Latest IBM Aptitude Question SOLUTION: Three numbers are in A.P., and the product of them is same as product of smallest and largest. What is the middle number? a) 1 b) -1 c) 2 d) -2

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Three numbers are in A.P., and the product of them is same as product of smallest and largest. What
is the middle number?
a) 1 b) -1 c) 2 d) -2

Asked In IBM Amit Kumar Pal (9 years ago)

Unsolved Read Solution (8)

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Read Solution (8) :

sangita dhal  (9 years ago)

let 3 A.P terms are a,a+d,a+2d
a is the 1st no.
a+d is the middle one and
a+2d is the last no.
According to question a*(a+d)*(a+2d)=a*(a+2d)
=> a+d=1
Therefore middle no.is 1

Is this solution Helpfull? Yes (16) | No   

P.Dimpul  (9 years ago)

let x,y,z are 3 members in ap
they given product of xyz=product of xz
if we subbstitute y=1 in xyz product then we will get it as xz
so y=1

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sourav  (9 years ago)

ans = a(1)
since;
the A.P is-> -1,1,3 so the prdct of them is -3 and the prdct of -1 & 3 is -3.
so the middle term is 1.

Is this solution Helpfull? Yes | No (1)  

d.pushpalatha  (9 years ago)

assume a,b,c in a.p then given abc=ac so b=1

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md saddam hossain  (9 years ago)

(a-d)*a*(a+d)=(a-d)*(a+d)
0r,a=1

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chanti  (9 years ago)

let us assume three values which are in a.p
x,x+1,x+2
as given in the question product of these three values=product of small and largest
i.e x*x+1*x+2=x*x+2
x(x^2+3x+2)=x(x+2)
x(x+2)=0;
x=-2 or 0
if u consider 0 the middle value is 1
if u consider -2 the middle value is -1

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Vijaya Lakshmi  (9 years ago)

Middle term is 1
suppose all the 3 terms are a-x, a, a+x
so product of the three = product of smallest and largest
therefore (a-x)*a*(a+x)=(a-x)*(a+x)
therefor a=(a-x)*(a+x)/(a-x)*(a+x) =1

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ssd  (9 years ago)

let the 3 nos in AP be a-d,a,a+d
ATQ
(a-d)(a)(a+d)=(a-d)(a+d)
=> a(a^2-d^2)=a^2-d^2) =>a=1
hence ans is a)1

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