Question:
Choose the correct answer in each of the following questions:
What is 20th term from the end of the AP 3, 8, 13, ..., 253?
(a) 163
(b) 158
(c) 153
(d) 148
Solution:
The given AP is 3, 8, 13, ..., 253.
Let us re-write the given AP in reverse order i.e. 253, 248, ..., 13, 8, 3.
Now, the 20th term from the end of the given AP is equal to the 20th term from beginning of the AP 253, 248, ..., 13, 8, 3.
Consider the AP 253, 248, ..., 13, 8, 3.
Here, a = 253 and d = 248 − 253 = −5
∴ 20th term of this AP
= 253 + (20 − 1) × (−5)
= 253 − 95
= 158
Thus, the 20th term from the end of the given AP is 158.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.