Interesting problem involving arithmetic progression

AI Thread Summary
The problem presented involves proving that if two terms in a finite arithmetic progression are equal to 3, then all terms must also equal 3. The discussion highlights that in an arithmetic progression, the difference between successive terms is constant. If two terms are equal, the common difference must be zero, leading to the conclusion that all terms in the progression are identical. The initial confusion regarding the terms being equal to 2 was clarified, reaffirming that the proof pertains to the value of 3. This confirms that the arithmetic progression must consist entirely of the number 3.
Bipolarity
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I just came up with a problem I hope you will find interesting, but I can't seem it solve it myself. I thought of induction as some guide, but am not sure how to proceed.

There are N terms in some finite arithmetic progression. Two of those terms are equal to 3. Prove that all terms in this progression also equal 3.

BiP
 
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You are making life too hard for yourself :)

An arithmetic progression is a sequence of numbers such that the difference of any two successive members of the sequence is a constant.

If term xi=a and xi+n=b then the difference between successive terms Δx must be Δx=(b-a)/n.

If a=b then Δx must be ...
 
Last edited:
Simon Bridge said:
You are making life too hard for yourself :)

An arithmetic progression is a sequence of numbers such that the difference of any two successive members of the sequence is a constant.

If term xi=a and xi+n=b then the difference between successive terms Δx must be Δx=|a-b|/n.

If a=b then Δx must be ...

Thanks!

So 2=2+n*d
0 = n*d
d = 0, since n is not 0.

Since d=0, every term must equal the ith term, which happens to be 2!

Genius!

BiP
 
Bipolarity said:
There are N terms in some finite arithmetic progression. Two of those terms are equal to 3. Prove that all terms in this progression also equal 3.

BiP

Bipolarity said:
Thanks!

So 2=2+n*d
0 = n*d
d = 0, since n is not 0.

Since d=0, every term must equal the ith term, which happens to be 2!
I'm assuming that the work above is related to the problem in the original post. The i-th term can't be 2 if you're proving that all the terms in the progression are 3.
 
Mark44 said:
I'm assuming that the work above is related to the problem in the original post. The i-th term can't be 2 if you're proving that all the terms in the progression are 3.

Sorry my mistake, I meant to write 3.

BiP
 
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