Q. If $a_{1},a_{2},a_{3},\ldots,a_{n}$ be an AP of non-zero terms, then $\frac{1}{a_{1}a_{2}} + \frac{1}{a_{2}a_{3}} + ... + \frac{1}{a_{n - 1}a_{n}}$ is equal to

A) $\frac{n - 1}{a_{1}a_{n}}$
B) $\frac{n}{a_{1}a_{n}}$
C) $\frac{n + 1}{a_{1}a_{n}}$
D) None of these
Explanation

(a)
Let $a_{2} - a_{1} = a_{3} - a_{2} = ... = a_{n} - a_{n - 1} = d$
$\therefore\ \frac{1}{d}\left( \frac{d}{a_{1}a_{2}} + \frac{d}{a_{2}a_{3}} + ... + \frac{d}{a_{n - 1}a_{n}} \right)$
$= \frac{1}{d}\left\lbrack \frac{a_{2} - a_{1}}{a_{1}a_{2}} + \frac{a_{3} - a_{2}}{a_{2}a_{3}} + ... + \frac{a_{n} - a_{n - 1}}{a_{n - 1}a_{n}} \right\rbrack$
$= \frac{1}{d}\left\lbrack \frac{1}{a_{1}} - \frac{1}{a_{2}} + \frac{1}{a_{2}} - \frac{1}{a_{3}} + ... + \frac{1}{a_{n - 1}} - \frac{1}{a_{n}} \right\rbrack$
$= \frac{1}{d}\left\lbrack \frac{1}{a_{1}} - \frac{1}{a_{n}} \right\rbrack = \frac{1}{d}\left\lbrack \frac{a_{n} - a_{1}}{a_{1}a_{n}} \right\rbrack$
$= \frac{n - 1}{a_{1}a_{n}}$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.