MHB Arithmetic Progression Problem

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The discussion centers on finding three irreducible fractions, $\dfrac{a}{d}$, $\dfrac{b}{d}$, and $\dfrac{c}{d}$, that form an arithmetic progression under specific conditions. The conditions are given by the equations $\dfrac{b}{a}=\dfrac{1+a}{1+d}$ and $\dfrac{c}{b}=\dfrac{1+b}{1+d}$. Participants engage in solving the problem, with one user confirming the correctness of another's answer. The focus remains on deriving the fractions that satisfy the arithmetic progression criteria. The thread emphasizes the mathematical relationships between the fractions involved.
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Find three irreducible fractions $\dfrac{a}{d}$, $\dfrac{b}{d}$ and $\dfrac{c}{d}$ that form an arithmetic progression, if $\dfrac{b}{a}=\dfrac{1+a}{1+d}$, $\dfrac{c}{b}=\dfrac{1+b}{1+d}$.
 
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anemone said:
Find three irreducible fractions $\dfrac{a}{d}$, $\dfrac{b}{d}$ and $\dfrac{c}{d}$ that form an arithmetic progression, if $\dfrac{b}{a}=\dfrac{1+a}{1+d}$, $\dfrac{c}{b}=\dfrac{1+b}{1+d}$.

Hello.

If \ a<d \rightarrow{}a>b>c

a<d \rightarrow a+1<d+1

Same "c".

k=a-b, k=reason of the arithmetic progression.

k=a-\dfrac{a^2+a}{d+1}=\dfrac{ad-a^2}{d+1}

b-k=c \rightarrow{}b-\dfrac{ad-a^2}{d+1}=\dfrac{b^2+b}{d+1}

Resolving:

a^2-ad-b^2+bd=0

a=\dfrac{d \pm \sqrt{d^2+4b^2-4bd}}{2}

a=\dfrac{d \pm \sqrt{(d-2b)^2}}{2}

a=d-b \ or \ a=b

a=d-b \rightarrow{}d=a+b

\dfrac{b}{a}=\dfrac{1+a}{1+a+b} \rightarrow{}a^2+a=b^2+b+ab

a=\dfrac{(b-1) \pm \sqrt{(b-1)^2+4b^2+4b}}{2}

(b-1)^2+4b^2+4b=5b^2+2b+1=T^2

For \ b=2, T=5

a=3, b=2, c=1, d=5

Regards.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for participating, mente oscura! Your answer is correct, bravo!
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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