Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
If three terms \(a, b, c\) are in an Arithmetic Progression (A.P.), then the difference between consecutive terms is constant. This means \(b - a = c - b\), which can be rearranged to \(2b = a + c\). The middle term is the arithmetic mean of the first and third terms.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
We will use the property \(2 \times (\text{middle term}) = (\text{first term}) + (\text{third term})\).
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The given terms are:
First term: \(a = P + 1\)
Middle term: \(b = 2P + 1\)
Third term: \(c = 4P - 1\)
Apply the A.P. property:
\[ 2(2P + 1) = (P + 1) + (4P - 1) \]
Expand both sides:
\[ 4P + 2 = P + 4P + 1 - 1 \]
\[ 4P + 2 = 5P \]
Now, solve for P:
\[ 2 = 5P - 4P \]
\[ P = 2 \]
Step 4: Final Answer:
The value of P is 2.
Consider an A.P. $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$; $a_1>0$. If $a_2-a_1=-\dfrac{3}{4}$, $a_n=\dfrac{1}{4}a_1$, and \[ \sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i=\frac{525}{2}, \] then $\sum_{i=1}^{17} a_i$ is equal to