Let the positive numbers $a_{1}, a_{2}, a_{3}, a_{4}$ and $a_{5}$ be in a G.P. Let their mean and variance be $\frac{31}{10}$ and $\frac{m}{n}$ respectively, where $m$ and $n$ are co-prime. If the mean of their reciprocals is $\frac{31}{40}$ and $a_{3}+a_{4}+a_{5}=14$, then $m+n$ is equal to ___________.
Answer (integer)
211
Solution
Since $a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, a_5$ are in geometric progression, we can write :
<br/><br/>$a_2 = r a$,
<br/><br/>$a_3 = r^2 a$,
<br/><br/>$a_4 = r^3 a$,
<br/><br/>$a_5 = r^4 a$.
<br/><br/>where $r$ is the common ratio and $a_1$ = $a$ is the first term.
<br/><br/>Given that the mean of the series is $\frac{31}{10}$, we get
<br/><br/>$\frac{1}{5}(a_1 + a_2 + a_3 + a_4 + a_5) = \frac{31}{10}$
<br/><br/>Substituting the terms with the values of $a_1$ and $r$ gives
<br/><br/>$\frac{1}{5}(a + r a + r^2 a + r^3 a + r^4 a) = \frac{31}{10}$
<br/><br/>Simplifying this gives
<br/><br/>$a (1 + r + r^2 + r^3 + r^4) = \frac{31}{2}$
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
& \frac{a\left(r^5-1\right)}{r-1}=\frac{31}{2} ......(1) \\\\
& \frac{1}{a}\left(1+\frac{1}{r}+\frac{1}{r^2}+\frac{1}{r^3}+\frac{1}{r^4}\right)=\frac{31}{40} \cdot 5=\frac{31}{8} \\\\
& \frac{1}{a}\left(\frac{1-\left(\frac{1}{r}\right)^5}{1-\frac{1}{r}}\right)=\frac{31}{8} \\\\
& \text { or } \frac{1}{a}\left(\frac{r^5-1}{r-1}\right) \frac{1}{r^4}=\frac{31}{8} .........(2)
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>From (1) and (2)
<br/><br/>$\frac{1}{a} \cdot \frac{31}{2 a} \cdot \frac{1}{r^4}=\frac{31}{8}$
<br/><br/>$a r^2=2$
<br/><br/>From (1)
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
& \frac{2}{r^2}\left(\frac{r^5-1}{r-1}\right)=\frac{31}{2} \\\\
& \frac{1+r+r^2+r^3+r^4}{r^2}=\frac{31}{4} \\\\
& \left(r^2+\frac{1}{r^2}\right)+\left(r+\frac{1}{r}\right)=\frac{27}{4} \\\\
& t^2-2+t=\frac{27}{4}
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
&4 t^2+4 t-35=0\\\\
&4 t^2+14 t-10 t-35=0\\\\
&(2 t-5)(2 t+7)=0\\\\
&t=\frac{5}{2}, \frac{-7}{2} \Rightarrow r=2\\\\
& \therefore r=2, a=\frac{1}{2}
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>$\text { Variance of data set }\left\{\frac{1}{2}, 1,2,4,8\right\}$
<br/><br/>$$
\therefore \sigma^2=\frac{\sum{\mathrm{X}^2}}{\mathrm{~N}}-\left(\frac{\sum{\mathrm{X}}}{\mathrm{N}}\right)^2
$$
<br/><br/>$$
\begin{aligned}
& =\frac{\left(\frac{341}{4}\right)}{5}-\left(\frac{31}{10}\right)^2 \\\\
& =\frac{341}{20}-\frac{961}{100}=\frac{1705-961}{100} \\\\
& =\frac{744}{100}
\end{aligned}
$$
<br/><br/>$$
=\frac{186}{25}=\frac{\mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{n}} \Rightarrow 211=\mathrm{m}+\mathrm{n}
$$
About this question
Subject: Mathematics · Chapter: Statistics · Topic: Measures of Central Tendency
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