Question:
The sum of first three terms of an AP is 48. If the product of first and second terms exceeds 4 times the third term by 12, find the AP.
Solution:
Let the first three terms of the AP be (a − d), a and (a + d). Then,
$(a-d)+a+(a+d)=48$
$\Rightarrow 3 a=48$
$\Rightarrow a=16$
Now,
$(a-d) \times a=4(a+d)+12$ (Given)
$\Rightarrow(16-d) \times 16=4(16+d)+12$
$\Rightarrow 256-16 d=64+4 d+12$
$\Rightarrow 16 d+4 d=256-76$
$\Rightarrow 20 d=180$
$\Rightarrow d=9$
When a = 16 and d = 9,
$a-d=16-9=7$
$a+d=16+9=25$
Hence, the first three terms of the AP are 7, 16 and 25.