Related Formula
Sum of an A.P.: Sk = (k)/(2) ( 2a + (k-1)d )$$\text{Sum of an A.P.: } S_k = \frac{k}{2} \left( 2a + (k-1)d \right)$$
General term of an A.P.: ak = a₁ + (k-1)d$$\text{General term of an A.P.: } a_k = a_1 + (k-1)d$$
Core Logic
Let the A.P. have n$n$ terms (where n$n$ is even). The terms are divided into n/2$n/2$ odd-indexed terms and n/2$n/2$ even-indexed terms.
Step 1: Set up the even and odd sums
Sum of even terms:
a₂ + a₄ + + aₙ = 30 --- (1)$$a_2 + a_4 + \dots + a_n = 30 \quad \text{--- (1)}$$
Sum of odd terms:
a₁ + a₃ + + aₙ₋₁ = 24 --- (2)$$a_1 + a_3 + \dots + a_{n-1} = 24 \quad \text{--- (2)}$$
Subtracting equation (2) from (1):
(a₂ - a₁) + (a₄ - a₃) + + (aₙ - aₙ₋₁) = 30 - 24 = 6$$(a_2 - a_1) + (a_4 - a_3) + \dots + (a_n - a_{n-1}) = 30 - 24 = 6$$
Since there are n/2$n/2$ such pairs, and the difference of adjacent terms is the common difference d$d$:
(n)/(2) d = 6 n d = 12 --- (3)$$\frac{n}{2} d = 6 \implies n d = 12 \quad \text{--- (3)}$$
Step 2: Solve for n and d
We are given that the last term exceeds the first by (21)/(2)$\frac{21}{2}$:
aₙ - a₁ = (n-1)d = (21)/(2)$$a_n - a_1 = (n-1)d = \frac{21}{2}$$
n d - d = 10.5$n d - d = 10.5$
Substitute nd = 12$nd = 12$ from (3):
12 - d = 10.5 d = 1.5 = (3)/(2)$$12 - d = 10.5 \implies d = 1.5 = \frac{3}{2}$$
Using this in (3):
n ((3)/(2)) = 12 n = 8$$n \left(\frac{3}{2}\right) = 12 \implies n = 8$$
Step 3: Solve for the first term
The sum of the odd terms is:
Sodd = (4)/(2) [ 2a₁ + (4-1)(2d) ] = 24$$S_{\text{odd}} = \frac{4}{2} \left[ 2a_1 + (4-1)(2d) \right] = 24$$
2 [ 2a₁ + 3(3) ] = 24 2a₁ + 9 = 12 a₁ = 1.5 = (3)/(2)$$2 \left[ 2a_1 + 3(3) \right] = 24 \implies 2a_1 + 9 = 12 \implies a_1 = 1.5 = \frac{3}{2}$$
Thus, the terms are:
(3)/(2), 3, (9)/(2), 6, (15)/(2), 9, (21)/(2), 12$$\frac{3}{2}, \, 3, \, \frac{9}{2}, \, 6, \, \frac{15}{2}, \, 9, \, \frac{21}{2}, \, 12$$
The terms that are integers are 3, 6, 9, 12$3, 6, 9, 12$. The total number of integer terms is 4.
Pattern Recognition
Sum of even terms minus sum of odd terms in any A.P. with an even number of terms n$n$ is always equal to (n)/(2) d$\frac{n}{2} d$. This is an extremely useful relation to remember.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Mathematics: Sequences and Series