Find four numbers forming a geometric progression in which third term is greater than the first term by 9,
Find four numbers forming a geometric progression in which third term is greater than the first term by 9, and the second term is greater than the 4th by 18.
Let a be the first term and r be the common ratio of the G.P.
$a_{1}=a, a_{2}=a r, a_{3}=a r^{2}, a_{4}=a r^{3}$
By the given condition,
$a_{3}=a_{1}+9$
$\Rightarrow a r^{2}=a+9 \ldots(1)$
$a_{2}=a_{4}+18$
$\Rightarrow a r=a r^{3}+18 \ldots(2)$
From $(1)$ and $(2)$, we obtain
$a\left(r^{2}-1\right)=9 \ldots(3)$
$\operatorname{ar}\left(1-r^{2}\right)=18 \ldots(4)$
Dividing (4) by (3), we obtain
$\frac{a r\left(1-r^{2}\right)}{a\left(r^{2}-1\right)}=\frac{18}{9}$
$\Rightarrow-r=2$
$\Rightarrow r=-2$
Substituting the value of r in (1), we obtain
$4 a=a+9$
$\Rightarrow 3 a=9$
$\therefore a=3$
Thus, the first four numbers of the G.P. are $3,3(-2), 3(-2)^{2}$, and $3(-2)^{3}$ i.e., $3,-6,12$, and $-24$.