The sum of three numbers in AP is 18. If the product of first and third number is five times the common difference, find the numbers.
Let the first three numbers in an arithmetic progression be a − d, a, a + d.
The sum of the first three numbers in an arithmetic progression is 18.
a − d + a + a + d = 18
⇒ 3a = 18
⇒ a = 6
The product of the first and third term is 5 times the common difference.
$(a-d)(a+d)=5 d$
$\Rightarrow a^{2}-d^{2}=5 d$
$\Rightarrow(6)^{2}-d^{2}=5 d$
$\Rightarrow 36-d^{2}=5 d$
$\Rightarrow d^{2}+5 d-36=0$
$\Rightarrow d^{2}+9 d-4 d-36=0$
$\Rightarrow d(d+9)-4(d+9)=0$
$\Rightarrow(d+9)(d-4)=0$
$\Rightarrow d=4,-9$
For $d=4$
The numbers are $6-4,6,6+4$
i. e. $2,6,10$
For $d=-9$
The numbers are $6+9,6,6-9$
i.e. $15,6,-3$
Hence, the three numbers are 2, 6, 10 or 15, 6, −3.