MCQMediumJEE 2025Arithmetic Progression (AP)

JEE Mathematics 2025 Question with Solution

Consider two sets AA and BB, each containing three numbers in A.P. Let the sum and the product of the elements of AA be 3636 and pp, respectively, and the sum and the product of the elements of BB be 3636 and qq, respectively. Let dd and DD be the common differences of A.P's in AA and BB, respectively, such that D=d+3D = d + 3, d>0d > 0. If p+qpq=195\frac{p+q}{p-q} = \frac{19}{5}, then pqp - q is equal to:

  • A

    600600

  • B

    450450

  • C

    630630

  • D

    540540

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The three elements of set AA are in A.P. and their sum is 3636. The three elements of set BB are also in A.P. and their sum is 3636. Also, D=d+3D = d + 3 and

p+qpq=195\frac{p+q}{p-q} = \frac{19}{5}

Find: The value of pqp-q.

Let the elements of set AA be

ad, a, a+da-d,\ a,\ a+d

and the elements of set BB be

bD, b, b+Db-D,\ b,\ b+D

Since the sum of elements of set AA is 3636,

(ad)+a+(a+d)=3a=36(a-d)+a+(a+d)=3a=36

so,

a=12a=12

Similarly, for set BB,

(bD)+b+(b+D)=3b=36(b-D)+b+(b+D)=3b=36

so,

b=12b=12

Therefore,

p=(ad)a(a+d)=a(a2d2)p=(a-d)\cdot a\cdot (a+d)=a(a^2-d^2)

Hence,

p=12(144d2)p=12(144-d^2)

Also,

q=(bD)b(b+D)=b(b2D2)q=(b-D)\cdot b\cdot (b+D)=b(b^2-D^2)

Hence,

q=12(144D2)q=12(144-D^2)

Using D=d+3D=d+3,

q=12(144(d+3)2)q=12\left(144-(d+3)^2\right)

Now use the given relation

p+qpq=195\frac{p+q}{p-q}=\frac{19}{5}

Cross-multiplying,

5(p+q)=19(pq)5(p+q)=19(p-q) 5p+5q=19p19q5p+5q=19p-19q 24q=14p24q=14p pq=127\frac{p}{q}=\frac{12}{7}

Substitute the expressions of pp and qq:

144d2144(d+3)2=127\frac{144-d^2}{144-(d+3)^2}=\frac{12}{7}

Expanding,

144d2144(d2+6d+9)=127\frac{144-d^2}{144-(d^2+6d+9)}=\frac{12}{7} 144d2135d26d=127\frac{144-d^2}{135-d^2-6d}=\frac{12}{7}

Cross-multiplying,

7(144d2)=12(135d26d)7(144-d^2)=12(135-d^2-6d) 10087d2=162012d272d1008-7d^2=1620-12d^2-72d 5d2+72d612=05d^2+72d-612=0

Solving, we get

d=6d=6

Since d>0d>0, this value is valid. Then

D=d+3=9D=d+3=9

Now,

pq=12(144d2)12(144D2)p-q=12(144-d^2)-12(144-D^2) pq=12(D2d2)p-q=12(D^2-d^2)

Substituting d=6d=6 and D=9D=9,

pq=12(8136)p-q=12(81-36) pq=1245=540p-q=12\cdot 45=540

Therefore, the value of pqp-q is 540540, so the correct option is D.

Equation-Based Approach

Given: Both sets contain three numbers in A.P. with sum 3636, and their products are pp and qq. Also, D=d+3D=d+3 and

p+qpq=195\frac{p+q}{p-q}=\frac{19}{5}

Find: pqp-q.

Write the A.P.s as

A=(12d, 12, 12+d),B=(12D, 12, 12+D)A=(12-d,\ 12,\ 12+d), \qquad B=(12-D,\ 12,\ 12+D)

Then

p=12(144d2),q=12(144D2)p=12(144-d^2), \qquad q=12(144-D^2)

From

p+qpq=195\frac{p+q}{p-q}=\frac{19}{5}

we get

5p+5q=19p19q5p+5q=19p-19q

which gives

14p=24q14p=24q

So,

pq=127\frac{p}{q}=\frac{12}{7}

Now substitute D=d+3D=d+3:

12(144d2)12(144(d+3)2)=127\frac{12(144-d^2)}{12\left(144-(d+3)^2\right)}=\frac{12}{7}

Cancelling 1212,

144d2144(d+3)2=127\frac{144-d^2}{144-(d+3)^2}=\frac{12}{7}

This yields

7(144d2)=12(144d26d9)7(144-d^2)=12\left(144-d^2-6d-9\right) 10087d2=162012d272d1008-7d^2=1620-12d^2-72d 5d2+72d612=05d^2+72d-612=0

Hence,

d=6d=6

and therefore

D=9D=9

Finally,

pq=12[(144d2)(144D2)]p-q=12\left[(144-d^2)-(144-D^2)\right] pq=12(D2d2)p-q=12(D^2-d^2) pq=12(8136)=540p-q=12(81-36)=540

Therefore, the correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Taking the three terms of the A.P. as a,a+d,a+2da, a+d, a+2d and then using the sum incorrectly. That form is valid, but then the middle term is not the average-centered term used in the product formula here. It is safer to use ad,a,a+da-d, a, a+d so that the sum becomes 3a3a immediately.

  • Using pq=12(D2d3)p-q=12(D^2-d^3) from the second approach text. That expression is incorrect because the product formulas involve squares of the common differences. The correct simplification is pq=12(D2d2)p-q=12(D^2-d^2).

  • Cross-multiplying p+qpq=195\frac{p+q}{p-q}=\frac{19}{5} incorrectly. Sign errors are common here. First write 5(p+q)=19(pq)5(p+q)=19(p-q) and then simplify carefully to get 14p=24q14p=24q.

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