S_x = \frac{x}{2} (2a + (x-1)d). \]
03
Find the Expression for \(\frac{S_{kx}}{S_x}\)
Compute the ratio \( \frac{S_{kx}}{S_x} \):\[ \frac{S_{kx}}{S_x} = \frac{ \frac{kx}{2} (2a + (kx-1)d)}{ \frac{x}{2} (2a + (x-1)d) } = \frac{k(2a + (kx-1)d)}{2a + (x-1)d}. \]
04
Determine the Independence from \(x\)
For \( \frac{S_{kx}}{S_x} \) to be independent of \(x\), the expression \( \frac{k(2a + (kx-1)d)}{2a + (x-1)d} \) must not have any terms involving \(x\) after simplification. Simplify:\[ k \left( \frac{2a + (kx-1)d}{2a + (x-1)d} \right) \text{ simplifies to be independent of } x, \] if the terms containing \(x\) in both numerator \( (kx-1)d \) and denominator \( (x-1)d \) cancel out, leading to:\[ 2a + kxd - d = 2a + xd - d \] or simply:\[ kxd - xd = 2a - 2a. \]By equating terms with \(x\): \( (k-1)xd = 0 \), leading us to infer that \( a = kd \).
05
Check Consistency with Options
Now verify which option matches our finding. We've simplified the independence condition to \( a = kd \), which for \(k = 2\) implies \(a = 2d\). Hence, the correct option is A: \(a = 2d\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Sum of Arithmetic Progression
An arithmetic progression (A.P.) is a sequence where each term after the first is obtained by adding a constant value, known as the 'common difference.' To compute the sum of the first 'n' terms of an A.P., we use a specific formula. This formula helps us find the total when a series has a regular pattern. The sum of these terms, often denoted as \( S_n \), is given by the formula:\[S_n = \frac{n}{2} (2a + (n-1)d),\]where:
- \( n \) is the number of terms,
- \( a \) is the first term, and
- \( d \) is the common difference between consecutive terms.
Common Difference
The common difference in an arithmetic progression is the fixed amount added to each consecutive term of the sequence. Represented by \( d \), it determines how the sequence progresses.
- If \( d \) is positive, each term increases as we move forward in the sequence.
- If \( d \) is negative, each term decreases, leading to a descending series.
- When \( d = 0 \), every term in the series is equal, making it a constant series.
First Term in Arithmetic Progression
In an arithmetic progression, the first term, denoted as \( a \), is the initial value from where the sequence starts. This term plays a pivotal role as it sets the baseline for all subsequent terms.
- The choice of the first term affects the entire sequence, significantly influencing the values of the series.
- It is used directly in the formula for both the sum and individual term expressions.