Question
Find four numbers in GP. whose sum is 85 and product is 4096.
Solution
Let the four numbers in G.P. be
Since their product is 4096.
∴
Since their sum is 85
∴
Put
∴ or
Putting 2t = x, we get
By inspection x = 5 satisfies the equation. So x - 5 is a factor of . Other roots are given by
x is imaginary
∴ x = 5 is the only real value
So, 2t = 5,
When a = 8, r = 2, numbers are
When a = 8, numbers are
or 64, 16, 4, 1