Question 14 and 15, Exercise 4.2

Solutions of Question 14 and 15 of Exercise 4.2 of Unit 04: Sequence and Series. This is unit of Model Textbook of Mathematics for Class XI published by National Book Foundation (NBF) as Federal Textbook Board, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Find 'b' if 10 is A.M between b and 20.

Solution.

Let a=b and b=20. Then \begin{align*} &\text{A.M.} = \frac{a + b}{2} \\ \implies & 10 = \frac{b + 20}{2} \\ \implies & 20 = b + 20 \\ \implies & b = 20 - 20 \\ \implies & b = 0 \end{align*} Hence b=0. GOOD

To get the answer given at the end of the book, question can be as follows:
  • Find 'b' if 25 is A.M between b and 20.
  • Find 'b' if 10 is A.M between b and 10.

Find x and y if 2 and 13 are two arithmetic means between x and y.

Solution.

Given: 2 and 13 are two arithmetic means between x and y.
This gives x, 2, 13, y are in A.P.

Here a1=x and d=132=11.

Now \begin{align*} & a_2= a_1+d\\ \implies &2 = x + 11 \\ \implies & \boxed{x=-9} \end{align*} Also \begin{align*} &a_4=a_1+3d\\ \implies &y=x+3(11)\\ \implies &y=-9 + 33 \\ \implies &\boxed{y=24}\end{align*} Hence x=9 and y=24. GOOD