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Q19:

200 logs are stacked in the following manner: 20 logs in the bottom row, 19 in the next row, 18 in the row next to it and so on (see Fig. 5.5). In how many rows are the 200 logs placed and how many logs are in the top row?

Solution :

Given:

Total number of logs ($S_n$) = $200$

Number of logs in the bottom row ($a$) = $20$

Number of logs in the next row = $19$

Number of logs in the row after that = $18$

This forms an Arithmetic Progression (AP) where the common difference ($d$) = $19 - 20 = -1$.

To Find:

1. The number of rows ($n$).

2. The number of logs in the top row ($a_n$).

Step 1: Formulating the Equation

The sum of $n$ terms of an Arithmetic Progression is given by the formula:

$S_n = \frac{n}{2} [2a + (n - 1)d]$

Substituting the given values into the formula:

$200 = \frac{n}{2} [2(20) + (n - 1)(-1)]$

Step 2: Solving for $n$

$200 = \frac{n}{2} [40 - n + 1]$

$200 = \frac{n}{2} [41 - n]$

Multiply both sides by $2$ to eliminate the fraction:

$400 = n(41 - n)$

$400 = 41n - n^2$

Rearranging into a standard quadratic equation form ($ax^2 + bx + c = 0$):

$n^2 - 41n + 400 = 0$

Step 3: Factoring the Quadratic Equation

We need two numbers that multiply to $400$ and add to $-41$. These numbers are $-16$ and $-25$.

$n^2 - 16n - 25n + 400 = 0$

$n(n - 16) - 25(n - 16) = 0$

$(n - 16)(n - 25) = 0$

Therefore, $n = 16$ or $n = 25$.

Step 4: Determining the Valid Value of $n$

Let us check the number of logs in the $n^{th}$ row using the formula $a_n = a + (n - 1)d$.

If $n = 25$:

$a_{25} = 20 + (25 - 1)(-1) = 20 - 24 = -4$

[Since the number of logs cannot be negative, $n = 25$ is rejected.]

If $n = 16$:

$a_{16} = 20 + (16 - 1)(-1) = 20 - 15 = 5$

[This is a valid number of logs.]

Step 5: Final Calculation

The number of rows is $16$.

The number of logs in the top row ($a_{16}$) is $5$.

Final Answer: The 200 logs are placed in 16 rows, and there are 5 logs in the top row.


More Questions from Class 10 Mathematics Arithmetic Progression EXERCISE 5.3


CBSE Solutions for Class 10 Mathematics Arithmetic Progression


Chapters in CBSE - Class 10 Mathematics


Other Subjects in CBSE - Class 10

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