Question:
In an AP, the first term is −4, the last term is 29 and the sum of all its terms is 150. Find its common difference.
Solution:
Suppose there are n terms in the AP.
Here, a = −4, l = 29 and Sn = 150
$S_{n}=150$
$\Rightarrow \frac{n}{2}(-4+29)=150 \quad\left[S_{n}=\frac{n}{2}(a+l)\right]$
$\Rightarrow n=\frac{150 \times 2}{25}=12$
Thus, the AP contains 12 terms.
Let d be the common difference of the AP.
$\therefore a_{12}=29$
$\Rightarrow-4+(12-1) \times d=29 \quad\left[a_{n}=a+(n-1) d\right]$
$\Rightarrow 11 d=29+4=33$
$\Rightarrow d=3$
Hence, the common difference of the AP is 3.