MCQMediumJEE 2023Geometric Progression (GP)

JEE Mathematics 2023 Question with Solution

Let A1A_1 and A2A_2 be two arithmetic means and G1,G2,G3G_1, G_2, G_3 be three geometric means of two distinct positive numbers. Then G14+G24+G34+G12G32G_1^{4}+G_2^{4}+G_3^{4}+G_1^{2}G_3^{2} is equal to

  • A

    2(A1+A2)G1G32(A_1+A_2)G_1G_3

  • B

    (A1+A2)G12G32(A_1+A_2)G_1^{2}G_3^{2}

  • C

    (A1+A2)2G1G3(A_1+A_2)^2G_1G_3

  • D

    2(A1+A2)G12G322(A_1+A_2)G_1^{2}G_3^{2}

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A1A_1 and A2A_2 are two arithmetic means, and G1,G2,G3G_1, G_2, G_3 are three geometric means between two distinct positive numbers.

Find: The value of G14+G24+G34+G12G32G_1^{4}+G_2^{4}+G_3^{4}+G_1^{2}G_3^{2} in terms of A1,A2,G1,G3A_1, A_2, G_1, G_3.

Let the two distinct positive numbers be aa and bb.

If G1,G2,G3G_1, G_2, G_3 are three geometric means between aa and bb, then

a,G1,G2,G3,ba,\,G_1,\,G_2,\,G_3,\,b

form a GP. Hence,

G1=ar,G2=ar2,G3=ar3,b=ar4G_1=ar,\quad G_2=ar^2,\quad G_3=ar^3,\quad b=ar^4

The two arithmetic means between aa and bb are

A1=2a+b3,A2=a+2b3A_1=\frac{2a+b}{3},\quad A_2=\frac{a+2b}{3}

Thus,

A1+A2=a+bA_1+A_2=a+b

Now evaluate the given expression:

G14+G24+G34+G12G32G_1^{4}+G_2^{4}+G_3^{4}+G_1^{2}G_3^{2} =(ar)4+(ar2)4+(ar3)4+(ar)2(ar3)2=(ar)^4+(ar^2)^4+(ar^3)^4+(ar)^2(ar^3)^2 =a4(r4+r8+r12+r8)=a^4(r^4+r^8+r^{12}+r^8) =a4(r4+2r8+r12)=a^4(r^4+2r^8+r^{12}) =a4(r2+r6)2=a^4(r^2+r^6)^2

Since b=ar4b=ar^4, we have

a+b=a(1+r4)a+b=a(1+r^4)

and

G1G3=(ar)(ar3)=a2r4G_1G_3=(ar)(ar^3)=a^2r^4

Hence,

(a+b)2G1G3=a2(1+r4)2a2r4=a4(r4+2r8+r12)(a+b)^2G_1G_3=a^2(1+r^4)^2\cdot a^2r^4=a^4(r^4+2r^8+r^{12})

This matches the given expression. Therefore,

G14+G24+G34+G12G32=(A1+A2)2G1G3G_1^{4}+G_2^{4}+G_3^{4}+G_1^{2}G_3^{2}=(A_1+A_2)^2G_1G_3

The correct option is C.

GP Representation Trick

Given: Three geometric means lie between two positive numbers.

Find: A compact way to rewrite the expression.

Write the numbers in GP form as a,ar,ar2,ar3,ar4a, ar, ar^2, ar^3, ar^4. Then

G1=ar,G2=ar2,G3=ar3G_1=ar,\quad G_2=ar^2,\quad G_3=ar^3

and

A1+A2=a+b=a+ar4=a(1+r4)A_1+A_2=a+b=a+ar^4=a(1+r^4)

Also,

G1G3=a2r4G_1G_3=a^2r^4

Now,

G14+G24+G34+G12G32G_1^{4}+G_2^{4}+G_3^{4}+G_1^{2}G_3^{2} =a4(r4+r8+r12+r8)=a^4(r^4+r^8+r^{12}+r^8) =a4(r4+2r8+r12)=a^4(r^4+2r^8+r^{12}) =a4r4(1+r4)2=a^4r^4(1+r^4)^2

But

(a+b)2G1G3=a2(1+r4)2a2r4=a4r4(1+r4)2(a+b)^2G_1G_3=a^2(1+r^4)^2\cdot a^2r^4=a^4r^4(1+r^4)^2

So the expression is equal to (A1+A2)2G1G3(A_1+A_2)^2G_1G_3. The correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming A1+A2A_1+A_2 is the sum of the geometric means is incorrect. Here A1A_1 and A2A_2 are arithmetic means between aa and bb, so first express them correctly and use A1+A2=a+bA_1+A_2=a+b.

  • Writing the GP incorrectly is a common error. If there are three geometric means between aa and bb, the full GP must be a,G1,G2,G3,ba, G_1, G_2, G_3, b, so use G1=ar,G2=ar2,G3=ar3,b=ar4G_1=ar, G_2=ar^2, G_3=ar^3, b=ar^4.

  • Missing the repeated r8r^8 term in G24G_2^4 and G12G32G_1^2G_3^2 leads to a wrong simplification. Combine the terms carefully to get r4+2r8+r12r^4+2r^8+r^{12} before factorising.

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