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Four numbers are in arithmetic progression. The sum of first and last term is $8$ and the product of both middle terms is $15$. The least number of the series is
$4$
$3$
$2$
$1$
Solution
(d) Let ${A_1},{A_2},{A_3}$ and ${A_4}$ are four numbers in $A.P.$
${A_1} + {A_4} = 8$ ..$(i)$
and ${A_2}.\,{A_3} = 15$ ..$(ii)$
The sum of terms equidistant from the beginning and end is constant and is equal to
sum of first and last terms.
Hence, ${A_2} + {A_3} = {A_1} + {A_4} = 8$ ..$(iii)$
From $(ii)$ and $(iii),$
${A_2} + \frac{{15}}{{{A_2}}} = 8$
==> $A_2^2 – 8{A_2} + 15 = 0$
${A_2} = 3\,\,{\rm{or}}\,\,5$ and ${A_3} = 5\,\,\,{\rm{or}}\,\,{\rm{3}}$.
As we know, ${A_2} = \frac{{{A_1} + {A_3}}}{2}$
==> ${A_1} = 2{A_2} – {A_3}$
==> ${A_1} = 2 \times 3 – 5 = 1$ and ${A_4} = 8 – {A_1} = 7$
Hence the series is, $1, 3, 5, 7.$
So that least number of series is $1.$