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Question 83

Different A.P.'s are constructed with the first term 100, the last term 199, and integral common differences. The sum of the common differences of all such A.P.'s having at least 3 terms and at most 33 terms is ______.


Correct Answer: 53

We need to find the sum of all integral common differences $$d$$ of A.P.'s with first term $$a = 100$$, last term $$l = 199$$, having at least 3 and at most 33 terms.

For an A.P. with $$n$$ terms: $$l = a + (n-1)d$$

$$199 = 100 + (n-1)d \implies (n-1)d = 99$$

We need $$d$$ to be a positive integer (since $$l > a$$) and $$(n-1) = \dfrac{99}{d}$$ must be a positive integer, so $$d$$ must divide 99.

Also, $$3 \leq n \leq 33$$, which means $$2 \leq n-1 \leq 32$$, so $$2 \leq \dfrac{99}{d} \leq 32$$.

$$99 = 9 \times 11 = 3^2 \times 11$$

Divisors of 99: 1, 3, 9, 11, 33, 99.

For each divisor $$d$$, compute $$n - 1 = 99/d$$:

$$d = 1$$: $$n-1 = 99$$, $$n = 100 > 33$$. Not valid.

$$d = 3$$: $$n-1 = 33$$, $$n = 34 > 33$$. Not valid.

$$d = 9$$: $$n-1 = 11$$, $$n = 12$$. Valid ($$3 \leq 12 \leq 33$$).

$$d = 11$$: $$n-1 = 9$$, $$n = 10$$. Valid.

$$d = 33$$: $$n-1 = 3$$, $$n = 4$$. Valid.

$$d = 99$$: $$n-1 = 1$$, $$n = 2 < 3$$. Not valid.

$$9 + 11 + 33 = 53$$

The correct answer is $$\boxed{53}$$.

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