The sum of three numbers in G.P. is 21 and the sum of their squares is 189.
The sum of three numbers in G.P. is 21 and the sum of their squares is 189. Find the numbers.
Let the required numbers be $a, a r$ and $a r^{2}$.
Sum of the numbers = 21
$\Rightarrow a+a r+a r^{2}=21$
$\Rightarrow a\left(1+r+r^{2}\right)=21$ ...(1)
Sum of the squares of the numbers = 189
$\Rightarrow a^{2}+(a r)^{2}+\left(a r^{2}\right)^{2}=189$
$\Rightarrow a^{2}+(a r)^{2}+\left(a r^{2}\right)^{2}=189$
$\Rightarrow a^{2}\left(1+r^{2}+r^{4}\right)=189$ ....(2)
Now, $a\left(1+r+r^{2}\right)=21 \quad[$ From $(\mathrm{i})]$
Squaring both the sides
$\Rightarrow a^{2}\left(1+r+r^{2}\right)^{2}=441$
$\Rightarrow a^{2}\left(1+r^{2}+r^{4}\right)+2 a^{2} r\left(1+r+r^{2}\right)=441$
$\Rightarrow 189+2 a r\left\{a\left(1+r+r^{2}\right)\right\}=441 \quad[$ Using $($ ii $)]$
$\Rightarrow 189+2 a r \times 21=441 \quad[$ Using $(\mathrm{i})]$
$\Rightarrow a r=6$
$\Rightarrow a=\frac{6}{r}$ ....(3)
Putting $a=\frac{6}{r}$ in (i)
$\frac{6}{r}\left(1+r+r^{2}\right)=21$
$\Rightarrow \frac{6}{r}+6+6 r=21$
$\Rightarrow 6 r^{2}+6 r+6=21 r$
$\Rightarrow 6 r^{2}-15 r+6=0$
$\Rightarrow 3\left(2 r^{2}-5 r+2\right)=0$
$\Rightarrow 2 r^{2}-5 r+2=0$
$\Rightarrow(2 r-1)(r-2)=0$
$\Rightarrow r=\frac{1}{2}, 2$
Putting $r=\frac{1}{2}$ in $a=\frac{6}{r}$, we get $a=12$.
So, the numbers are 12,6 and 3 .
Putting $r=2$ in $a=\frac{6}{r}$, we get $a=3$.
So, the numbers are 3,6 and 12 .
Hence, the numbers that are in G.P are 3,6 and 12 .