Let a1, a2, a3, ... be an arithmetic sequence. Let Sn denote the sum of the first n terms. If S_5 = 1/5 and S_10 = 1/10, then find S_15.
We can set variables up to solve this problem. Let's set
From the problem, we can write the equations
S5=5a1+(d+2d+3d+4d)=5a1+10dS10=10a1+(d+2d+⋯+9d)=10a1+45d§15=15a1+(d+2d+⋯+14d)=15a1+105d
Simplifying the first 2 equations, we get the conditions
{5a1+10d=1510a1+45d=110
Solving this gives that d is -3/250 and a_1 is 8/125.
Thus, we have
S15=15a1+105d=−310
So -3/10 is our answer.
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