Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing on the edge of a vast, unfolding mathematical landscape. You see a sequence of numbers, each one born from the last by a constant, rhythmic multiplication. This is the Geometric Progression (GP), a structure of pure, exponential beauty.
We define our sequence as a1,a2,a3,… where the general term is an=arn−1. We are given that the sequence is increasing and all terms are positive, which implies that our common ratio r must satisfy r>1.
The Hidden Symmetry
The problem provides the condition that the product of the fourth and sixth terms is nine:
a4⋅a6=9
Substituting the general form, we get (ar3)(ar5)=9, which simplifies to a2r8=9. Notice that a2r8 is equivalent to (ar4)2.
Since ar4 is the fifth term a5, we have a52=9. Because all terms are positive, we conclude that a5=3.
Unlocking the Ratio
Next, we are given that the sum of the fifth and seventh terms is twenty-four:
a5+a7=24
Substituting
a5=3, we find
3+a7=24, which implies
a7=21. We can express
a7 in terms of
a5 as follows:
a7=a5⋅r2
Substituting our known values, we get 3r2=21. Dividing both sides by three, we find that r2=7.
The Final Synthesis
We now evaluate the target expression: a1a9+a2a4a9+a5+a7. Let us break this down into its constituent parts:
First, consider the product
a1a9:
a1a9=a⋅(ar8)=a2r8=(ar4)2=a52=32=9
Second, consider the product
a2a4a9:
a2a4a9=(ar)(ar3)(ar8)=a3r12=(ar4)3=a53=33=27
Finally, we recall that
a5+a7=24. Summing these components together, we obtain:
9+27+24=60
The final result of the expression is 60.