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Arithmetic Progressions

Question
CBSEENMA10007893

A sum of Rs. 280 is to be used to award four prizes. If each prize after the first is Rs. 20 less than the next most valuable one, find the value of each of the prizes.

Solution

Since each prize is Rs. 20 less than its preceding prize, therefore, the values of the seven successive cash prizes will form an A .P.
Let the first prize be Rs. a. Then, Successive prize = Rs. (a – 20), Rs. (a – 40),
Rs. (a – 60)..........Here, first term = a
Common difference = (a – 20) – a = –20 n = 7 and Sn = 700
We space know space that comma space space straight S subscript straight n equals straight n over 2 left square bracket 2 straight a plus left parenthesis straight n plus negative 1 right parenthesis straight d right square bracket
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space space 700 equals 7 over 2 left square bracket 2 straight a plus left parenthesis 7 minus 1 right parenthesis left parenthesis negative 20 right parenthesis right square bracket
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space 700 equals 7 over 2 left square bracket 2 straight a plus left parenthesis 6 right parenthesis left parenthesis negative 20 right parenthesis right square bracket
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space 1400 space equals space 7 left square bracket 2 straight a minus 120 right square bracket
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space space space 200 equals 2 straight a minus 120
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space space space space space 2 straight a equals 200 plus 120
rightwards double arrow space space space space space space space space space space space space space space space 2 straight a space equals 320 rightwards double arrow straight a space equals space 160

Hence value of first prize = Rs. 160, and successive prizes are
Rs. (a – 20), Rs. (a – 40), Rs. (a – 60) ...
i.e. Rs. (160 – 20), Rs. (160 – 40), Rs. (160 – 60)...
i.e. Rs. 140, Rs. 120, Rs. 100 ...