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If the 7th term of an AP is twice the third term and the ...

If the 7th term of an AP is twice the third term and the sum of the first four terms is 42, find the common difference.

A.

6

B.

3

C.

2

D.

1

Correct answer is B

U7 = a + (7 - 1)d
= a + 6d
U3 = a + (3 - 1)d
= a + 2d
But U7 = 2(U3)
∴a + 6d = 2(a + 2d)
a + 6d = 2a + 4d
2a - a + 4d - 6d = 0
a - 2d = 0 → eqn1
Sn = n/2 (2a + (n - 1)d)
42 = 4/2 (2a + (4 - 1)d)
42 = 2(2a + 3d)
21 = 2a + 3d → eqn2
eqn1 * eqn2 0 = 2a - 4d
21 = 7d
∴d = 21/7
d = 3