Related Formula
Sₙ = (a(1 - rⁿ))/(1 - r)$$S_n = \frac{a(1 - r^n)}{1 - r}$$
where Sₙ$S_n$ is the sum of n$n$ terms, a$a$ is the first term, and r$r$ is the common ratio.
Core Logic
Let the terms of the G.P. be a, ar, ar², ar³, , ar⁶³$a, ar, ar^2, ar^3, \dots, ar^{63}$.
The sum of all 64 terms is given by:
Sall = a + ar + ar² + + ar⁶³ = a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r$$S_{\text{all}} = a + ar + ar^2 + \dots + ar^{63} = \frac{a(1 - r^{64})}{1 - r}$$
The odd terms are a, ar², ar⁴, , ar⁶²$a, ar^2, ar^4, \dots, ar^{62}$. This forms another G.P. with 32 terms and a common ratio of r²$r^2$.
The sum of the odd terms is:
Sodd = a + ar² + ar⁴ + + ar⁶² = a(1 - (r²)³²)1 - r² = a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r²$$S_{\text{odd}} = a + ar^2 + ar^4 + \dots + ar^{62} = \frac{a(1 - (r^2)^{32})}{1 - r^2} = \frac{a(1 - r^{64})}{1 - r^2}$$
Step 1: Equate and Solve for r
We are given that Sall = 7 · Sodd$S_{\text{all}} = 7 \cdot S_{\text{odd}}$. Substituting our formulas:
a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r = 7 · a(1 - r⁶⁴)1 - r²$$\frac{a(1 - r^{64})}{1 - r} = 7 \cdot \frac{a(1 - r^{64})}{1 - r^2}$$
Assuming a ≠ 0$a \neq 0$ and r ≠ 1$r \neq 1$, we can cancel the common terms a(1 - r⁶⁴)$\dots a(1 - r^{64}) \dots$ from both sides:
(1)/(1 - r) = (7)/(1 - r²)$$\frac{1}{1 - r} = \frac{7}{1 - r^2}$$
Since 1 - r² = (1 - r)(1 + r)$1 - r^2 = (1 - r)(1 + r)$, we have:
(1)/(1 - r) = (7)/((1 - r)(1 + r))$$\frac{1}{1 - r} = \frac{7}{(1 - r)(1 + r)}$$
1 + r = 7$1 + r = 7$
r = 6$r = 6$
Pattern Recognition
Shortcut: In any G.P. with an even number of terms, the ratio of the total sum to the sum of the odd-positioned terms is exactly 1 + r$1 + r$. Thus, 1 + r = 7 ⇒ r = 6$1 + r = 7 \Rightarrow r = 6$ immediately.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series