Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing at the edge of an infinite staircase. Each step you take is smaller than the last, shrinking by a constant ratio. This is the essence of an infinite geometric series.
In our problem, we are given three such series:
x=∑n=0∞an, y=∑n=0∞bn, and z=∑n=0∞cn.
At first glance, these look like abstract symbols, but they are actually elegant, compact representations of infinite sums.
Unlocking the G.P
Let us focus on x. When we expand the summation, we see x=1+a+a2+a3+….
This is the classic definition of a Geometric Progression (G.P.) where the first term is 1 and the common ratio is a. The constraint ∣a∣<1 is our green light; it tells us the series converges to a finite sum.
Using the formula S=1−RA, we immediately find:
This is the key that unlocks the entire problem. By symmetry, we can write:
The Bridge to A.P
Now, we need to connect these to the condition that a,b, and c are in Arithmetic Progression (A.P.). The A.P. condition is 2b=a+c.
However, our current equations are in terms of x,y, and z. We need to flip the perspective. Rearranging x=1−a1, we get 1−a=x1, which simplifies to:
Similarly, we find b=1−y1 and c=1−z1. We have successfully built a bridge between the world of G.P. sums and the world of A.P. sequences.
The Final Cancellation
Now, let us perform the substitution into the A.P. condition 2b=a+c. Substituting our expressions, we get:
Expanding the left side gives 2−y2, and combining the right side gives 2−x1−z1. Look at the beauty of the algebra: the constant 2 appears on both sides and cancels out perfectly!
We are left with −y2=−x1−z1. Multiplying by −1, we arrive at the elegant result:
This is the definitive signature of an Arithmetic Progression. It tells us that the reciprocals x1,y1,z1 are in A.P.