Question 1:
Given: a(n) = 48, s(n) = 546, n = 26
Use this formula.
S(n) = (n/2)(a(1) + a(n))
546 = (26/2)(a(1) + 48)
546 = 13a(1) + 624
546 - 624 = 13a(1)
-6 = a(1) (Answer)
Question 2:
Given: S(n) = 781, d = 3, n = 2
Remember that: a(n) = a(1) + (n - 1)d
S(n) = (n/2)(a(1) + a(n))
S(n) = (n/2)(a(1) + a(1) + (n - 1)d)
781 = (22/2)(2a(1) + (22 - 1)(3))
781 = 22a(1) + 693
781 - 693 = 22a(1)
88 = 22a(1)
4 = a(1) (Answer)
Question 3:
Given: a(3) = 9, a(7) = 31
If a(3) and a(7) were consecutive terms, the common difference will be 4 times bigger, since you must add the common difference 4 times to a(3) to reach a(7). Let a(3) be a(1) and a(7) be a(2).
a(n) = a(1) + (n - 1)d
31 = 9 + (2 - 1)d
31 - 9 = d
22 = d
So the common difference in this problem is 22/4 or 11/2. Now, let's find the first term of the sequence. Let n = 3.
a(n) = a(1) + (n - 1)d
9 = a(1) + (3 - 1)(11/2)
9 = a(1) + 11
9 - 11 = a(1)
-2 = a(1)
Find the 22nd term.
a(n) = a(1) + (n - 1)d
a(22) = -2 + (22 - 1)(11/2)
a(22) = -2 + 231/2
a(22) = 227/2
Finally, find the sum of the first 22 terms.
S(n) = (n/2)(a(1) + a(n))
S(n) = (22/2)(-2 + 227/2)
S(n) = (11)(223/2)
S(n) = 2453/2 (Answer)
Question 4:
Given: a(1) = 2, d = 2, S(n) = 60762
Using the formula for the sum of an arithmetic sequence, form the first equation.
S(n) = (n/2)(a1 + a(n))
60762 = (n/2)(a1 + a1 + (n - 1)d)
60762 = (n/2)(2(2) + (n - 1)(2))
60762 = (n/2)(4 + 2n - 2)
60762 = (n/2)(2 + 2n)
60762 = n(1 + n)
60762 = n^2 + n
0 = n^2 + n - 60672
Use the quadratic formula. I'll just use + instead of ±, since we can't have a negative number of terms.
n = [-b + √(b^2 - 4ac)] / 2a
n = [-1 + √(1^2 - 4(1)(-60672)] / 2(1)
n = [-1 + √(243049)] / 2
n = [-1 + 493] / 2
n = 492/2
n = 246 (Answer)
The first 246 terms of this arithmetic sequence, when added together, gives us 60762. Hope this helps!