Sum of Square Root Terms in AP

CAT 2019 Slot 1 · QA · Hard · Progressions

If a1,a2,a_1, a_2, \dots are in A.P., then 1a1+a2+1a2+a3++1an+an+1\frac{1}{\sqrt{a_1} + \sqrt{a_2}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{a_2} + \sqrt{a_3}} + \dots + \frac{1}{\sqrt{a_n} + \sqrt{a_{n+1}}} is equal to

  1. A.

    \frac{n}{\sqrt{a_1} + \sqrt{a_{n+1}}}

  2. B.

    \frac{n-1}{\sqrt{a_1} + \sqrt{a_n}}

  3. C.

    \frac{n}{\sqrt{a_1} - \sqrt{a_{n+1}}}

  4. D.

    \frac{n-1}{\sqrt{a_1} + \sqrt{a_{n-1}}}

Answer

A

Explanation

Rationalizing each term: a2a1d+a3a2d++an+1and=an+1a1d\frac{\sqrt{a_2} - \sqrt{a_1}}{d} + \frac{\sqrt{a_3} - \sqrt{a_2}}{d} + \dots + \frac{\sqrt{a_{n+1}} - \sqrt{a_n}}{d} = \frac{\sqrt{a_{n+1}} - \sqrt{a_1}}{d}. Since an+1=a1+nd    d=an+1a1na_{n+1} = a_1 + nd \implies d = \frac{a_{n+1} - a_1}{n}. Sum =an+1a1an+1a1n=n(an+1a1)(an+1a1)(an+1+a1)=na1+an+1= \frac{\sqrt{a_{n+1}} - \sqrt{a_1}}{\frac{a_{n+1} - a_1}{n}} = \frac{n(\sqrt{a_{n+1}} - \sqrt{a_1})}{(\sqrt{a_{n+1}} - \sqrt{a_1})(\sqrt{a_{n+1}} + \sqrt{a_1})} = \frac{n}{\sqrt{a_1} + \sqrt{a_{n+1}}}.

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