Solve the equation –4 + (–1) + 2 + …. + x = 437.
Given equation is - 4 + (- 1) + 2 + - - - + x = 437
Its terms can be listed as
- 4, - 1, 2, - - - , x
And this is an AP with First term, a = - 4
Common difference, d = - 1 - (- 4) = 3
Let the no of terms be n
Then Sum of first n terms, Sn = 437
n[ 2 (- 4) + (n - 1)3] = 874
n (- 8 + 3n - 3) = 874
n(3n - 11) = 874
3n2 - 11n - 874 = 0
Solving this quadratic equation with
A = 3
B = - 11
C = - 874
Then D = b2 - 4ac = (- 11)2 - 4(3) (- 874)
= 121 + 10488 = 10609
(not possible as n is a natural no)
so x is the 19th term of AP
x = a19 = a + 18d
= - 4 + 18(3)
= 50