The sum of the first two terms of a geometric progression is x and sum of the last terms is y. If there are n terms in all, then the common ratio is

The sum of the first two terms of a geometric progression is x and sum of the last terms is y. If there are n terms in all, then the common ratio is

Answer Details

Sum of nth term of a G.P = Sn = $\frac{a{r}^n-1}{r-1}$
sum of the first two terms = $\frac{a{r}^2-1}{r-1}$
x = a(r + 1)
sum of the last two terms = Sn - Sn - 2
= $\frac{a{r}^n-1}{r-1}$ - $\frac{\left(a{r}^{n-1}\right)}{r-1}$
= $\frac{a(r^n-1-r^{n-2}+1)}{r-1}$ (r2 - 1)
∴ $\frac{a{r}^{n-2}(r+1)(r-1)}{1}$= arn - 2(r + 1) = y
= a(r + 1)r^n - 2
y = xrn - 2
= yrn - 2
$\frac{y}{x}$ = r = ($\frac{y}{x}$)$\frac{1}{n-2}$